Missouri State University sees record enrollment for Springfield campus, system

The official headcount is in and Missouri State University set enrollment records for its Springfield campus and the system as a whole.

On the Sept. 23 census day, Springfield had a record 25,038 students enrolled, which jumped up to 26,874 students with the West Plains campus included.

“We’re thrilled to see record enrollment across our campuses,” MSU President Richard "Biff" Williams said in a news release. “This growth, especially in underrepresented students, reflects our commitment to excellence and inclusivity. It’s a testament to our dedicated faculty, strong programs and the trust students place in Missouri State to provide a transformative education.”

The university highlighted areas of growth, including:

• 3.3% increase in first-time students;
• 4% increase in continuing students;
• 9.3% increase in underrepresented students, bringing the total to 3,983;
• 9.2% increase to West Plains campus, bringing enrollment there to 1,942;
• 3.6% increase in total system enrollment (106 students were enrolled on both campuses but only included once in the system total);

This year, students came from 113 counties and an independent city in Missouri; 50 states plus the District of Columbia; territories of Guam and Puerto Rico and military locations; and 97 other countries.

Missouri State encouraged students to apply for admission early in their senior year and to be aware of scholarship application deadlines.

More: 5 things actress Brooke Shields talked about at MSU's Public Affairs Conference

New Missouri undergraduate students eligible for Pell Grants will not pay any tuition or fees at Missouri State.

The MoState Access Award will cover all tuition and fees that are not covered by other scholarships and grants. Eligible students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid by May 1 and apply for admission by June 1 for the fall 2025 semester.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Missouri State University sees record enrollment for Springfield campus, system