Enrollment increases at Bemidji State University and Northwest Technical College

More than 5,000 students are pursuing their higher education dreams at Bemidji State University and Northwest Technical College, with both institutions enjoying their highest enrollments in years.

Data after the 30th day of fall classes – the official fall census date used by the Minnesota State system of colleges and universities, which this year fell on Oct. 7 – shows 4,076 students enrolled at BSU, an increase of 4.2% over last year; and 983 students enrolled at NTC, an increase of 8.5%.

BSU’s enrollment is the university’s highest fall census-day headcount since 2021 and represents its first increase in fall enrollment from the previous year since the fall of 2017.

At NTC, enrollment has not been higher since the fall of 2018, and the college has seen enrollment skyrocket by more than 35% in just the last two years.

While enrollment relies on a number of factors, university and college officials credit new state programs such as the North Star Promise Scholarship and a sharper focus on providing academic programs that meet regional needs as significant factors in the growth experienced by both BSU and NTC.

“Nearly 450 students at BSU and NTC are benefitting from the North Star Promise Scholarship program,” BSU and NTC President John L. Hoffman said. “This incredible program is making college an accessible and affordable dream for more Minnesotans than ever before.”

Hoffman also pointed to new programs such as the diploma program in cosmetology, which opened this fall at NTC and is full with a waiting list, as important drivers of enrollment as well.

“Our cosmetology program is a great example of our ability to quickly launch new programs that have immediate benefits in our communities,” Hoffman said. “The response to this program has been remarkable, and we have more programs like this in the pipeline.”

For example, Bemidji State expects to launch a degree-completion program in forestry in the fall of 2025 in collaboration with regional two-year colleges.

BSU is also launching unique avenues for increasing enrollment, such as the new manufacturing talent development program unveiled this summer in partnership with Polaris Inc. That program offers new high school graduates an opportunity for immediate internships at Polaris’ Roseau manufacturing plant while taking online courses that support leadership development at the company and can be applied toward a bachelor’s degree at BSU.