PIERRE, S.D. –Fall enrollment at South Dakota’s six public universities is down about 2.8 percent in headcount and full-time equivalent students, the South Dakota Board of Regents reported today.
The number of full-time equivalent (FTE) students for the Fall 2020term—based on total credit hours generated by all students within the regents’ system—was down by 718 students to a total of 24,586.
Total headcount at the six public universities was 33,566, a decline of 2.76 percent or 954students over last year.
“Across the country, these are challenging and uncertain times for public higher education,” said Brian L. Maher, the regents’ executive director and CEO.
“Our universities prepared for the likelihoodthat the pandemic would impact fall enrollments, so a reduction of about 700 full-time students was not unexpected. We are pleased that so many students and their families are placing a priority on auniversity education in these exceptional times.We offer a special thanks to our faculty and staff for their dedication, support, and willingness to adapt.”
Black Hills State University reported a 6.48 percent decrease in headcount over the past year. This year, there were 3,608 enrolled at BHSU, down from last year’s 3,858.
The School of Mines saw a 2.06 percent decrease. Headcount at the South Dakota Mines was 2,477 for the fall of 2020, compared with 2,529 to the fall of 2019.
