It's always nice to see higher numbers than were projected, especially if those numbers represent enrollment in any educational institution.
Michigan Technological University enrollment topped projected numbers for the fall semester. Data reported to the
State Budget Office last week showed the public research university's enrollment totaled 6,957, including 5,716 undergraduates and 1,241 graduate students.
Last fall, Michigan Tech's total enrollment was 7,132, including 1,189 graduate students.
"We planned for total enrollment this fall of 6,900 and we exceeded that goal," says Michigan Tech President Glenn Mroz. "We're particularly pleased that emphasis on graduate enrollment continues to raise graduate student numbers to their highest level ever at Michigan Tech."
Since 2007, Michigan Tech has intentionally been working to increase its proportion of graduate students, which has climbed from 13 percent to 18 percent of the student body.
"The main factors affecting our (lower) expected undergraduate enrollment this year included an unusually large graduating class last year and the discontinuation of the Michigan Promise Grant," Mroz says.
The diversity of the student body at Michigan Tech, including minorities and international students, increased to 20 percent. Female enrollment also rose, climbing from 25 to 26 percent.
The enrollment report showed that Tech's average ACT score has risen more than one entire point, from 25.1 to 26.1, since 2005. With ACT scores ranging from 1 to 36, moving up a whole point reflects a significant increase in numbers of high-scoring entering students. Michigan's average ACT score statewide this year was 19.7, and the national average was 21.
Writer: Sam EgglestonSource: Glenn Mroz, Michigan Tech University
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