University of Missouri officials tout freshman enrollment gains

The University of Missouri’s 2018 freshman class grew 13.1 percent compared to last year’s, according to first-day enrollment numbers.

Classes at MU began Monday with 4,696 freshmen attending, the MU News Bureau said in a news release. Officials also touted an 87.3 percent retention rate, which they say is the best in school history. The rate measures the percentage of freshmen from last academic year who returned for classes this year.

The release said MU leaders also saw a 29 percent increase in the number of returning students who live on campus and that residence halls are 93.4 percent full, compared to 77 percent last year.

The freshman class’ average ACT score of 26 is above the state average of 20.4 and the national average of 21, the release said. Minority enrollment among freshmen also increased 29.7 percent.

The university saw a steep drop in enrollment starting in 2016, which officials have attributed to a combination of factors including changing demographics and the effects of protests in fall 2015 over racial issues on campus.

Official enrollment numbers will be assessed after the first fourth weeks of classes.