St. Cloud State increases enrollment this fall, but at a lower rate than other schools

St. Cloud State University saw an enrollment increase in enrollment of roughly 1%, keeping its student population at roughly 10,000.

The school’s stabilized enrollment comes as the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system announced a system-wide enrollment increase.

St. Cloud State University’s 1% change wasn’t up to par compared to the other Minnesota State universities, which had an average increase of 4.5%. However, St. Cloud Technical and Community College saw a 13.6% increase, for a total enrollment of 4,000 students, above the Minnesota State colleges’ average increase of 9.3%.

Enrollment increases come after Minnesota launched its North Star Promise program to give students whose families have an adjusted gross income of less than $80,000 free college tuition. A Minnesota State Colleges and Universities release states that nearly 12,000 students are reaping the program’s benefits this fall.

“We believe the increase in enrollment was driven by a number of factors,” said Scott Olson, the chancellor of Minnesota State in a release. “Quality academic programs, keeping our colleges and universities the most affordable, most accessible higher education options in the state and outstanding relationships with the communities we serve were clearly among the keys.”

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St. Cloud State University’s stabilized enrollment doesn’t come without consequences left by its enrollment decline from 2010 to 2024, going from 18,000 students to 10,000. The enrollment decline was a main contributor to the university’s economic hardship, resulting in the public institution cutting its program offerings.

Corey Schmidt covers politics and courts for the St. Cloud Times. He can be reached at cschmidt@gannett.com.