In the midst of a nationally declining college enrollment rate, the Mount stands tall.
Over last year, the enrollment rate at Mount St. Joseph University has grown by 12 percent welcoming new students from 13 different states, and increasing total enrollment to 2,000--A 500 student increase from last year.
The small size of the University enables the Mount to create a more personalized and meaningful college experience for each and every student. The Mount even emails each of its students during holidays and birthdays, which is greatly appreciated by many students.
“What gives us an advantage, being a smaller school, is we’re able to really personalize our recruitment approach," Vice President for Enrollment, Chris Powers tells Lara Schwartz of the "Cincinnati Business Courier." “It’s that type of touch that we’re seeing through our analytics that students really appreciate.”
In recent years, the number of students deciding against pursuing a college education has increased. In the state of Ohio, total enrollment has decreased by 11.4 percent over the past decade, mirroring national trends. Typically, schools that defy this trend tend to be larger state universities. Mount St. Joseph proudly stands as an exception to the rule.
One policy that contributes to the Mount’s ability to defy national trends is the implementation of an automatic admission system for applicants with a grade point average of 3.0 or higher. Additionally, the Mount doesn’t require an application fee, and does all it can to provide a generous amount in scholarships.
“It’s kind of a relief to some students. There’s a lot of anxiety around applying to schools, if you’re going to get admitted or not,” Powers explained to Schwarz. “I think this takes some of the stress off.”
The Mount also prides itself on its successful academic programs, namely education, computer science, and nursing, a program which has a 100 percent pass rate for the National Council Licensure Examination. The Mount’s athletics have also been a major pull, with many investments being made into the Mount’s athletic programs and facilities, such as the 86,000 square-foot Centennial Field House and Fitness Center in 2021. At this time, nearly 44 percent of all Mount students were involved in one of the Mount’s 21 NCAA Division III sports teams. Other investments have gone toward the student experience, especially toward mental health resources for students.
Mount St. Joseph University focuses on recruiting from the Tri-State by connecting with the leadership of local high schools and emphasizing the Mount’s faith-based mission and education.
“We’re really proud of being a faith-based institution and a lot of students are still looking for that,” Powers tells Schwartz. “We really try to market around that.”
To read the original article, visit "Cincinnati Business Courier": How Mount St. Joseph University Defies National Trends With Enrollment Growth