WMU sees boost in honors, minority student numbers, small overall dip

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Western Michigan University is seeing increases in its honors student population and increased minority enrollment this fall, despite a slight dip in its overall student numbers.

WMU's official overall student enrollment for fall 2016 is 23,252, a 1.3 percent decrease over the number of students tallied in fall 2015. Graduate enrollment decreased at the master's level, but remained stable at the doctoral level and increased at the specialist level, for a 1 percent decrease overall in the number of graduate students.

Minority student enrollment continued a trend of previous years, growing by 2 percent compared to last fall's total. Over the past five years, total minority enrollment has increased by nearly 11 percent, with increases in all categories except native Hawaiian/Pacific islanders. Total minority enrollment this fall stands at 5,147—22 percent of total enrollment.

More about 2016-17 enrollment

Additional highlights of this fall's enrollment numbers include the following:

• Enrollment in the Lee Honors College increased by 1 percent to 1,779, continuing a trend that has seen growth in the college by nearly 8 percent over the past four years alone. At 418, the incoming honors college freshman class is the largest in University history.
• The beginning freshman class of more than 3,000 students hails from 61 Michigan counties and 26 other states, as well as 25 other nations.
• A full 86 percent of WMU students are Michigan residents.
• The number of doctoral students remains at a total of 919—the largest WMU doctoral enrollment number ever and one that was first reached last fall.
• International enrollment this fall decreased slightly from 1,859 last year to 1,833 this year, and international students this year are from 100 countries.

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