K-State realizes first enrollment increase in nine years
Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023
First-time freshman enrollment at Kansas State University grew 9% for fall 2023. This is the largest freshman cohort since strategic enrollment efforts began in 2019. | Download this photo.
MANHATTAN — Kansas State University's strategic enrollment efforts have increased enrollment as the university continues to focus on educational access for all. K-State's fall 2023 enrollment across all campuses is 19,745.
K-State's fall 2023 first-time freshman enrollment grew 9%, making the freshman cohort the largest class since strategic enrollment efforts began in 2019. In-state enrollment rose 6.8%, and out-of-state enrollment rose 15.1%. Transfer student enrollment also increased 2.8%.
"This year's increases are a direct result of our commitment to the strategic enrollment plan," said Karen Goos, vice provost for enrollment management. "The past two years have seen tremendous progress in first-time freshman and transfer student classes, which sets K-State on a path to continued growth."
Overall, K-State's undergraduate enrollment improved 0.4%, the first enrollment increase reported in nine years. Graduate enrollment saw a modest decrease of 1%. The Salina campus saw the most significant percentage growth at 8.6%, and Global Campus enrollment also increased 2.6%. The Manhattan and Olathe campuses saw slight declines at 0.8% and 1.6%, respectively.
Additionally, K-State attracts quality students. The fall 2023 freshman class cohort has an average high school GPA of 3.70 — the highest in recent history.
Not included in the numbers released by the Kansas Board of Regents are non-degree seeking, non-credit bearing learners. During the 2022-2023 academic year, K-State enrolled more than 6,000 learners through alternative credential-seeking programs offered on the Manhattan, Salina, Olathe and Global campuses. This group of learners is a key component of the Next-Gen K-State strategic plan's enrollment goals.
True to the land-grant mission of educational access for all, first-generation learners comprise 21.5% of total university enrollment. For fall 2023, first-generation enrollment grew 1.7%. Additionally, enrollment of underrepresented groups increased 2.8%, resulting in a more diverse student body.
Ensuring the academic success of all learners is a vital part of the strategic enrollment plan. By offering resources and services to help students succeed, K-State's fall 2023 first-year freshman retention rate rebounded to 87.1%. More students have also completed degree programs. K-State's six-year graduation rate is the highest in recent history at 70.5%.
"K-State provides learners with a quality education and success services that prepare them for the workforce," Goos said. "As our enrollment continues to increase, more individuals will benefit from a K-State degree or credentials that industries are seeking."
K-State annually awards more than $82 million in scholarships and awards to address affordability and access. University scholarships are automatically awarded to in-state and out-of-state students who apply by the priority deadline. The Land Grant Promise award was recently expanded to students from all 105 Kansas counties, assuring that full-time, Pell-eligible undergraduates with a total household income of $70,000 or less will receive a total grant and scholarship aid package up to the equivalent cost of 15 credit hours of in-state tuition.
