University of Missouri-St. Louis officials cite the economy as well as increasing scholarships and freezing tuition as major factors for its record total enrollment of 16,548 students this fall – a one-year increase of 5 percent. The previous record of 16,094 students was set in 1996.

“People are increasingly understanding that the University of Missouri-St. Louis is a tremendous educational value,” said UMSL Chancellor Tom George. “We have award-winning faculty, nationally ranked academic programs and an excellent metropolitan campus setting. And we have worked very hard to remain financially accessible as more and more Missourians understand the role advanced skill sets and higher education play in a challenging, changing economy.

“An agreement reached with the Governor and Missouri General Assembly allowed us to freeze tuition this academic year,” George said. “We also have reallocated institutional funds and received generous donations in recent years to increase the number and amount of scholarships we provide.”

Fall enrollment is officially calculated after the fourth week of classes. Total enrollment includes students taking credit courses on campus and off campus. The latter is primarily high school students taking advanced credit courses. The just-compiled report includes several on campus enrollment records, including:

• 32 percent of students (3,439) listed as minorities
• 21 percent of students (2,253) listed as African Americans
• 24 percent of students (2,973) enrolled in graduate programs

“We’re delighted that people have responded to our value message in record numbers,” George said. “The University of Missouri-St. Louis was founded in 1963 to bring public higher education to the state’s largest metropolitan area. It’s obvious that need has never been greater.”