The College of Saint Rose has seen an increase in enrollment rates over the past year. The annual audit for admission rates is currently underway, and the data metrics for this audit covering enrollment, retention, and graduation rates will soon be available.
The most recent available data shows that in Fall of 2022, 2,256 first-year students applied to Saint Rose and 295 transfer student applications were received. This same data shows that 240 first-year students and 116 transfer students were officially enrolled at the college. The total number of undergraduate enrollment came to 1,432 students, and graduate enrollment landed at 1,359 students. This brought the total enrollment number to 2,791 students.
In the latest graduation rate report, available under the Student Right-to-Know Act, it is revealed that the school had a 59% graduation rate in Fall 2022. The report states that “the rates reflect the graduation status of first-time, full-time students who enrolled in the Fall of 2015 and for whom 150% of the normal time-to-completion of a four-year, undergraduate degree has elapsed.” The report does not, however, include the total number of students that transferred out of Saint Rose, reading “because providing substantial preparation for students to enroll in other institutions is not part of the mission of the college, transfer-out rates are not calculated.”
According to Patrick Quinn, associate vice president for enrollment management, “Saint Rose has met, or is close to meeting, all metrics for enrollment and retention,” for 2023. This includes students involved in the graduate and undergraduate programs, as well as transfer students.
The school has struggled in the past to maintain the number of students enrolled at the college. In 2020 and 2021 when the COVID-19 pandemic was at its peak, enrollment and retention rates suffered for numerous colleges including Saint Rose. “As has been the case for many smaller private colleges and universities, retention and enrollment rates declined significantly for the Fall 2020 and 2021 cohorts,” Quinn said. “As of Fall 2023 we have returned to pre-COVID rates.”
Saint Rose has also collected the data on which degree programs students are most interested in as a method of better adapting the school’s resources to suit student needs. According to Quinn, the top five most-enrolled degree programs for the Fall 2023 semester are Early Childhood Education and Childhood Education: B-6, Forensic Psychology, Criminal Justice (Behavior and Law), Childhood Education and Special Education, and Business Administration (Accelerated and MBA).
Other popular programs among the student body include Communication Sciences and Disorders, Computer Science, and Clinical Mental Health Counseling. The college also offers a variety of advanced certificate programs including school district leader, school building leader, school psychology, and school district business leader programs.
The College of Saint Rose has devised several strategies to encourage an increase in student enrollment and admissions. Some of these strategies include participating in career fairs, hosting school open house events, and offering career and resume workshops to educate students on what opportunities Saint Rose can provide. In fact, at the latest Saint Rose open house event, over 200 students had registered to attend.
“As always, we are reviewing retention data and considering strategies to improve student educational outcomes,” Quinn said. With the latest data set to be released soon, Saint Rose is hopeful that the enrollment and retention rates will continue to rise for the college.
