Spears Business enrollment numbers reach historic highs
Tuesday, August 30, 2022
Media Contact: Bailey Stacy | Communications Coordinator, Marketing & Communications | 405-744-2700 | bailey.stacy@okstate.edu
The Spears School of Business is on trend with Oklahoma State University’s largest class of freshmen students with its historic, record-breaking enrollment numbers this fall.
OSU welcomed 4,668-plus first-time freshmen, the largest, most diverse incoming class this fall with an increase of first-generation students rising 7% from last year’s enrollment. Spears Business saw a 3.99% increase, or 219 students, for the Stillwater campus compared with fall 2021, including a record number of undergraduate students (4,863).
“We have followed last year’s record in-coming class with another record class,” said Dean Dr. Ken Eastman. “We are very pleased that so many students are recognizing the exceptional educational and professional opportunities provided by Spears Business. It is also gratifying to see that we continue to increase the number of underserved and underrepresented students who choose to join the Spears family. I give a lot of credit for the increase to our recruiting team and advisors who help make the personal connections with these students.”
The record number of undergraduate Spears Business students on the Stillwater campus include:
- 4,863 undergraduate business students, the largest class in school history and 5.5% more than a year ago;
- 897 new freshmen, the most ever and a 22.54% increase from fall 2021;
- 520 online-only business students, up 24% from fall 2021.
The graduate program, including both the Stillwater and Tulsa campuses, include:
- 791 students, a 1.8% increase in overall graduate program students;
- 391 online graduate students, another record.
Total Spears Business enrollment for undergraduate and graduate students at both the Stillwater and Tulsa campuses is 5,713 for the fall, a 3.99% increase from a year ago.
“We’re excited to welcome our largest freshman class ever into the Spears family as they begin their academic journey,” said Dr. Marlys Mason, associate dean and associate professor, Department of Marketing. “These freshmen are also joined by a record number of returning Spears students which together makes this our largest enrollment yet.”
OSU announced that combined university enrollment at the Stillwater and Tulsa campuses for undergraduate and graduate students is 24,692, a 4% increase across the two campuses from last year. OSU has posted its second highest retention rate on record, with nearly 84% of students returning to enroll at OSU and a record number of new students returning for their second year.