Adams State College Enrollment Growth Continues

Julie Waechter
Adams State College

Adams State College recorded its largest spring semester enrollment in over a decade, according to Dr. Michael Mumper, senior vice president for Enrollment Management and Program Development. He attributes the progress to better student retention and significant growth in online master’s and bachelor’s degree programs.
“This is our seventh consecutive semester of growth, and possibly the first time on-campus undergraduate enrollment exceeds 2,000 in the spring semester,” Mumper said. “This growth is carefully planned, following the path outlined in the college’s Strategic Plan. The new and remodeled facilities, the new academic and sports programs, and the resulting enrollment growth are all part of a larger effort to give ASC students a world-class living and learning environment.”
Adams State’s total enrollment is 3,421, an increase of 7.2 percent over spring 2010. The college set a record high enrollment last fall of 3,467. Retention of students from the fall to spring semester is 83 percent, up more than 4 percent in the last three years.
“Dr. Mumper and his assistant VP for enrollment Eric Carpio should get a big pat on the back for our continued enrollment growth,” said Adams State President David Svaldi. “In my 25 years at ASC, seven consecutive semesters of real enrollment growth has never before occurred. Their hard work and planning has helped to place the college in a very strong position.”
On-campus undergraduate students account for 2,041, while graduate students total 731. An additional 648 undergraduate students are enrolled in online degree programs – an increase of over 25 percent over last year.
“We continue to see strong growth in our enrollment at all levels,” Mumper said. “The large freshman class that entered last fall retained at a very high rate, and we attracted a large number of new transfer students this spring.”
Graduate student enrollment growth of 2.5 percent continues to be driven by online master’s programs in business administration and counselor education. Enrollment in the MBA program has increased over 70 percent since last spring. Several undergraduate programs also show growth, with enrollment in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program increasing 36 percent over last year.
Mumper added, “I think all of these developments show that students from across Colorado and around the Southwest are now seeing the great opportunities available to them at ASC.”
Adams State also experienced a 17 percent increase in non-Colorado resident undergraduates over last spring. Campus housing is at 80 percent occupancy, an increase of 100 residents.
The college continues a historic commitment to underserved student populations. Total undergraduate Hispanic enrollment rose to 34 percent, up two percent over last fall. Another 12 percent of the undergraduate student body identifies as African American, Native American/Alaskan, Asian/Pacific Islander, or multi-racial.