Colorado State University-Pueblo Sees Exponential Growth in Online and Graduate Enrollment
Release Date: October 23, 2019
Colorado State University-Pueblo boasts new student enrollment has increased for the second year in a row, with an increase of 63 students this fall semester. This is especially satisfying with CSU-Pueblo intentionally increasing academic offerings. The new offerings reflect its vision to adapt to students’ needs in a rapidly-changing economic landscape. The University continues to update the wraparound services for students on campus to ensure the success of enrolled students as part of Vision 2028.
Although new student enrollment has increased, overall undergraduate enrollment has declined with a total of 3,855 which is down from 3,936 in 2018. This is on track with the trend across the United States with many regional comprehensive universities seeing the effects of declining birth rates, fewer high school graduates, and the general decline in higher education enrollment.
“CSU-Pueblo is proud of the fact that for the second year in a row, our new student enrollment has seen an increase, focused in the realms of online and graduate programming,” said Chrissy Holliday, Vice President of Enrollment Management, Communications, and Student Affairs. “Across the nation, universities like ours are struggling with enrollment, and our job is to adapt in ways that keep the University and our programs relevant to potential students.”
In an effort to offset the overall enrollment, CSU-Pueblo has worked to increase online and graduate enrollment, which can be seen with the successful numbers for fall of 2019. Graduate student enrollment increased by 72 students total. Due to the shift in effort to focus more intentionally on graduate and online enrollment, CSU-Pueblo delayed reporting fall numbers to include the Fall B sections of online classes offered. Online enrollment saw a 70 percent increase from 2018 to 2019.
“The traditional college student who enrolls immediately after high school will always be integral to our success, and we are committed to providing that traditional path for a growing number of young people,” explained Holliday. “Another piece of our enrollment strategy calls for diversifying our student body by increasing professional, graduate, and online programming. This region has a significant number of adult learners who have some college but no degree, or who now are seeking a degree to support career advancement or a new career path. CSU-Pueblo, with its history of undergraduate research, professional programs and practical work-based application, is uniquely positioned to fill that need.”
CSU-Pueblo continues to be primarily comprised of local students with 83% of students being from Colorado while out of state total 14% of the overall enrollment population and international students totaling 3%. Students represent 33 countries, 42 states and territories, and 51 counties in the state of Colorado.
This academic year brought a surge in graduate student enrollment – with graduate enrollment up 32% in a single year, thanks to a new graduate program in social work and Doctor of Nursing Practice, and offering a master’s in education online. CSU-Pueblo’s student population this year is 35% first-generation, 55% women, and more than half the university’s students are diverse.
“Our presence in both Pueblo and Colorado Springs means that we can make a four-year degree accessible, affordable, and achievable for a majority of residents of Southern Colorado and beyond,” said Holliday.
