By Lucky Kidd
The Kansas Board of Regents has released fall semester enrollment figures. Based on the 20th day fall census, enrollment across Kansas’ public higher education system is up by four percent compared to last year’s 20th day numbers. Regents Chair Carl Ice said the increases are an indicator that their system is improving affordability and access for Kansas families.
The six universities in the state of Kansas operated by the Regents saw an enrollment increase of 2.3%, Community colleges overseen by the regents had a 5.9% increase, technical colleges 5.3% and Washburn University including their Institute of Technology up 7.6%.
All of the regents’ universities had enrollment increases save Emporia State University with a 2.2% drop and the University of Kansas Medical Center was down by three students. Enrollment at the University of Kansas increased by 5.6%, Kansas State University by 2.8% with the College of Veterinary Medicine up 3.6%, Wichita State University up 0.9 %, Fort Hays State University up 0.3% and Pittsburg State University up 0.7%
Enrollment numbers varied widely for Kansas’ community colleges, ranging from an increase of 17% at Seward County Community College to a decline of 6.9% at Independence Community College.
In central Kansas, Barton Community College saw its 20th day enrollment increase by 15.9%, Hutchinson Community College by 2.5%, Cloud County Community College by 1.8%, Pratt Community College up 14.7% and Butler Community College up 4.3%
The Technical Colleges associated with Fort Hays State University saw a 3.1% increase for the North Central campus in Beloit and up 3.7% at the Northwest campus in Goodland. Those two colleges joined with Fort Hays State this year.
