(Midway, Ky.) – Midway University’s fall enrollment figures are in and show record enrollment. The overall headcount is 1,217 across all student populations and includes record enrollments in both traditional undergraduate and graduate student segments. For fall 2017, the University’s incoming freshman class totals 204 new students, with total undergraduate enrollment at 482 (compared to 432 last fall), which is the highest traditional undergraduate enrollment in recent history.
The two biggest impacts on undergraduate enrollment were the University’s decision last fall to go fully co-ed and the addition of men’s athletics. Men now make up 32 percent of the traditional undergraduate student body at Midway, up 10 percent from last fall. Athletics saw a 30 percent increase in its rosters this year with 161 new student-athletes and 179 returning athletes, for a total of 340 student-athletes participating on 17 athletic teams. The phenomenal success of the athletics program positively impacted recruitment. Baseball and Women’s Golf both won their conference championships and a number of other teams posted their strongest seasons in more than a decade.
"This year was our first full year of recruitment as a co-educational institution,” said Dr. John P. Marsden, President, Midway University. “Our staff has worked hard this year getting the word out about the University to students, particularly men, who were not part of our recruitment strategy a little more than a year ago. With a normal decision cycle of several years for high school students, I applaud our staff for their dedication to our recruitment efforts.”
Another segment seeing record enrollment growth is the enrollment in graduate programs with an all-time high enrollment of 215 students, up 12 percent over last year. The University currently offers MBA, M.Ed., and MSN programs. These programs are delivered fully online.
“Enrollments in our graduate programs are growing steadily,” said Kelly Gosnell, Vice-President of Enrollment Management. “Each program we offer is in an area where we have an undergraduate program. This allows our graduates a natural progression into earning their master’s degree. In addition to our own graduates, other students are also drawn to our programs because they are fully online, affordable and can be completed on an accelerated schedule.”
“Our campus community has truly transformed in what seems almost overnight,” added Marsden. “With such quick changes in the dynamics of our student body and our campus, this fall we will begin working on our next strategic plan. Since our last plan in 2013, the institution has changed its name from college to university to reflect expanding graduate programs and international partnerships, re-branded itself, earned reaffirmation of accreditation for ten years, become a fully co-educational institution, and launched men’s athletics. To say the old plan is outdated is an understatement. It’s time to reassess where we are and plan for our future as a fully co-educational institution.”