College enrollments increase more than in past years
Minnesota’s private colleges educate 17 percent of all college students in our state. When considering only undergraduates enrolled at four-year institutions, the percentage grows to 34 percent.
The Annual Enrollment Report from the Minnesota Private College Research Foundation shows that in fall 2007 Minnesota Private College Council (MPCC) institutions enrolled 58,598 students — an increase of 2.7 percent in headcount enrollments (the average yearly increase over the past decade is 1.8 percent). This compares to a 4.5 percent increase at Minnesota State Colleges and Universities and 0.5 percent increase at the University of Minnesota.
MPCC institutions saw an increase of 2.0 percent in full-time equivalent (FTE) enrollments — a measure which standardizes all students, both part-time and full-time, to a full time student, and indicates the quantity of educational services provided across program types and degree areas.
Entering students come to college campuses either as new freshmen or as transfers from other colleges. MPCC institutions enrolled 11,764 new students in fall 2007, about the same number as fall 2006. Those who are new freshmen (77 percent) increased by 1.8 percent while transfer enrollments decreased by 5.5 percent.
The share of undergraduates enrolled in non-traditional programs has remained flat over the most recent 10-year period. Non-traditional programs include weekend colleges, cohort or group-based degree-completion programs and off-campus options. These non-traditional students comprised 7.7 percent of our undergraduate FTEs in fall 2007 as compared to 8.2 percent in fall 1998, though year to year change is more volatile.
Minnesota’s private colleges are diverse
Enrollments of students of color and foreign students are also on the increase. In fall 2007, 6,047 students of color and 1,595 foreign students enrolled at one of our 17 private colleges. More than three-quarters of the students of color are Minnesota residents. Enrolling minority students is crucial for our state, since their numbers are forecasted to increase in the coming years while white students will decrease.
Enrollments of undergraduate students of color increased from 2,679 to 4,636 over the past 10 years — a growth of 73 percent as compared to nine percent for white undergraduates. The greatest increases were seen among African American (+102 percent) and Hispanic undergraduates (+81 percent). Graduate students of color on our campuses have doubled over the past decade from 732 students in fall 1997 to 1,411 in fall 2007.
Enrollment of students of color by institution generally reflects our states’ regional demographics. Institutions located in the metropolitan area of Minneapolis and St. Paul typically enroll more students of color (15 percent) as compared to their non-metro counterparts (9 percent). Among the eight private colleges located in the metro area, however, students of color ranged from 8 percent to 20 percent of total enrollments.
Minnesota private colleges also enroll more than half of all foreign undergraduates (1,130) choosing Minnesota for higher education and 465 foreign graduate students.
An integral part of higher education in Minnesota
Sustained enrollment or growth of enrollment is an indicator of educational health in Minnesota. Minnesota’s private colleges, the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system (MnSCU) and the University of Minnesota system have a synergistic relationship. For example, Minnesota’s private colleges provide about one-third of the graduates that enroll in graduate programs at the University of Minnesota. It takes the combined efforts of all our higher education institutions to produce the number of educated workers Minnesota needs to remain economically competitive within our country and the world.
The Fall 2007 Enrollment Report will be shared with member campuses and be available online in December.