Aug. 23, 2021
Contact: Christian Basi, 573-882-4430, basic@missouri.edu
Classes for the Fall 2021 semester opened with more Tigers enrolled at the University of Missouri than last year. Preliminary first-day figures show that overall enrollment at MU was 31,121, up almost 1% from last year. Undergraduate enrollment was up more than 1% with 23,533 students. Transfer student enrollment also rose, up 1.27% from last year.
“I’m thrilled to welcome back our returning and new Tigers to campus, and I’m so proud of the resilience demonstrated by our students and their families over the last 18 months,” University of Missouri President Mun Choi said. “The pandemic experience has reminded us all what an extraordinary privilege it is to be part of the Mizzou community and what an important role this university plays in our state. I look forward to an exceptional year.”
The average ACT score among freshmen, which is a measure of the quality of the freshman class, increased to 27, one of the highest ACT averages on record for MU freshmen. It also is well above the Missouri (20.8) and national (20.7) averages.
“Despite the challenges of the pandemic, our enrollment numbers show students still recognize the quality education and superior experience offered here,” said Kim Humphrey, vice provost for Enrollment Management. “Students and families alike understand the value of a degree from MU.”
While MU is offering more in-person courses this year, masks are required indoors on campus for anyone who is unvaccinated and strongly recommended even for those who are vaccinated. Masks are required in all classrooms, regardless of vaccination status, and in work and meeting spaces where social distancing cannot be maintained.
Vaccination remains the best way to prevent COVID-19, and the university has strongly encouraged all students, faculty and staff to get vaccinated at one of the many vaccination sites offered by MU Health Care. The university will hold vaccination events at the MU Student Center on Aug. 24 and 25 from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Beginning the week of Aug. 30, students can call the MU Student Health Center to schedule a vaccine appointment.
Ahead of the new school year, MU launched a vaccine incentive program to encourage the university community to get vaccinated. Students, faculty and staff can securely upload a copy of their vaccine card to be entered to win a variety of prizes. Prizes include scholarships for students, a tour of the Jesse Hall dome, gift certificates toward purchases at Tiger Tech, tickets to athletics events and dinners with MU celebrities like football coach Eli Drinkwitz and women’s softball coach Larissa Anderson. There are three more drawings, including today, before the drawing for grand prizes on Oct. 4.
