HUNTINGTON, W.Va. –Marshall University President Brad Smith told the university’s Board of Governors that the school has seen a significant increase in enrollment for the third consecutive year.
“We’re just up over 20% percent over the past three years, having reversed more than a decade plus decline,” Smith said during the board’s meeting Wednesday afternoon.
Smith said the numbers aren’t finalized yet; however, fall enrollment is on pace to increase by eight percent year over year. The official figures will be finalized on October 15.
He said that full-time, first-time student enrollment has grown by 5.4% year over year and is currently up 24% over the past three years.
Smith explained that the university has seen success from its recently implemented Strategic Enrollment Management plan.
“For example, our decision to expand our Metro Tuition rates, and the catchment area to now include 150-mile radius into Ohio and Kentucky has produced metro enrollment increases of 19% percent this year, and more than 60% over the past three years,” he said.
Smith also said that since the university has embraced on-demand options, such as face-to-face, Hi-Flex, hybrid, and online or distance learning, enrollment has increased by more than 24% year over year and is up 60% over the past three years.
Despite the increase in enrollment, Smith said the university still faces an upcoming enrollment cliff, expected to begin in Fall 2026 and continue for the next decade.
However, he said they are already preparing.
“So, there’s no off season,” Smith said. “We’re already working on next Fall’s enrollment with 75 high school and college fair events on the books and innovative new approaches to inspire and recruit students to join the Herd. Once we have these students on campus our commitment is to strengthen their success.”
He also said the first-year retention rate for this year is on pace to reach 76.4%, up from last year’s 72.2%.
Smith said the growth in enrollment and retention has been a group effort.
“This reflects the amazing work of our student success teams, our faculty, and our staff across the campus,” he said. “So, I want to thank our campus community for their efforts to remain focused on growing enrollment and student success. It is clearly the power of we in action.”
Also, during the meeting, Smith announced that two academic positions, Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, as well as Dean of the College of Liberal Arts, will be filled in the coming days.
Board members also approved a resolution to reallocate funding under the state’s Deferred Maintenance Grant Program. Additionally, they launched the Faculty Recognition Program to celebrate academic and research achievements. Dr. Ross Salary, an associate professor of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering in the College of Engineering and Computer Sciences, and Dr. Kacy Lovelace, associate professor and Research and Student Success Librarian, were the inaugural honorees.