There is a larger number of freshmen on MSU walkways this fall as the university set a new enrollment record for that class. The total number of upperclassmen is down slightly, one of the reasons why MSU's total enrollment slightly trails last year's record. MSU photo by Erin Raley.

Montana State University has enrolled a record-breaking freshmen class in terms of numbers and academic excellence, MSU officials announced today.

MSU's 2004 freshman class is expected to be about 2,175, or about 10 students more than last year's freshmen enrollment, which had broken previous records, according to Allen Yarnell, MSU's vice president of student affairs.

In addition, MSU's new emphasis on rewarding academic excellence of incoming freshmen also paid off with about 90 more freshmen recording scores of 30 on the ACT college entrance exam, an increase of 75 percent, according to Yarnell. A score of 30 is in the 95 percentile of the national placement test.

"We are very happy with our record freshmen class, but are also happy for its enhanced academic quality, as well as the increase in Native American students," Yarnell said. "These were all areas we emphasized in our recruiting efforts."

However, Yarnell said that MSU's total enrollment is expected to hover around 12,000 students when all students have registered this week. That makes the 2004 enrollment the second largest in school history, second to last year's enrollment of 12,135 students.

Yarnell said an unusually large 2004 graduating class, a decline in new graduate students and fewer juniors and seniors are some of the likely reasons for the slight drop in total enrollment. However, Yarnell said the university was pleased with several enrollment trends this year, which include:

• Freshmen retention, or the percent of last year's freshmen returning this year as sophomores, is up more than 2 percent.
• The number of American Indian freshmen has more than doubled from 23 to 49.
• Both the number of Montana freshmen and out-of-state freshmen increased.
• MSU enrolled 137, or the majority, of the 280 students who received the Montana University System Regents' High School Honors Scholarship, designed to keep the best and brightest in Montana.

Yarnell credited the work of MSU's Admissions and New Student Services as well as faculty, staff and students who helped recruit the record number of freshmen students. He said enrolling students is just the beginning of success.

"We are committed to the students succeeding," Yarnell said. "We hope they have not only a great year, but a great college career here at MSU."

Written by Carol Schmidt and posted 9/28/04.