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Emporia State University draws more new students than in 2021

Overall enrollment shows decline of 5.2%

Emporia State University’s class of new incoming students show double-digit increase in the 20th day of enrollment figures for fall 2022. New freshmen students saw a 12% increase over 2021, new transfer students 15% and new graduate students 7% for an overall increase of 10% for new students compared to fall 2021.

“We are pleased to see that our recently implemented recruitment initiatives are showing results, and students are ready to return to college after Covid,” said Dr. Shelly Gehrke, vice president for enrollment management and student success.

As expected, the total enrollment for fall 2022 was down a total of 5.2% from the 20th day of fall 2021 numbers. On-campus enrollment was down 5.8% from fall 2021, and off-campus/online was down 4.5%. Emporia State’s fall 2022 total enrollment is 5,324 students.

Recruitment for fall 2023 already has begun. Emporia State University is the first public Kansas institution to spread in-state tuition to the lower 48 of the continental United States for domestic, on-campus undergraduate students. The Kansas Board of Regents approved the proposal last spring.

This week, Emporia State University is announcing new reinvestment and restructuring strategies to best meet the needs of students. The first announcement was for the Department of Art. The announcement came after a comprehensive review of all academic offerings at the university. More program and department announcements will come throughout the 2022-23 academic year.

“We believe our plans for strategic reinvestment and realignment of resources into specific academic programs is our best path forward to sustain Emporia State University into the future,” said Dr. Brent Thomas, interim provost and vice president for academic affairs and dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.