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Oklahoma public college and university enrollment on the rise

Nyk Daniels
/
KGOU
The University of Oklahoma Norman campus.

Enrollment at Oklahoma’s public colleges and universities is up. According to a report from the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, the preliminary headcount of enrolled students increased by 4.5% since last fall.

Oklahoma State University’s headcount enrollment increased by 6%, largely helped by a sizable boost at its Center for Health Sciences. The University of Oklahoma saw its enrollment rise by 5.5%, though it had a 9.5% drop in students at its Law Center.

As for smaller schools, El Reno’s Redlands Community College boosted its numbers by 14%, and Tishomingo’s Murray State College rose by almost 11%. Redlands’ numbers were helped with a 72% jump in first-time entering enrollment, which counts students who have never enrolled at a higher education institution.

Concurrent enrollment for high schoolers saw a bump across the state. Weatherford’s Southwestern State University and Edmond’s University of Central Oklahoma increased their concurrent students by 50% and 51.7%, respectively. Chickasha’s University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma multiplied its concurrent students by sevenfold, from nine to 73.

While overall enrollment trends are up, some institutions saw dips in their headcounts: Goodwell’s Oklahoma Panhandle State University fell by 6.7%, Wilburton’s Eastern Oklahoma State College fell by 3.2%, OSU-IT Okmulgee fell by 3.7%, OSU Oklahoma City fell by 4.3%, and Oklahoma City Community College fell by half of one percent.

StateImpact Oklahoma is a partnership of Oklahoma’s public radio stations which relies on contributions from readers and listeners to fulfill its mission of public service to Oklahoma and beyond. Donate online.

Beth reports on education topics for StateImpact Oklahoma.
StateImpact Oklahoma reports on education, health, environment, and the intersection of government and everyday Oklahomans. It's a reporting project and collaboration of KGOU, KOSU, KWGS and KCCU, with broadcasts heard on NPR Member stations.
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