02/20/18 

HAYS, Kan. – Record enrollments at Fort Hays State University have continued for a 17th consecutive spring with a 20th-day enrollment of 13,127, which is 474 students higher than last spring’s 12,653.

The overall increase, 3.7 percent, was on the strength of increases in all three components of Fort Hays State enrollment: on-campus enrollment increased by 23 to 4,280; Virtual College enrollment increased by 92 to 6,744; and enrollment at the university’s international partner universities increased by 359 to 2,103.

The number of Kansas students also increased, to 7,334 this spring from 7,205 in spring 2017.

“The ability to meet our strategic growth initiatives for 17 consecutive years is something we do not take for granted,” said Dr. Joey Linn, vice president for student affairs.

“The faculty and staff at FHSU work extremely hard to provide students with a quality education along with a personalized student experience,” he said. “While many universities across the country are experiencing enrollment declines, FHSU is proud to see students across Kansas, the Midwest and the world choose FHSU in record numbers.”

The numbers break down to 10,561 undergraduate and 2,532 graduate students. Enrollment in the university’s Doctor of Nursing Practice program, not included in the Graduate School count, is 34. The Doctor of Nursing Practice is FHSU’s first doctoral degree.

FHSU’s Hispanic student enrollment this spring is up across the board, from 968 last spring to 1,046 in spring 2018. That includes undergraduate and graduate enrollment. On campus is up this spring to 493 from 456 last year, and Virtual College Hispanic enrollment is 553 this year compared to 512 in spring 2017.

The string of record enrollments began in 2002, when both spring and fall enrollments set all-time highs. Each semester since has been higher than the corresponding semester from the previous year.