University of Missouri welcomes most diverse student body in its history

The University of Missouri officially kicked off its 2013-2014 school year Monday with the most diverse student body in the school’s history, according to officials.

The university has 34,111 students enrolled, with a total minority enrollment of 5,116. That’s an increase of 3.6 percent from last year.

“We are pleased to once again welcome another very large class of students to MU,” said Ann Korschgen, vice provost for enrollment management, said in a statement. “This year, we’re experiencing significant increases in our international student population and diversity on campus.

The school’s international population rose to 2,109 student, marking a 3.3 percent increase from last year.

Mizzou welcomed 6,227 freshmen this year, the second-largest in history. Last year’s class of 6,560 first-year students was the largest ever.

When it comes to academics, the incoming freshman class had a mean ACT score of 25.7, compared to the state average of 21.6 and the national average of 21.1.

“Mizzou continues to attract a large number of Bright Flight and Curators Scholars from across the state,” Korschgen said. “These high-quality students know we continue to be an institution that can prepare them for their chosen career fields and provide opportunities to enrich their educational experiences.”