Midland University’s enrollment numbers reveal a strong and diverse campus for the 2022-23 academic year.
Enrollment numbers have once again reached record heights by crossing the 1,600 student threshold with 1,615 students enrolled for the fall semester, including over 1,110 students on the Fremont undergraduate campus. More than one-third of Midland’s undergraduates are first-year students, including freshmen and transfer students.
Growth in adult learning continues for the university, with more than 300 students enrolled in Midland’s Center for Graduate and Professional Studies Omaha campus, an increase from the 2021-22 academic year.
“We are excited and very proud of our enrollment numbers once again, but when you go beyond those numbers, you start to see the real impacts we are making in the lives of our students,” Lori Ethier, Vice President for Enrollment Management and Marketing, said. “Our students come from varied backgrounds and have a diverse set of interests. When they arrive at Midland, they become engaged and embrace the rich experiences our campus has to offer.”
More than 90 percent of Midland’s undergraduate students are involved in extracurricular activities on campus. Midland features the largest athletic program in Nebraska, with 33 varsity sports, and has more than 900 student-athletes on campus. Beyond the athletic field, Midland has 140 students involved in Arts programs.
“We want our students to be involved and able to continue to explore their passions while they earn their degree and build the skills necessary to be successful beyond Midland,” Ethier said. “Our priority is for our students to not only succeed in the classroom but to graduate with the skills they will need to add immediate value in their chosen field.”
According to Niche.com, Midland ranks as the second most diverse college in Nebraska, with more than 27 percent of Midland students identifying themselves as coming from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds. In addition, Midland has a strong international presence, with students hailing from 24 different countries.
Midland has maintained its strong presence within the state as more than half (52 percent) of its student population is from Nebraska. But Midland’s impact remains nationwide as well, with 39 different states represented on campus.
“Our goal has always been, and will continue to be, making students feel like Midland is a welcoming and inclusive space,” Ethier said. “Students arrive at Midland from many different places, but once they are here, they are part of a community.”
Not only is Midland striving to welcome in new students, but working hard to keep current students on track to graduate. With institutional persistence rates close to 75 percent, Midland is on par with other universities across the country in keeping students on campus.
In their journey toward graduation, Midland is ensuring that students are prepared for what awaits them in the job market, as 90 percent of Midland students have completed an internship, practicum, clinical, or student-based teaching experience. In a survey conducted by the university, nearly 90 percent of students were confident that Midland prepared them to be competitive in the job market and 92 percent believed they developed a level of competence appropriate for a college degree in their major.
Midland University President Jody Horner said the university will continue to be relentless in its pursuit to have students positioned to be successful as they work toward graduation. “At Midland, we strive to develop the whole person and want our students to excel in and out of the classroom,” she said. “When they walk across that stage on graduation day, they are prepared for whatever lies next in their journey.”
Ethier said Midland will continue to search for innovative ways to grow in both undergraduate and adult learning. “It is our mission to continue to expand these programs and continue our growth with online and professional learning,” she said. “We will work to meet the needs of all of our students, both present and future.”
