Ottawa, Kansas – The enrollment numbers for Ottawa University’s fall 2012 semester are in. Census day for The College was Monday, September 24, and the official number of undergraduate and graduate students is 591, compared to post-census enrollment of 584 in 2011.
Of the total fall enrollment, 196 are new students, while 395 are returning, for a retention rate of 77 percent. This is compared to 208 new and 376 returning last year, with a spring to fall retention rate of 81 percent.
Enrollment at The College has steadily increased in recent years, jumping 60 percent since the fall of 2006. Last fall, total student enrollment at The College was the highest number since the fall of 1975.
“While we are disappointed that we didn’t achieve our targeted enrollment at The College this year, we are happy that we are following our trend of continuing to increase the student count from the previous year,” Vice President and Provost Dennis Tyner said. “We are confident that the good work of our employees will assist us in getting back on track this year so that we can re-align with The College’s growth plan.”
The 591 student enrollment is in line with the University’s Vision 2020 plan, which aspires to enroll 1,500 students at The College by 2020.