K-State increases freshmen enrollment, sets record retention and graduation rates
Monday, Oct. 1, 2018
Kansas State University has a 3 percent increase in freshmen enrollment compared to 2017 and has set records in retention and graduation rates.
MANHATTAN — Kansas State University has an increase in freshmen enrollment as well as record retention rate for the fall 2018 semester. The university continues to see record graduation rates.
According to Kansas Board of Regents' preliminary numbers, there was a slight increase in full-time equivalent students, but overall headcount showed a decline of 574 students. Kansas Board of Regents has started reporting full-time equivalency, as opposed to headcount, to provide more uniform data. The Regents calculate full-time equivalency by dividing the total number of undergraduate credit hours taken in a semester by 15 and graduate credit hours by 12.
The 2018 freshmen class grew 3 percent compared to 2017, with strong growth among both in-state and out-of-state students — two top goals of the university's strategic enrollment management plan. The freshmen class has the most students who scored a 29 or higher on their ACT — or an equivalent SAT score — and the second-highest average ACT score of 25 in university history.
"This year, K-State has the brightest class ever and set records in freshman-to-sophomore retention and graduation rates," said Pat Bosco, vice president for student life and dean of students. "With national declines in the number of high school graduates attending any state college and declines in international students coming to the United States, K-State is moving in a positive direction."
The retention of freshmen to sophomores is the highest in university history at 85.5 percent, and the university graduated a record 3,258 students in May. The university's four-year graduation rate is 40.4 percent and six-year graduation rate is 64 percent — both records for the university.
"These improvements are a testament to the focus of K-State 2025 and the hard work and person-to-person efforts of our excellent faculty, staff, administration and students," said Brian Niehoff, associate provost for institutional effectiveness.
The university's new enrollment priorities and renowned family atmosphere have garnered national attention. Money magazine has repeatedly rated Kansas State University as the top value in Kansas and the student experience is continually rated one of the best in the nation, according to The Princeton Review. In addition, Insight to Diversity magazine and Campus Pride have named the university among the best in the nation for supporting inclusion and diversity, another top priority for the university. Multicultural students now account for 16 percent of the student body — the highest in university history — and Hispanic student enrollment is at an all-time high.
