For Release February 12
Board of Regents Releases Spring 1997 Enrollment Figures
PIERRE-Today the Board of Regents released enrollment figures for the Spring 1997 semester, which show an overall decline from Spring 1996 levels.
System-wide, headcount enrollment for Spring 1997 is 22,446 students-a decrease of 5.81% from 23,673 students in Spring 1996. In full-time equivalent enrollment, the university system is at 19,637.8-a decrease of 4.31% from 20,522.9 in Spring 1996.
Headcount enrollment differences between Spring 1996 and Spring 1997 range from an increase of 4.84% at Black Hills State University, to a decrease of 7.85% at the University of South Dakota. South Dakota State University has the largest single headcount enrollment at 7,728 students, with the University of South Dakota second at 6,472 students.
Non-resident enrollment for the system decreased 8.7% while resident enrollment decreased 4.0% for the Spring 1997 semester.
Regents Executive Director Robert T. Tad Perry said, "The decrease in non-resident students is substantially greater than the decrease in resident students, and I think that this can be attributed to a 20% increase in non-resident tuition and changes in the residency standards that took effect last summer. We're keeping close tabs on enrollment, particularly the resident numbers."
Enrollment Summary Tables
| Headcount Enrollment | Full-time Equivalent Enrollment | ||||||||
| Spring 96 | Spring 97 | Enroll Difference | % Difference | Spring 96 | Spring 97 | Enroll Difference | % Difference | ||
| BHSU | 2,623 | 2,750 | 127 | 4.84% | 2,243.0 | 2,242.3 | -0.7 | -0.03% | |
| DSU | 1,088 | 1,061 | -27 | -2.48% | 904.3 | 853.1 | -51.2 | -5.66% | |
| NSU | 2,494 | 2,405 | -89 | -3.57% | 2,120.1 | 2,072.6 | -47.5 | -2.24% | |
| SDSM&T | 2,158 | 2,030 | -128 | -5.93% | 1,755.1 | 1,642.9 | -112.2 | -6.39% | |
| SDSU | 8,287 | 7,728 | -559 | -6.75% | 7,350.0 | 7,081.7 | -268.3 | -3.65% | |
| USD | 7,023 | 6,472 | -551 | -7.85% | 6,150.4 | 5,745.2 | -405.2 | -6.59% | |
| System | 23,673 | 22,446 | -1227 | -5.18% | 20,522.9 | 19,637.8 | -885.1 | -4.31% | |
Summary: Resident and Non-resident Enrollment
| Spring 96 | Spring 97 | % Change | |
| Total Resident | 17,836 | 17,119 | -4.0% |
| Total Non-resident | 5,837 | 5,327 | -8.7% |