MARYVILLE, Mo. – Northwest Missouri State University enrollment remains steady this year with undergraduate and transfer students increasing.

According to a news release from the university, enrollment at Northwest this fall is 6,530 students.

After its fall census, the total headcount comprises 5,628 undergraduate students, a slight increase from last fall, and 902 graduate students.

The headcount includes 1,347 first-time freshmen and 298 transfer students, which is up 17.8 percent from last fall. At the same time, 70.7 percent of Northwest’s fall 2015 first-time, full-time freshmen returned to the University, a percentage that continues to place Northwest above state and national averages.

“Northwest has embarked on a number of new enrollment strategies to impact student success and retention,” Bev Schenkel, Northwest’s associate provost for enrollment and retention management, said. “These strategies are aimed at removing barriers and being proactive to ensure our students are successful at achieving their educational goals.”

Northwest’s student body remains increasingly diverse with 1,497 students, or 23 percent, coming from underrepresented domestic groups or other countries. Northwest’s total minority enrollment is 835 students, representing almost 13 percent of the student body, a slight increase since last fall.

The University’s enrollment includes 662 international students, representing about 10 percent of Northwest’s student body. They represent 35 countries with the majority of students coming from India, Nepal, China and South Korea.

Northwest’s in-state student population increased to 4,192 students, and students represent a total of 39 states this fall. In addition to Missouri, Northwest draws from Iowa, Nebraska and Kansas.

Academically, Northwest students remain strong with an average ACT score of 22.5, and students enrolled at the University this fall carried an average high school grade-point average of 3.38.