MU Freshman Enrollment Surpasses 5,000

Aug. 20, 2007

Story Contact:  Christian Basi, 573-882-4430, BasiC@missouri.edu

COLUMBIA, Mo. — The number of new students asking for directions on campus while learning about Mizzou has reached a milestone this year. For the first time in the history of the University of Missouri-Columbia, the number of first-time freshmen has risen above 5,000 students to 5,027, a 3.3 percent increase. MU also continued this streak in setting another record with total enrollment reaching 28,070. This is the fifth straight year that the University has broken this record.

“This class represents both a record enrollment and also a great group of bright students,” said Ann Korschgen, vice provost for enrollment management. “We are extremely pleased to welcome them and look forward to witnessing their successes at MU.”

Freshman African-American enrollment was 331 students, the second-highest total in more than a decade. Total minority student enrollment was 566. The number of Bright Flight scholars increased from 577 last year to 642 this year, an increase of 11.3 percent. The number of students receiving Curators and Excellence awards also increased.

“We are working to ensure that an MU education remains affordable to all students,” Korschgen said. “This is the first year that we awarded a very significant scholarship, the 'Mizzou Scholars' award, which awards $10,000 to high-ability Missouri students. This year, 10 students received this scholarship, along with one full-ride scholarship. We hope to add 10 new Mizzou Scholar awards each year for the next three years.”

This year's mean ACT score, a measure of the quality of this year's freshman class, is 25.5. The state average ACT score is 21.6. The national average is 21.2, the highest national average since 1991.