FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 1, 2020
Board of Regents announces 2020 fall semester enrollment
(Topeka, Kan.) - Preliminary census day figures released today by the Kansas Board of Regents (KBOR) show a decrease systemwide in full-time equivalency (FTE) student enrollment at public higher education institutions in Kansas. The total student headcount also decreased across all sectors.
“COVID has introduced a unique set of hurdles for higher education that has negatively impacted fall enrollment as expected,” said KBOR President and CEO Blake Flanders. “However, the pandemic has also converged with longer-term challenges facing enrollment, including a steady decline in the college going rate of Kansas high school graduates. The Board is focused on advocating for the institutions as they weather the impact of coronavirus and on addressing longer-term issues to ensure that Kansans can build rewarding careers and Kansas businesses have access to the skilled workforce they need.”
The COVID-19 pandemic has created challenges for recruiting prospective students, and some institutions faced particular difficulties in enrolling international students for the fall semester. In addition, the delayed start for many Kansas high schools likely contributed to a decrease in the number of high school students enrolled in concurrent courses at the time of the 20th day census.
Across the six state universities, there was a decrease of 2,677 FTE students (-3.6 percent). Community colleges experienced a decline of 4,737 FTE students (-11.7 percent), while technical colleges saw a drop of 518 FTE students (-8.7 percent). The Board will monitor the impact that this reduction will have on the institutions of higher education.
Preliminary fall enrollment summaries in both FTE and headcount for each public higher education institution in Kansas may be viewed here. Enrollment numbers may also be accessed at stats.kansasregents.org.
Full-time equivalency is calculated by dividing the total number of undergraduate credit hours taken in a semester by 15 and graduate credit hours by 12.
For more information, contact Matt Keith at (785) 430-4237 or
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About the Kansas Board of Regents
The nine-member Kansas Board of Regents is the governing board of the state’s six universities and the statewide coordinating board for the state’s 32 public higher education institutions (six state universities, one municipal university, nineteen community colleges, and six technical colleges). In addition, the Board administers the state’s student financial aid, adult education, high school equivalency, and career and technical education programs. Private proprietary schools and out-of-state institutions are authorized by the Kansas Board of Regents to operate in Kansas.