See enrollment at Michigan's public universities after a decline in high school grads

Enrollment among Michigan's public universities is down nearly five percent in the last five years thanks in large part to having fewer new high school graduates to recruit, but that decline has been spread unevenly. 

Michigan State University and the University of Michigan have both grown significantly since 2008.

But most of the state's other public universities have seen their enrollments fall and, in several cases, by close to 20 percent.

They've responded with tuition assistance programs, new degrees and greater outreach to recent high school students and to adults with some college but no degree. 

Related:

Why enrollment is down at 10 Michigan universities and way up at MSU and U-M

Read on to learn about what's happening at each of Michigan's public universities and how they are responding to demographic changes. Schools are listed from largest enrollment to smallest. 

Michigan State University

Location: East Lansing

Fall 2018 enrollment: 50,351

5-year enrollment change: +1,034 students (2 percent increase)

10-year enrollment change: +3,841 (8 percent increase)

Efforts to attract students: Michigan State University announced tuition freezes for in-state freshmen through the 2019-2020 academic year as it introduced a new block tuition structure. It's also looking to increase interest among rural students across the state, said John Ambrose, MSU's director of admissions. 

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

Locations: Ann Arbor

Fall 2018 enrollment: 46,716

5-year enrollment change: +3,006 students (7 percent increase)

10-year enrollment change: +5,688 students (14 percent increase)

Efforts to attract students: The University of Michigan unveiled its Go Blue Guarantee in 2018, which covers the cost of tuition for in-state students whose family income is $65,000 or less for students who attend its Ann Arbor campus.

Wayne State University

Location: Detroit

Fall 2018 enrollment: 27,053

5-year enrollment change: -844 students (3 percent decrease)

10-year enrollment change: -3,971 students (13 percent decrease)

Efforts to attract students: Wayne State recently restructured its financial aid system, rolling out its Wayne Access Award, covering out-of-pocket tuition and fees costs for students whose families make less than 70,000 a year.  

Grand Valley State University

Location: Allendale

Fall 2018 enrollment: 24,677

5-year enrollment change: +200 students (1 percent increase)

10-year enrollment change: +785 students (3 percent increase)

Efforts to attract students: Grand Valley State more than doubled the amount of financial aid it gives to students out of its general fund between 2008 and 2018, from $21.9 million to $47.2 million. 

Western Michigan University

Location: Kalamazoo

Fall 2018 enrollment: 22,562

5-year enrollment change: -1,732 students (7 percent decrease)

10-year enrollment change: -2,256 students (9 percent decrease)

Efforts to attract students: Western has focused on workforce development, growing its aviation program significantly in response to a shortage of pilots and maintenance technicians. It's also recently partnered with Cooley Law School, offering accelerated degree programs to help students transition into legal education. 

Central Michigan University

Location: Mt. Pleasant

Fall 2018 enrollment: 21,705

5-year enrollment change: -5,136 students (19 percent decrease)

10-year enrollment change: -5,520 students (20 percent decrease)

Efforts to attract students: Central Michigan University is looking to online and remote degree programs offered through its Global Campus to bolster enrollment. It's also looking to enroll more international students. 

Oakland University

Location: Rochester

Fall 2018 enrollment: 19,309

5-year enrollment change: -860 students (4 percent decrease)

10-year enrollment change: +1,134 students (6 percent increase) 

Efforts to attract students: Oakland actively promotes its Golden Grizzlies Tuition Guarantee Award, which provides up to $20,000 over four years to cover tuition costs for students whose expected family contribution is less than $12,000.

Eastern Michigan University

Location: Ypsilanti

Fall 2018 enrollment: 18,838 

5-year enrollment change: -4,609 students (20 percent decrease)

10-year enrollment change: -3,194 students (14 percent decrease)

Efforts to attract students: Last year, Eastern began offering to cover student's final two years of tuition costs if they opted to live on campus all four years. It also expanded its single-rate tuition policy in 2018 to cover international students.

Ferris State University

Location: Big Rapids

Fall 2018 enrollment: 13,250

5-year enrollment change: -1,457 students (10 percent decrease)

10-year enrollment change: -282 students (2 percent decrease)

Efforts to attract students: Ferris has invested heavily in its four-year welding engineering degree program, doubling the number of students it can take. It's also invested in its digital security program, where its seen substantial student interest.

University of Michigan - Dearborn

Location: Dearborn

Fall 2018 enrollment: 9,468

5-year enrollment change: +720 students (8 percent increase)

10-year enrollment change: +1,157 students (14 percent increase)

Efforts to attract students: U-M Dearborn's College of Engineering and Computer Science has more than doubled in size since 2010, from 1,560 students to 3,597 thanks to offerings in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math. 

Saginaw Valley State University

Location: University Center, Saginaw County

Fall 2018 enrollment: 8,535

5-year enrollment change: -1,705 students (17 percent decrease)

10-year enrollment change: -1,302 students (13 percent decrease)

Efforts to attract students: As part of its bolstered outreach efforts, SVSU has added a regional recruiter for the Lansing area. It's also increased aid to students and is marketing itself to potential students across the state. 

Northern Michigan University

Location: Marquette

Fall 2018 enrollment: 7,595

5-year enrollment change: -1,323 students (15 percent decrease)

10-year enrollment change: -1,752 (19 percent decrease)

Efforts to attract students: Northern rolled out a medicinal plant chemistry degree program targeting students interested in getting involved with the marijuana industry. Its electrical lineman program has also grown in popularity in recent years.

University of Michigan-Flint

Location: Flint

Fall 2018 enrollment: 7,532

5-year enrollment change: -1,023 (12 percent decline)

10-year enrollment change: +272 students (4 percent increase)

Michigan Technological University

Location: Houghton

Fall 2018 enrollment: 7,203

5-year enrollment change: +224 students (3 percent increase)

10-year enrollment change: +194 students (3 percent increase)

Efforts to attract students: Michigan Tech boasts of high starting salaries and having one of the largest career fairs in the country. Its students are predominantly in science, technology, engineering and math degree programs. 

Lake Superior State University

Location: Sault Ste. Marie

Fall 2018 enrollment: 2,007

5-year enrollment change: -428 students (18 percent decrease)

10-year enrollment change: -568 students (22 percent decrease)

Efforts to attract students: Lake Superior State has emphasized programs such as fisheries and wildlife biology and nursing in recent years after observing that today's students are more focused on degree programs than on a university as a whole. It also offers the same tuition rate whether students are from Michigan, another state or country. 

Contact RJ Wolcott at (517) 377-1026 or rwolcott@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @wolcottr.

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