By MATT PIKE
Missouri Western State University took its first steps in the goal of increasing admission this fall, seeing its first overall increase since 2018, according to the fall census.
MoWest's official enrollment for the Fall 2026 semester is 3,711, an increase of 1% over Fall 2025. President Lenny Klaver says after seeing an increase in new students, there was hope the results would hold for an admission increase.
"And it turned out it was even better than we thought overall, and we're very pleased to be up," Klaver says on the KFEQmunnity show. "That's a feather in the cap of Missouri Western right now, one that we have to parlay into continuing growth."
The increase in total headcount reflects a significant jump of 9% in new undergraduate degree-seeking students, a 9.7% increase in new first-time students, and a 7.2% increase in new transfer students. To continue growth, however, Klaver says a key at MoWest is focusing on the retention of returning students.
"And to have a good approach of recruiting transfer students," Klaver explains. "Specifically, from the community colleges around the region, with North Central Missouri College, Metro Community College, Highland across the river, and going all the way over to State Fair in Moberly, I think we have a lot of good programs that students who transfer that aren't in a career tech program, we can make Missouri Western a very attractive place to go."
MoWest also saw gains in retention rates of current students across the board, increasing by 2% from 2023 for undergraduate degree-seeking students, 5% for first-time first-year students, 7% for transfer students, and 5% for graduate students. Several degree programs also saw significant growth, with Physical Therapist Assistant leading the way at 46%.
Klaver, just coming on as President at MoWest last month, credits the growth to several people including V vice president for enrollment management and marketing Andy Otto and Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Jay Johnson, among others.
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