Enrollment Increase at the Colleges and Universities of Minnesota State Driven by Initiatives to Make Cost of Higher Education Affordable, Quality Programming and Instruction

ST. PAUL, Minn., Oct. 11, 2024 – Driven largely by initiatives focused on keeping the cost of college affordable for all Minnesotans while delivering quality programming and instruction, enrollment at the colleges and universities of Minnesota State continued its upward momentum after a slump lasting more than 10 years. As of the 30th day of Fall term 2024, credit headcount enrollment for Minnesota State:

• Increased 9.3 % at Minnesota State colleges
• Increased 4.5% at Minnesota State universities
• Increased 7.7% for the system as a whole.

This follows an increase of 2.3% for the system as a whole in 2023.

“We believe the increase in enrollment was driven by a number of factors,” said Scott Olson, chancellor of Minnesota State. “Quality academic programs, keeping our colleges and universities the most affordable, most accessible higher education options in the state, and outstanding relationships with the communities we serve were clearly among the keys.”

North Star Promise

One initiative making a difference is the North Star Promise, a program new this year that provides free college tuition for Minnesota students and families with a family Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) below $80,000. The North Star Promise is available to students attending any of the 26 colleges and seven universities of Minnesota State who are registered for as little as one credit. Preliminary data shows that nearly 12,000 students are benefiting from the program for this Fall term.

In addition to the North Star Promise, other factors that may have contributed to the increase in enrollment include:

• Access to over 4,100 high quality academic programs with a variety of flexible delivery options – well-suited to all students ranging from high school students earning college credit under Post Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) to non-traditional students looking to return to complete a college or university program. Approximately 850,000 graduates of Minnesota State live and work in the state and contribute an estimated $9.4 billion to the state’s economy.
• Pent-up demand on the part of students who delayed or postponed their educational experience due to the pandemic or stopped out to take advantage of a hot job market. Students continue to see value in furthering their education and view completing a credential as positioning themselves to be even more competitive in a strong job market.
• Public concern about student debt and the cost of higher education may be driving enrollment at Minnesota State as a highly accessible, high value alternative to more expensive options. Depending on the academic award received, 36% - 66% of Minnesota State students graduate with no debt at all.
• Workforce Development Scholarships encourage students to enter programs in high demand by employers. Some of the many fields that qualify for these $2,500 scholarships include education, health care, public safety, construction, advanced manufacturing, agriculture, information technology, and transportation.

Olson continued, “Enrollment at our colleges and universities is vital to Minnesota because our colleges and universities play a central role in meeting Minnesota’s workforce needs.”

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Minnesota State includes 26 community and technical colleges and seven state universities serving approximately 270,000 students. It is the fourth-largest system of two-year colleges and four-year universities in the United States.