Dr. Miguel Cardona (left), Secretary of Education and Cindy Marten, Deputy Secretary | https://www2.ed.gov/news/staff/bios/index.html
Dr. Miguel Cardona (left), Secretary of Education and Cindy Marten, Deputy Secretary | https://www2.ed.gov/news/staff/bios/index.html
Of the six institutions in the county, three provided detailed enrollment data at the time, including Saint Cloud State University, College of Saint Benedict and Saint Johns University.
At least 8,091 people applied to Stearns County colleges in the 2022-23 school year.
NCES data shows that among them, around 20,174 students enrolled in the universities, including 17,770 in undergraduate and 2,404 in graduate programs. In total 7.6% of undergraduates transferred from another college or university.
The reported undergraduate student body is comprised mostly of white (65.9%) and Black or African American (12.3%) students.
Among the institutions that provided disclosed enrollment data, Saint Cloud State University stood out with the largest enrollment at the time, welcoming 10,420 students.
U.S. college enrollment has been in a downward trend since peaking at around 18.1 million students in 2010. Recent increases offered some relief, but experts project a steeper decline in 2025.
This decline is likely due to two main factors. First, the pool of young adults is shrinking as birth rates have fallen nearly 23% between 2007 and 2022. Second, the rising cost of higher education, including skyrocketing student loan debt. A 2023 Wall Street Journal report shows that more than half of Americans think a four-year degree is not worth the cost.
Some educational data is based on estimates. Shifting demographics among student populations can sometimes result in gender totals which do not equal 100%.
| Institution | # of Applicants | # of Admitted Students | Total Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Cloud State University | 4,810 | 4,570 | 10,420 |
| Rasmussen University-Minnesota | -- | -- | 3,058 |
| St Cloud Technical and Community College | -- | -- | 3,466 |
| Saint Johns University | 1,592 | 1,369 | 1,645 |
| College of Saint Benedict | 1,689 | 1,486 | 1,470 |
| Model College of Hair Design | -- | -- | 115 |
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