BSU Enjoys Second-Highest Enrollment Despite COVID-19 Pandemic

Strong Retention of Last Year’s Freshman Students Contributes to Overall Enrollment Boost

MEDIA CONTACT: Damita Chambers, dchambers@bowiestate.edu, 301-832-2628 mobile

(BOWIE, Md.) – Despite drastic shifts to virtual student recruitment and enrollment during the COVID-19 pandemic, Bowie State University welcomes its second-highest student enrollment of 6,250 during the fall 2020 semester. Maryland's first historically Black university's total student population exceeded last fall’s enrollment by 1.3 percent.

The number of first-time, full-time freshman students jumped nearly 20 percent to 957 since last fall, contributing to this year’s enrollment spike. About 76 percent of last year’s freshman class returned for another year, also making a major impact on the total enrollment. The national average rate for second-year students returning to their public four-year university was 71.2 percent in fall 2018, according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center.

Even with the uncertainty of a global pandemic, more than 12,000 high school students submitted applications for admission to Bowie State, despite the university having to quickly transition the recruitment process to fully online amid a statewide shutdown, starting in March.

Overall, BSU's enrollment has experienced a 10-percent increase since fall 2016. In fact, the Baltimore Business Journal has recognized BSU as Maryland's #3 fastest-growing, four-year college or university.

“These numbers are more than facts, data and a simple head count of BSU success this year,” said Dr. Brian Clemmons, BSU vice president for enrollment management. “Despite the challenges we are facing this year, our students still saw the importance of receiving an education and degree from Bowie State University.”

As BSU begins the 2020-21 recruitment season, new applicants will benefit from an extension of BSU’s test-optional admissions policy, admitting students without ACT or SAT scores for the upcoming academic year due to the pandemic.

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About Bowie State University
Bowie State University (BSU) is an important higher education access portal for qualified persons from diverse academic and socioeconomic backgrounds, seeking a high-quality and affordable public comprehensive university. The university places special emphasis on the science, technology, cybersecurity, teacher education, business, and nursing disciplines within the context of a liberal arts education. For more information about BSU, visit bowiestate.edu.