SMSU reports slight enrollment decline

Overall Minnesota State student numbers remain stable

MARSHALL -- Minnesota State announced this week that overall fall enrollment remained stable across the system's 33 colleges and universities.

Enrollment data showed the total headcount in the Minnesota State system increased by 535 students to a total of 172,879 students system-wide. Enrollment growth at Minnesota State colleges offset declines at some of the system's universities, Minnesota State spokespeople said this week.

Southwest Minnesota State University reported an overall enrollment decrease of 2.8% this fall. In spite of the decrease, SMSU enrollment was in line with the university's three-year average, said President David Jones.

"Last year was a banner year" for SMSU enrollment, Jones said. The university set enrollment records in fall 2025 with a total headcount of 8,597 students. That record enrollment also came after a period of sustained enrollment growth.

“After achieving record enrollment last year, we anticipated that maintaining that pace would be challenging,” Jones said. “Although we experienced a modest decline this fall, we are not alone in seeing enrollment pressures. Many colleges and universities are facing similar challenges. We remain focused on serving our students, strengthening recruitment efforts, and building on the momentum and success SMSU has achieved over the past several years.”

Enrollment at Minnesota State colleges statewide increased 1.5% this fall, for a total of 118,429 students, Minnesota State said in a news release. Universities enrolled 54,450 students.

“Steady enrollment across the Minnesota State system demonstrates that students continue to see tremendous value in the affordable, accessible, and high-quality education offered by our colleges and universities,” Minnesota State Chancellor Scott Olson said in a news release. “Our commitment remains focused on student success, ensuring every learner has access to the education, support, and opportunities they need to achieve their goals and support the workforce needs of our state."

Minnesota State is Minnesota's largest provider of higher education, serving more than 270,000 students a yer through credit and non-credit programs, Minnesota State spokespeople said.

While undergraduate enrollment at SMSU stayed relatively steady this fall, Jones said there were some areas of enrollment that decreased more than others. SMSU saw declines in graduate program enrollment, and in international enrollment, he said.

After the first 30 days of the new school year, SMSU reported an overall fall 2026 enrollment of 8,300. That total includes 2,490 undergraduate students, 476 graduate students, 64 non-degree-seeking students, and 5,270 high school students taking college courses through concurrent enrollment programs like College Now and PSEO.

Jones said some College Now students appeared to be enrolling at schools closer to them rather than SMSU. The university also saw dips in graduate and international enrollment.

This fall, graduate enrollment at SMSU decreased 12%, and international enrollment fell 15.2%, the university reported. There were 132 international students at SMSU in fall 2025, compared to 112 this fall. Jones said international student enrollment is something that is facing challenges on the federal level.

Jones said SMSU is continuing to look at what the university can do to advance enrollment efforts while meeting the educational needs of the area community. He said steps like SMSU's plans to build a four-year nursing degree program were part of the effort to help meet workforce needs.

This fall, Minnesota State is in the process of looking at a strategic realignment effort, that Olson has said could include consolidating some Minnesota State campuses or schools. Jones is currently serving on one of two committees who will be involved in putting together a realignment plan that will be presented to the Minnesota State board in January.

The committee Jones is part of is examining the model Minnesota State uses to allocate funding to different campuses around the state.