University News
Final counts are in for CSP’s Fall 2021 enrollment, showing the second-highest number of students in our 129 years of operation. CSP remains solidly as the second-largest private university in Minnesota. The data underscores the vitality of the university and the opportunities CSP provides for students.
Official enrollment for the current term stands at 5,526 students, which is just below last year’s record-setting 5,567. These figures include traditional undergraduate, adult undergraduate, and our expanding graduate/doctoral programs.
“Concordia University, St. Paul continues to outperform the higher education community as a whole, with many institutions seeing sequential year-over-year declines in enrollment,” said Eric LaMott, Provost and COO for CSP. “Our students see the opportunity for strong, career-focused academic programs that align their interests with the opportunities and trends in the job market overall. The CSP team has been following a multi-year strategic plan to ensure relevant, high-value degree programs, which leads many students to trust CSP for their college investment.”
CSP reports slight declines in undergraduate enrollment versus the prior year, which was expected with declining numbers in secondary education in the region. At the same time, CSP noted enrollment gains in the school’s Masters degree programs and even higher gains in doctoral program enrollment.
A key factor fueling strong program enrollment, CSP expanded programs and introduced new degree options in health sciences, providing even more opportunities for students and supporting CSP’s strong financial position. The new Associate of Applied Sciences degree in medical sonography, which is part of a collaboration with Allina Health, creates a strong two-year option for students seeking careers in the medical profession. In addition, our ABSN program for nursing is highly competitive in the local market and provides pathways to high-demand nursing jobs in the region.
CSP is also continuing to focus on promoting an even more culturally diverse and rich campus experience, drawing a record of 204 international students (graduate and undergraduate) this year. We now have 31 countries represented on campus, with students coming from North America, Europe, the Middle East, and the Far East.
“The Concordia experience reflects our expanding global community, and we will continue to invest in ways to draw students who live in the immediate area as well as those who join us from much longer distances,” added LaMott. “We are committed to providing an affordable private university education that delivers high value, career-focused degree programs and a complete collegiate experience for our on-campus students, commuters, and virtual learners.”