College of Saint Mary full-time enrollment highest it’s been in 25 years
College of Saint Mary enrolled a total of 1,043 students for fall 2016, a four percent jump over fall of 2015, and a seven percent increase over 2014. The number of full-time students is 930.
A record 27 percent of students live on campus. Full-time students make up 89 percent of the student population, the highest number of full-time students in 25 years. Eighty percent of CSM students come from Nebraska (half of them from Douglas County), 10 percent are from Iowa.
The rising enrollment numbers are at odds with the nationwide trend of the decline of not only small private institutions, but colleges, in general.
In the last year national publications such as CNN Money, U.S. News and World Report and Wall Street Journal published articles revealing that, in addition to falling enrollment numbers, other symptoms of ailing institutions include the reduction of academic programs and faculty layoffs. CSM has not only increased its numbers of students, it has also increased the number of academic programs and full-time faculty.
“This strong increase in enrollment shows that College of Saint Mary is a healthy, thriving institution,” says CSM Vice President for Enrollment Services Sara Hanson.
There are good reasons for it, she adds.
“Prospective students and their parents are looking for an affordable education that provides a real return on their investment, as well as an enriching academic experience,” says Hanson. “Our academic programs are in strong, high-paying industries, and we offer our students the kind of environment that develops not only their leadership capabilities, but their personal qualities, as well.”
The majority of the “100 Best Jobs” according to U.S. News and World Report Money can be found in business and in the healthcare industry. CSM’s business programs include a bachelor’s in business analytics & strategic communication and a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership. CSM also offers programs in some of the nation’s highest-paying healthcare fields including a 5-year physician assistant undergraduate and graduate degree, a 3-or 4-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing and 5-year combine bachelor of Rehabilitation Studies and Master of Occupational Therapy.
