Michigan Tech University reports record number of applications for fifth straight year
From mLive. Published April 18, 2022. View the original article.
HOUGHTON, MI – As many of Michigan’s large public universities struggle with decreasing enrollment, Michigan Tech is breaking the trend.
The Upper Peninsula university announced Monday that a record number of prospective undergraduates have applied to Michigan Tech for the fifth straight year. The Houghton-based university welcomed its largest incoming class since 1982 last year.
According to the school, MTU has received more than 8,800 applications for the fall 2022 semester, up 5% from last year, and 30% from the former all-time high set in 2019.
Applications from women have increased nearly 66% in that time and applications from underrepresented minority groups have doubled, according to a news release.
Michigan Tech’s historically strong College of Engineering and College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science and its new College of Computing are helping to drive the surge. Applications to programs like software engineering and cybersecurity are up 40% in the same three-year span.
“When the College was formally established in 2019, we knew we’d get a lot of interest because what we were offering was so unique — but the demand we’re seeing for our programs has surpassed even our highest expectations,” said Dennis Livesay, dean of the College of Computing.
The school also reported enrollment increases in pre-health professions, mathematics and other offerings in the College of Sciences and Arts and the College of Business.
Applications from prospective in-state students have doubled since 2015. Much of the growth has come from Grand Rapids, Traverse City, and southeastern regions of the state, according to the school. Applications from students in Arizona, California and Texas have also tripled since 2015.
“Through excellence in research and education, and by listening and responding to the needs of our students, Michigan Tech has established itself as a premiere niche STEM-based institution.” Lehman said.
“At MTU, we’re committed to measured growth. Of course we want every great student we can get, but we also want every student to get the quality of education they expect from us and the quality of life they deserve while they’re here.”