10-day enrollment numbers released, admissions goal reached
First-year enrollment is up this year, while total undergraduate enrollment numbers have decreased from last fall. The office of admission hopes to continue strong recruitment efforts for next year with help from an Amazon Prime series featuring CSB+SJU.
Enrollment is up for the current first-year class at CSB+SJU after the release of the official 10th day enrollment numbers.
With a total of 381 Johnnies and 383 Bennies, the first-year class composes a group of 764 individuals. These figures indicate positive growth since fall 2022, as the current class exceeds last year’s enrollment by a total of 60 students.
This fall’s total enrollment is 2,891 undergraduate students. In fall 2022, the enrollment was 2,971 undergraduate students, 80 more than this year.
Current dean of admissions Cory Piper began just over a year ago, arriving to the CSB+SJU community alongside President Brian Bruess.
Piper notes how higher education has observed decreasing enrollment numbers nationwide.
“Trade schools are up 20%; community colleges are up 7% across the country,” Piper said. “In the state of Minnesota, we’re seeing fewer and fewer males going to college.”
In response, the CSB+SJU admission team is hard at work.
“We want to work to change that because we know how important this four-year experience of a four-year education is,” Piper said. “This comes during an important time in the growth of the age group of college students.”
Piper shares her gratitude for the experiences she’s had thus far working as part of the CSB+SJU admission team.
“It’s a group of admission counselors and admission professionals who are so committed to welcoming new Bennies and Johnnies,” Piper said. “We fully just believe in this transformational experience that is so special at St. Ben’s and St. John’s.”
Students from the current first-year class come from a wide range of geographical locations with various reasons for why they chose the CSB+SJU community.
SJU first-year Nicholas Bushlack arrived at St. John’s from Wells, Minn. Bushlack plans to study global business and has been finding his way, going to various activities and events to become involved.
“I chose SJU because the campus is top-notch,” Bushlack said. “I grew up in rural Minnesota, so the nature surrounding the campus really makes it feel like home.”
Bushlack enjoys CSB+SJU’s small size and seeing familair faces around campus.
“The sense of community is cool,” Bushlack said. “I love being able to know a lot of people I run into during class or on my way to class.”
CSB first-year Josey Jackson arrived at St. Ben’s from Mandan, N. D. Jackson plans to study data science and recently began her first season as part of the CSB swim and dive team.
“The sense of community here is very welcoming,” Jackson said. “There are an overwhelming number of events and clubs I can attend to meet new people, and I can tell St. Ben’s goals are to make a very active student body.”
SJU first-year Jeff Vincent arrived at St. John’s from Palmer, Alaska. Vincent follows his older brother, who graduated in 2022. Vincent plans to study on the pre-medical route during his time at CSB+SJU.
“My parents did try to get me to go to Montana because my older brother is there currently,” Vincent said, “but I liked CSB+SJU because of the smaller class size, and that was what I was used to.”
The current student-to-faculty ratio stands at 11:1.
CSB first-year Pola Milosz arrived at St. Ben’s from Poland and plans to study art. Milosz has loved getting to meet new friends and having the opportunity to live the dorm life.
“I really feel like I belong here and that everyone is equal and welcomed,” Milosz said. “I love that both campuses are safe spaces and that I can meet new people everywhere I go.”
CSB first-year Sophia Thomas arrived at St. Ben’s from St. Paul and is currently discerning her field of study as she takes a wide range of classes. Thomas is a part of Bonner and enjoys her new work study at the XPD office.
“I thought the connections after college were really strong with alumni,” Thomas said. “It felt like home.”
Piper shared her excitement to further the reach of the schools via Amazon Prime’s series, “The College Tour.” CSB+SJU will be the first institution in Minnesota featured. The crew will be active on both campuses, filming Oct. 2 through Oct. 7.
Students will have the chance to be featured on the television series if they attend the Tackle Cancer home game on Oct. 7.
The series will be a unique means of recruitment and sharing about the CSB+SJU experience.
