Record Breaking Enrollment and National Rankings!

Published on August 21, 2018

Record Breaking Enrollment! 

On Tuesday August 21^st, State Tech kicked off the new academic year and welcomed a record breaking number of first year students to campus. The most since the college was founded in 1961.

This news comes on the heels of the recent announcement that State Tech has been named the 3^rd best college in the country by Forbes Magazine and Wallethub. State Tech is honored to be considered one of the nation’s best!

Overall enrollment is up over 16% and now stands at 1483 students.  First year student enrollment equals a 16% increase from last year, which at the time was also a record-breaking class.  The previous overall enrollment record was set in 2013 with 1294 students.

“All of the State Tech faculty and staff who have been working towards opening day would agree we are definitely starting the year on a high note!  Within the course of a week we were named 3^rd nationally on two different college ranking lists and for a second year in a row set a record for freshman enrollment and now an overall enrollment record,” said State Tech President Dr. Shawn Strong.

The Forbes article is titled: “The Top 25 two-year trade schools: Colleges That Can Solve The Skills Gap.” The measures Forbes used to rank the schools were broken down into categories including Post-Graduation Success (37.5%), Affordability (25%), Completion or Graduation Success (20%), and Student Experience (17.5%).

WalletHub compared more than 700 community colleges across 17 key indicators of cost and quality.  State Tech ranked 1^st on the indicator of Student Outcomes and 2^nd in Career Outcomes across the entire country.

“Typically enrollment at two year colleges is counter cyclical to the economy, we are bucking that trend.  I believe the good work by the Missouri Chamber, Governor Parson, the Department of Economic Development and others promoting workforce development is starting to resonate.  As pointed out in the Forbes recognition last week you don’t always need a four-year degree to have a rewarding career,” said Strong.

“Our outstanding relationships with the companies that hire our students will continue to make State Tech the Employer’s Choice. Those same relationships result in an exceptional placement rate and helps students to make the decision to choose State Tech.  My advice for students looking to come to State Tech next fall, apply now!  State Tech had more full programs this year than any other year; we don’t expect that trend to change.” said Strong.

For additional information, please contact Brandon McElwain at 573-897-5351.