CSU Pueblo enrollment increases significantly with big gains in doctorate, minority students

Preliminary enrollment updates show that the number of Colorado State University Pueblo students working to earn a doctorate have increased over 90% compared to last fall.

This surge is largely due to the online doctorate of education program that launched in January and already has gained 31 students. Doctorate student enrollment increases aren't the only increases CSU Pueblo is celebrating this fall — the university's total headcount of 3,657 students is a 3.6% increase from last year, according to a CSU Pueblo news release.

Additionally, first-generation students accounted for 42.2% of enrolled students. That is an increase of nearly 2% compared to last year.

Fall 2023 enrollment numbers, which were presented by CSU Pueblo President Timothy Mottet at an Oct. 5 CSU Board of Governors meeting, also indicated that racial and ethnic minorities accounted for about 54% of students attending CSU Pueblo. That's about a 3% increase from last year.

Enrollment totals presented on Oct. 5 were preliminary. Final reports will be presented to the Board of Governors in December, according to CSU Pueblo.

Enrollment sees uptick after years of decline

Kristyn White Davis, vice president for enrollment management and extended studies, told the Chieftain that CSU Pueblo's goal is to increase its total enrollment to 4,000 students by 2028.

Five years ago, CSU Pueblo wasn't far from having 4,000 undergraduate students — counting 3,936 undergrads in fall 2018. However, that undergraduate total would drop to 3,855 the following year, according to an October 2019 news release from CSU Pueblo.

As previously reported by the Chieftain, total fall enrollment, including both undergraduate and graduate students, descended post-pandemic. The university's preliminary headcount fell to 3,716 in 2020. The following year, CSU Pueblo counted 3,633 students.

In fall 2022, CSU Pueblo welcomed its largest class of first-year students in five years, but the university struggled to retain students, as indicated by a preliminary headcount of 3,529. However, fall 2023 appears to be different.

"We've increased the retention of current students by 2% (compared to 2022)," White Davis said. "Bringing in more students and students that stay shows that we are working in the right direction."

How CSU Pueblo was able to increase enrollment

Two important initiatives were taken by CSU Pueblo to ensure enrollment growth and student retention in 2023, White Davis said.

One initiative was increasing the number of "enrollment extravaganzas" — events that provide a "one-stop shop" for student support services and allow students to take campus tours. There were six enrollment extravaganzas held this year between April 29 and Aug. 19, according to the CSU Pueblo website.

Another initiative allowed for the use of Pueblo County excise tax funds to assist with the buy down of student loan balances, White Davis said.

More education news: Retired teacher Sue Pannunzio runs for Pueblo D60 board

Pueblo Chieftain reporter James Bartolo can be reached at JBartolo@gannett.com. Support local news, subscribe to The Pueblo Chieftain at subscribe.chieftain.com.

This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: CSU Pueblo enrollment numbers are up this year. Here's why