Contact: Katryn Conlin, Director of Communications
651-385-6364 | kconlin@southeastmn.edu
For Immediate Release
Enrollment soars this fall at Minnesota State College Southeast, Fall 30th day headcount up 14.3% since last year
Winona and Red Wing, MN (October 16, 2024) - Minnesota State College Southeast is seeing an increase in enrollment once again this fall, driven in large part by initiatives to keep the cost of higher education affordable. As of the 30th day of classes, credit headcount enrollment at Southeast was 2294, a 14.3% increase from Fall 2023.
"We have been delighted to see sustained increases in Fall 30th Day Enrollment every year since 2022. This growth reflects our core belief in meeting students where they are," said Dr. Marsha Danielson, President of Minnesota State College Southeast. "We believe every step toward reaching students' educational goals should be simple and achievable - whether that be transferring to university to complete a bachelor's degree, earning an academic award, or attaining career skills."
30th Day credit headcount enrollment marks a point-in-time comparison from one year to the next as of a specific date. It represents the number of individual students who have registered for credit classes 30 days after the first day of the academic year. It is not a final number for the entire semester, as students continue to register for classes after the 30th day.
According to figures released by Minnesota State, 30th Day Enrollment at Southeast increased 4% in Fall 2022 and 7% in Fall 2023. This year, Southeast was in the top five for increased enrollment among the 26 two-year colleges in the Minnesota State system, and was well above the system average increase of 7.7%.
At Minnesota State College Southeast, enrollment growth has been driven by the Red Wing College Promise and the College Opportunity Program in the Winona area. Funded by local philanthropists, business, and industry, these programs make it possible for eligible recent high school graduates in the Red Wing and Winona school districts to attend college at Southeast tuition-free.
In addition, the new North Star Promise provides free college tuition for Minnesota students and families with a family Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) below $80,000. Preliminary data shows that more than 150 students at Southeast are benefiting from the North Star Promise this fall.
"Programs like these reduce financial and psychological barriers for eligible students by increasing access to higher education and fostering high achievement," said Dr. Danielson. "They strengthen the pathway from high school to college, provide educational opportunities to students of all backgrounds, support the workforce talent pipeline by providing more skilled workers, and boost enrollment at Southeast."
She added, "It is tremendously exciting to see what a difference these programs are making in the lives of our students, and tremendously rewarding to welcome so many students to the Southeast community this fall!"
More information about Minnesota State College Southeast is available at www.southeastmn.edu.
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About Minnesota State College Southeast
Located in the historic river towns of Red Wing and Winona, Minnesota State College Southeast is a community and technical college that provides a flexible, affordable, inclusive, and equitable college environment and offers a clear sense of direction to all students. College faculty and staff genuinely care about students' end goals, whether that be earning an academic award, transferring to university to complete a bachelor's degree, or attaining career skills. Minnesota State College Southeast is a member of the Minnesota State system.