NW Missouri Times

Northwest Missouri State University has reported a total enrollment of 8,747 students for the fall semester, marking the fourth consecutive year its headcount has surpassed 8,500. The university’s census, conducted 20 days after the start of classes, shows that undergraduate enrollment stands at 5,279, reflecting a slight increase from last year.

Graduate enrollment decreased by 11 percent to 3,468 students. This decline is mainly due to a reduction in international student numbers, which dropped from 557 last year to 125 this fall.

Enrollment in dual credit coursework rose by 14 percent to 890 students. First-time transfer student numbers also increased by 9 percent to reach 325.

Dr. Allison Hoffmann, associate provost for enrollment management and student success at Northwest Missouri State University, commented on these trends: “The growth in our transfer student population is exciting. We continue to review and refine practices and policies to ensure we remain a transfer-friendly institution for community-college students and students with previous college credit and no degree or credential.”

This fall, the university’s in-state student population totals 6,010. Students come from all 50 states as well as from abroad; the international student body represents 51 countries. The number of students receiving the Bearcat Advantage waiver grew by three percent to reach 1,005.

“With Northwest’s unique location near the border of multiple states, we remain focused on serving Missouri students while also remaining aware of the needs of our out-of-state students,” Hoffmann said. “The growth in the number of students earning the Bearcat Advantage waiver signifies continued positive momentum in our out-of-state enrollment efforts.”

Northwest Missouri State University was founded in 1905 and offers undergraduate and selected graduate programs at its Maryville campus. The university maintains a high retention rate and ranks in the top five percent among peer institutions for graduation rates.

Student satisfaction surveys indicate that Northwest students report higher satisfaction compared to national peers. Seventy-eight percent say they would repeat their experience at Northwest; nationally, this figure is seventy-five percent.

According to university data, ninety-three percent of bachelor’s degree recipients and ninety-nine percent of master’s graduates secure employment or continue their education within six months after graduation.

Northwest emphasizes profession-based learning experiences across academic disciplines and provides more than one thousand two hundred student employment positions through its internationally benchmarked program. Tuition remains unchanged for several years, resulting in estimated savings of $6,900 over four years per student.

The campus hosts over one hundred fifty student organizations and offers various opportunities for professional development through internships and hands-on training exercises such as an annual mass casualty event that brings together first responders from across the country.