Enrollment at Oklahoma State University increased in Fall 2000 over the previous year by 165 students. Undergraduate retention rates have improved significantly in the 1990's and will continue to have a large impact on enrollment numbers. The addition of OSU-Tulsa and new programs offered in Tulsa will also have a positive impact on overall enrollment in the coming years. The projections in this section are mathematical models based on past enrollments, retention rates and forecasts of high school graduates.

Forecasts for Oklahoma high school graduates show numbers increasing through the year 2001, then slowly decreasing for several years. Since the OSU freshman class averages about 85% Oklahoma residents, these forecasts are the primary source of projection numbers for freshman enrollment. The forecasts of Oklahoma high school graduates used in this section are based upon information from the Oklahoma State Department of Education and the State Regents for Higher Education. It assumes that demographic trends such as immigration into and emigration out of the state will remain relatively constant.

Graduate enrollment at OSU has fallen again this year, but is expected to remain stable for the next several years. Nationally, graduate enrollments have been declining in recent years due to the strong economy.

In summary, several factors affect enrollment projections at OSU. Some of these factors depend on policy decisions originating with the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and some depend on recruitment policies set by OSU administration. The impact of these policies as well as changing admissions, enrollment, retention, scholarship, and recruiting practices all have a role in determining future enrollment at Oklahoma State University. The Office of Planning, Budget & Institutional Research will continue to monitor developments in these areas and assess their impact on enrollment.