Mitchell Mitchell Technical Institute has announced that this year s enrollment is 4% higher than the 2011-12 school year. The total number of students enrolled is 1097, up from 1055 last year. The total number is only 11 fewer students than the all-time record of 1108 set in Fall 2010. The freshman class has increased 10%, with 593 freshmen this year compared to 539 last year.
MTI officials attribute the increase in enrollment to several factors including two new on-campus programs, Farm Power Technology and Welding and Manufacturing Technology; a large expansion in online program delivery; continued support from industry partners to assist with recruiting efforts; and the new Spruce Street campus.
According to MTI president Greg Von Wald, “This very solid increase in enrollment is, in part, attributable to the recognition of students and their parents as to the value of technical education and a technical career in today’s workforce. Overall placement rates in excess of 96% at MTI, the relatively low cost of a technical education and, in many cases, wages and salaries in excess of what one will get with a bachelor’s degree are compelling reasons to look at technical careers today.”
MTI has also greatly increased the number of scholarships awarded to incoming students. This year there are 30 Star Scholars (those with an ACT score of 24 or higher and a high school GPA of 3.0 or higher); 22 South Dakota Opportunity scholars; 20 students receiving Critical Workforce Needs scholarships; and 120 Legacy Scholars (those whose parent, grandparent or sibling graduated from MTI).
The entire school is looking forward to next year when the new Trades Center facility is complete in August and all programs have been moved to the Spruce Street location.
