Enrollment for fall 2021 at Wichita State University and WSU Tech is showing strong growth despite a decline in 2020 caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the loss of thousands of local jobs.

Returning to its pre-pandemic enrollment numbers, WSU enrolled 16,097 students this fall. That’s an increase of 3.5% over last year and the largest enrollment Wichita State has seen since 1990. Wichita State also has the largest first-time-in-college class in history at 1,735 students, an increase of 14.5%.

The Kansas Board of Regents reports Wichita State full time equivalency (FTE) as 11,289, up 2.2% over last year. The Regents system as a whole is down 1.1% in FTE from last year.

“The overall enrollment numbers reflect Wichita State’s commitment to the people and communities we serve,” says WSU President Dr. Rick Muma. “This is due, in no small part, to Shocker Nation’s concentrated and determined efforts to raise need-based aid, which makes higher education affordable and accessible to those who might not have considered the possibilities. Removing the financial barriers to a WSU education helps our Shockers achieve their goals and eventually become the leaders of tomorrow. It should also be noted that the record number of out-of-state students coming to Wichita State brings talent and potential to our city and our state.”

WSU Tech saw 4,834 students enroll in classes this fall, a 4.9% increase from last year. Although the college saw a slight decline in FTE as stated in the KBOR report, overall headcount is up with the largest growth being in the high school student population, at an increase of 23.2% over last year.

“WSU Tech continues to focus on delivering a solution to Wichita’s workforce needs,” said Dr. Sheree Utash, president of WSU Tech. “We are being more innovative in our approach to recruiting students and helping them to access financial assistance to help pay for college, as well as providing relevant education, training and credentials in order to meet our industry partner needs and creating pathways of employment for our graduates.”

Additional WSU highlights

  • 16.9%  growth in undergraduate and graduate students from the I-35 corridor.
  • 24.9%  growth in Hispanic first-time-in-college students.
  • 38.7% growth in Black non-Hispanic first-time-in-college students.
  • Growth of 84% in international students enrolled in graduate programs.
  • Continued strong enrollment of first-generation students, consisting of 44% of the undergraduate student population.
  • 26.9% increase in the number of first-generation students in graduate programs.
  • Enrolled 3,375 graduate students this fall, a 7.3% increase and the highest graduate enrollment in 20 years.
  • An increase of 1.7% in student course credit hours, for a total of 162,955.

Wichita State students have also greatly benefited from new programming, expanding career path opportunities

  • The School of Computing in the College of Engineering saw a 50.6% increase in enrollment over last year.
  • The School of Digital Arts in the College of Fine Arts — which offers degrees and certificates in animation, audio production, collaborative design, filmmaking, and game design — saw an increase in enrollment of 7.8%.
  • The Master in Human Resource Management, offered in the W. Frank Barton School of Business and started just 2 years ago, now has 73 students enrolled.
  • The Army ROTC program, which began 2 years ago, increased its cadets by 11.9% this fall.

WSU Tech success highlights

  • 2021 is WSU Tech’s second largest fall semester headcount in the history of the college, trailing only fall 2019.
  • The Applied Technologies division increased the number of students taking classes by 26.6%. This includes programs such as Construction Science, Automotive and Information Technology.
  • WSU Tech also saw a 37.9% increase in headcount in business classes. The college attributes this growth to the positive response from the community following the announcement of the pathway program and scholarship opportunities with the WSU W. Frank Barton School of Business.
  • WSU Tech saw success with the launch of its new Culinary Arts, Professional Pilot, Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (Drones) and Logistics and Supply Chain programs.
  • With second eight-week classes beginning in October and the offer of the tuition-free Metallica Scholars scholarship for aviation sheet metal and process mechanic (paint), WSU Tech continues to see more enrollment in the fall 2021 semester.

About Wichita State

Wichita State University serves as the Kansas urban-based research university, enrolling more than 16,000 students from every state in the U.S. and more than 100 countries. Wichita State and WSU Tech are recognized for being student centered and innovation driven.

Located in the largest city in the state with one of the highest concentrations in the United States of jobs involving science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), Wichita State University provides uniquely distinctive and innovative pathways of applied learning, applied research and career opportunities for all of our students.

The Innovation Campus, which is a physical extension of the Wichita State University main campus, is one of the nation’s largest and fastest-growing research/innovation parks, encompassing over 120 acres and is home to a number of global companies and organizations.

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About WSU Tech

WSU Tech is the state’s leader in modern technical education offering over 100 degree and certificate options in aviation, health care, manufacturing, design, information technology, criminal justice and business. In 2018, WSU Tech was named the 2nd fastest growing college among two-year colleges by The Chronicle of Higher Education. WSU Tech serves as managing partner of the National Center for Aviation Training (NCAT) in Wichita, KS and is fully accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and is a Kansas Board of Regents institution. For more information, visit www.WSUTECH.edu.