OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY

FALL SEMESTER HEADCOUNT ENROLLMENT AND PROJECTIONS

            Enrollment at Oklahoma State University showed a slight decrease for the Fall 2006 Semester with a headcount of 23,307.  While the 2006 new freshmen decreased slightly due to higher admission requirements, OSU is proud of the accomplishments of this class, including an average ACT score of 24.7 and an increase in National Merit Scholars for the 2^nd year.  Also, because institutional diversity has been targeted as a priority, it is promising to note that ethnically diverse students, including African Americans, Native Americans, Hispanics, and Asian Americans, increased by almost 100. 

The projections for future years presented in this section are mathematical models based on past trends in applications, admitted students, and subsequent enrollments, as well as retention rates and forecasts of high school graduates.  Forecasts for Oklahoma high school graduates show numbers should remain relatively constant over the next 4 years.  Because the OSU freshman class is made up of almost 80% Oklahoma residents, these forecasts are the primary source of projection numbers for freshman enrollment.  The forecasts of Oklahoma high school graduates used in this section are based upon information from the Oklahoma State Department of Education and the State Regents for Higher Education.  They assume that demographic trends such as immigration into and emigration out of the state will remain relatively constant.

            While the majority of OSU freshmen are Oklahoma residents, the number of out-of-state freshmen has shown strong increases over the past years.  In fact, the out-of-state new freshmen enrollment has increased more than 80% since Fall 2000.  This is due in large part to continual bolstering of recruiting efforts in the state of Texas which includes OSU Enrollment Management offices in Houston and the Dallas-Ft. Worth area.

            Graduate enrollment at OSU showed a slight increase for Fall 2006 Semester.  This is especially encouraging considering graduate enrollment typically declines during upswings in the economy and improving job markets that are currently occurring in Oklahoma.  The increase is also a positive sign after several years that showed substantial increases in graduate degrees granted.

            In summary, several factors affect enrollment projections at OSU.  Some of these factors depend on policy decisions originating with the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and others depend on recruitment policies set by OSU administration.  The impact of these policies, as well as changing admissions, enrollment, retention, scholarship, and recruiting practices, all have a role in determining future enrollment at Oklahoma State University.  The Office of Institutional Research & Information Management will continue to monitor developments in these areas and assess their impact on enrollment.