For the eighth consecutive year, Metro State’s fall enrollment is up, and the bulk of the increase is in students of color.

As of the Sept. 3 fall enrollment census date, total student headcount had increased by 1.2 percent from last fall, from 21,453 students to 21,715.

The vast majority of the increase is in students of color; while total student headcount increased by 262 students from last year, 252 of them were students of color.

“I found it remarkable that students of color accounted for 96.2 percent of the actual growth for the institution,” said Coordinator of Institutional Research Ellen Boswell. The majority was in the category of Asian or Pacific Islander, which went from 844 students to 964, or an increase of 14.2 percent. Black or African American-Non-Hispanic students increased 4.7 percent, Latino students 1.8 percent, and American Indian or Alaska Native 9.3 percent. The number of Caucasian or White-Non-Hispanic students remained basically the same, though their percentage decreased, from 67.3 percent to 66.5 percent.

Students of color now represent 24.7 percent of total enrollment, up from 23.8 percent last fall.

“It’s too early to say exactly what the actual cause of this change is,” said Myron Anderson, interim associate to the president for diversity.  “One thing it does suggest is that the campus community as a whole is inclusive and welcoming to all populations.”

Other interesting facts
The number of full-time students increased by 1.7 percent and of part-time students by 0.5 percent from Fall 2007 to Fall 2008. The average credit hour load increased from 10.86 to 10.90.

Total full-year full-time equivalent (FTE) students increased by 1.3 percent over last fall, from 7,459 to 7,556, representing a 1.2 percent increase in state-funded courses and a 3.8 percent increase in cash-funded.

Of the class years, juniors showed the largest absolute increase over last year, at 6.6 percent (263 students), followed by a sophomore increase of 3.1 percent and a senior increase of 1.1 percent. Freshmen decreased by 144 students, or 2.1 percent.

The top 10 majors for the current 21,715 students are: (1) Management; (2) Biology ;(3) Criminal Justice and Criminology; (4) Psychology; (5) Art; (6) Accounting; (7)Marketing; (8) English; (9) Human Performance and Sport; and (10) History.

For the complete reports go to www.mscd.edu/facstaff/oir.