For the third consecutive year, Midland University is reporting record enrollment numbers. Midland is announcing a total enrollment of 1,572 students for the 2020-21 school year, increasing nearly 12 percent from the 2019-20 enrollment of 1,408. Midland also enrolled a record number of freshmen this year with 370. Midland’s enrollment represents students from 43 states and 19 countries. 

Midland is positioned as an innovative leader in higher education and continues to provide relevant opportunities to students. “Our growth as a university is reflective of our ability to quickly pivot and adapt to the constantly changing needs of students, the marketplace, and society,” Merritt Nelson, Vice President for Enrollment Management and Marketing, said. “Not only have we set records this year in the number of freshmen, but also in the number of students enrolled in our graduate and professional studies programs. It is energizing to be standing in a position of strength while pursuing innovation in higher education.”

Midland has seen exponential growth at its Center for Graduate and Professional Studies Omaha location. Enrollment climbed to 306 students for 2020-21, a 50% increase from its 2019-20 enrollment of 205.

Midland navigated through the COVID-19 pandemic to produce record numbers. The university was one of the nation’s first institutions to transition to online learning in early March. The pandemic also altered the landscape of Midland’s approach to recruitment. With in-person visits no longer allowed, Midland was at the forefront of creating virtual visits that allowed prospective students to get a closer look at Midland, without leaving their home.

“To say there were challenges during this past recruiting cycle would be an understatement. We knew that what worked last year wouldn't work this year,” Nelson said. “We held loosely to our traditional recruiting practices and aggressively pursued new ideas while creating innovative strategies to meet students in a way that was convenient to them. We embraced these challenges as opportunities for growth.”

Midland’s record freshman class of 370 is a 16% increase over last year’s total of 318. “We could not be more excited to welcome the largest freshman class in Midland’s 137-year history to campus this fall,” Nelson said. “Not only is this class large in numbers - but they are a high academic achieving, diverse, talented, and ambitious group of students. It will be exciting to watch them create their legacy over the next four years.”

As it continues to provide opportunities for students of varying interests, Midland has adapted to its students’ ever-changing needs with its new DRIVE academic framework, which puts the student in control of their academic future. Midland will again equip its students with free iPads and Apple pencils through its 1:1 program. The university also celebrated the opening of the state-of-the-art Miller Hall for the 2020 fall semester.

“Our enrollment numbers speak to the commitment Midland University has made to be relentlessly relevant,” President Jody Horner said. “This is an exciting time for our university and is a validation of the strong foundation that has been built as well as the momentum we have garnered. We are excited about the direction Midland is headed.”