MSU sets enrollment record

[wbtfg]

More students pick MSU, despite tuition hike

By GAIL SCHONTZLER, Chronicle Staff Writer

Despite a 14 percent jump in tuition and fees for Montana students, Montana State University's enrollment has grown to a record 12,235 students this fall.

MSU has also set records in its numbers of freshmen, graduate students and Native American students, officials announced Wednesday.





Total enrollment is up by 232 students over last year, and exceeds the previous record set in 2003 by 100 students.

President Geoff Gamble gave credit to the entire university community for making student success a high priority. That sends a powerful message, he said.

"Students and parents are willing to pay additional costs if the institution is doing all it can to provide a quality education," Gamble said.

MSU reported that 9,218 students, or 75 percent, are from Montana, up 169 from last year. Out-of-state students totaled 3,017, up 63.

Allen Yarnell, vice president for student affairs, said it is good news that MSU has more Montana students at a time when the state's high school graduating class is shrinking.

The increase in Montanans also shows that they still feel the price is reasonable, given that they're getting a good education, Gamble said.

Tuition is up everywhere, he added. MSU's tuition did increase, he said, "but not to the point that people couldn't afford it."

MSU's tuition and fees for Montana students this year cost $5,221, an increase of $644 or 14 percent over last year.

Out-of-state students pay $14,945, an increase of $768 or 5 percent.

The freshman class grew to 2,226, a record number for the third year in a row. Yarnell gave credit to both the Bozeman and MSU communities.

When prospective students and their parents visit the campus, Yarnell said, "We get nothing but positive comments about how they're treated -- in restaurants, residence halls, by the faculty."

Recruiting efforts inside and outside Montana are working, Yarnell said, including the hiring of Royall & Co. to target out-of-state high school students and sending recruiters out across the country.

MSU again attracted 204 bright freshmen, with ACT scores of 30 or better, said Jim Rimpau, planning director and chief information officer. That figure jumped 75 percent last year, when MSU began offering automatic, online scholarships to high-scoring freshmen.

The freshman class's average ACT scores are also up a little, from 23.9 to 24.1, Rimpau said.

It' also exciting, Gamble said, to see the number of Native American students increase to 268 and the number of graduate students rise to 1,173, up 53 from last year.

The University of Montana in Missoula reported this week that its total enrollment had increased to 13,602 students. However, when its College of Technology students are subtracted, UM's enrollment actually slipped, to 12,326.

UM's freshman class grew by just six students. In response, UM is launching a program called MPACT, to make college more affordable.

MSU may be catching up in enrollment, but Yarnell said it isn't in a race with UM.

['93HonoluluCat]

Let me guess--MSU is still complaining about not having any money...

[wbtfg]

Let me guess--MSU is still complaining about not having any money...

Aren't we a ball of sunshine...

['93HonoluluCat]

Let me guess--MSU is still complaining about not having any money...

Aren't we a ball of sunshine...

Sorry, there isn't a emoticon listed as "sarcasm."