NWMSU Reports Record Enrollment

Northwest’s fall enrollment of first-time freshmen is 1,221, and 42 percent of those students identify as first-generation college students.

Additionally, Northwest reports 1,182 students, or 12 percent of the student population, identify with underrepresented groups or hail from countries outside the United States. Northwest’s total domestic minority enrollment is 892 students, which represents 12 percent of the student body and a 4 percent increase since last fall.

The University’s enrollment includes 290 international students, who represent about 4 percent of Northwest’s student body. They represent 39 countries with most of those students coming from India, Nepal, Nigeria, Brazil and China.

While the University’s in-state student population is 4,858 students, representing a 4 percent increase from a year ago, Northwest students hail from a total of 44 states this fall as the institution continues to draw well from Iowa, Nebraska and Kansas.

Away from Northwest’s main campus in Maryville, the number of students enrolled in online-only programs increased by 34 percent to 1,856 students. At Northwest-Kansas City, where the University offers a range of coursework, including dual credit offerings and degree completion programs, 402 students are enrolled; Northwest expects that number to increase as additional high schools begin their school years with delayed starts due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Northwest students remain academically strong with an average ACT score of 22, which exceeds state and national averages, and an average high school grade-point average of 3.45.