CMU is transforming perceptions in higher education, resulting in a staggering 35% increase in freshman enrollment
Colorado Mesa University is offering students an education that is truly divergent, demonstrating a college degree is more than a piece of paper — at CMU it’s an opportunity for a better life.
As a result, CMU welcomed the largest freshman class in its history on August 19. The 35% freshman enrollment growth comes at a time when higher education, in Colorado and nationally, faces significant headwinds. Enrollment rates across the nation have yet to match pre-pandemic heights as Generation Z voices their concerns about the value of a degree. CMU, however, has experienced the opposite, growing the campus community by substantial amounts.
For CMU President John Marshall, there’s a clear reason for the university’s success: that CMU is a Human Scale University. CMU is a place where everyone is working to make campus, “a model of the world we want to create.” This message is attracting one of the most higher-education-hesitant generations in history.
Facing the Future with First Principles
In 2022, CMU’s campus community returned to the drawing board to redefine what matters most in higher education and at CMU. Students, faculty and staff agreed on and boldly adopted the foundational values of love, dignity, courage, humility, resilience, curiosity and power.
The result has been an emboldened university culture that has unapologetically advocated for free speech and expression, returned to the fundamental purpose of education — an opportunity for a better life — and has relentlessly pursued a commitment to radical affordability.
With compass-like core values, the campus has worked to modernize operations, progressed recruitment strategies, taken on a fresh approach to marketing and communications and has introduced new and revamped academic programs to reflect a Human Scale University, among many other strategies.
Evolving and transforming from the inside out was just the beginning — what came after serves as a testament to the entire community’s buy-in.
Radical Affordability
One of the top barriers to higher education is affordability. Because of this, many students and parents question if the investment is worth the price tag, resulting in widespread decisions to skip out on advanced education. To help alleviate financial burdens and encourage students to still pursue a degree, many Colorado colleges launched aid efforts known as “Promise Programs." CMU offered the CMU Promise, guaranteeing to cover tuition for students living in 22 western Colorado counties whose families earn $65,000 or less. However, in 2023 CMU channeled the value of power and launched a promise that set the university apart.
President Marshall based the CMU Promise on the university’s mission by offering two additional tenants of the promise — the opportunity for a better life and a commitment to teach students how to think, not what to believe.
To spread awareness of the CMU Promise pillars, President Marshall set out on the road for the CMU Rural Promise Tour. He visited high schools across rural Colorado, including Cedaredge, Delta, North Fork, Olathe, Nucla, Naturita, Eagle Valley, Rifle and Meeker high schools to deliver the message.
The response was immediate, followed by baccalaureate enrollment increases of 17% in Garfield County, 27% in Montrose County and an impressive 68% in Delta County, demonstrating the powerful impact of a university President taking time to visit and engage with students.
Following the rural tour, President Marshall and first-generation CMU student Liban Shongolo took CMU’s unique message to the most urban communities in Aurora and Denver, Colorado, and experienced a similar response. As a result, baccalaureate enrollment from Arapahoe County went up by 25%.
Recognizing the need to extend CMU’s affordability initiative to all Colorado students and families, the CMU Board of Trustees voted unanimously to expand the CMU Promise statewide and increase the income level to $70,000.
The Wait is Over Initiative
Although affordability is a top concern, financial aid remains the key to higher education accessibility for many prospective attendees. But for high school students and their families, it can be difficult to navigate the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This is especially true for first-generation students, who make up a large portion of CMU’s student body. This year was especially challenging due to the federal government’s financial aid reforms, which caused widespread delays and disorienting communication.
The FAFSA, which typically opens in October, was still delayed at the start of the year. The federal government sent letters alerting students and parents that financial aid offers were still on hold and likely to be unavailable until as late as summer 2024. By default, many colleges and universities chose to wait by extending their application deadlines or encouraging students and parents to be patient during a time of uncertainty.
Understanding that financial stress could result in thousands of students opting to skip college, CMU did something bold and innovative, implementing The Wait is Over initiative. This initiative created CMU’s own replication of the federal financial aid calculator. The model was designed to make an educated calculation of what future federal offers would be for each student and allowed CMU to send out aid offers sooner than other Colorado colleges. True to its value of love, on Valentine’s Day CMU opened its early aid offer portal months before FAFSA was available. When the federal government finally formalized aid packages, CMU guaranteed to uphold estimated offers, regardless of the margins. Of the nearly 4,000 aid offers sent to incoming and current students, CMU’s calculations were only over on 155 of them.
The numbers speak for themselves, as half of the incoming freshmen who received an early aid offer enrolled at CMU — contributing to the 35% freshman enrollment increase. The bold decision made by the Board of Trustees and President Marshall provided a sense of security for students. It’s possible that without CMU’s early aid guarantee, many may not have enrolled in college at all.
CMU Tech: Elevating the Trades
At a time when students and parents nationwide question the value of a traditional degree, many have turned to associate and certificate technical education (CTE) programs as the solution. Dubbed the “Toolbelt Generation” by the Wall Street Journal, Gen-Z has opted to pursue the trades because the return on investment is fast and measurable — a fact that reigns especially true at CMU Tech.
The unique dual mission at CMU combines traditional four-year and advanced degrees with CMU Tech’s CTE programs, which support both regional and national workforce needs. This additional focus on associate degrees and technical certifications has been crucial in meeting the demand for technical job skills. Like CMU, enrollment at CMU Tech also experienced an unprecedented increase of 40%, prompting university leaders to create new class sections, hire additional faculty members and utilize MavRides — a student-operated club providing free rides to students — to shuttle the influx of attendees between the two campuses.
By attending CMU Tech, students have access to an education that is hands-on, affordable and has almost immediate financial impacts. On top of affordable tuition, many employers are also willing to curb financial barriers through apprenticeship programs, stackable credential compensation guarantees, and loan and tuition reimbursement commitments.
The launch of CMU Tech placed CMU in a position of national leadership. CMU Tech’s exciting growth is a testament to its high responsiveness to workforce needs and widespread conversations about the value of higher education.
Welcoming the Largest Incoming Freshman Class
While colleges and universities around the nation experienced flat or declining enrollment for 2024-2025, CMU’s 35% freshman enrollment increase created enviable opportunities. Faced with the opportunity to welcome the largest incoming freshman class in school history, CMU staff leaned on university values and its mission to keep class sizes small and personable, expand dining services, ensure facilities were upkept, technology was capable and the needs of all students were met. Thanks to true Maverick spirit, the campus was ready for the newest Mavily members from day one.
- CMU Admissions hosted New Mavs Days, celebrating the newest arrivals with a warm introduction to a campus of belonging.
- CMU Dining encouraged students to share tables and meals with their new Mavily, as well as held the grand opening of Qdoba, one of the students’ most requested dining options.
- IT (Information Technology) issued 150 brand new discounted laptops to first-generation students under the CMU 567 laptop program.
- Residence Life spent the summer preparing housing for 3,000 students living on campus.
- CMU Tech created 51 new course sections to accommodate for the growing interest in the trades.
- CMU Student Services transformed The Point, a campus community and entertainment room, into Arcadia, a blast-to-the-past arcade and gaming space.
- IRIS (Integrated Resources for Information and Solutions) reshaped their website into an accessible resource for self-help solutions available to students needing assistance with financial aid, billing and registration questions.
- Asteria Theatre opened its doors to the community and campus, celebrating the new western Colorado hub for culture, performing arts and the stars.
- CMU leadership finalized the campus Master Plan accounting for future parking and campus infrastructure to accommodate for current needs and future enrollment growth.
Preparing for the Future
Making the case for higher education requires an unorthodox mindset and the ability to think big. It demands bold strategies and innovative approaches to address the evolving needs of students and society. Fortunately for CMU, a campus culture driven by Maverick spirit is no stranger to this call-to-action.
Amidst the current state of the academic enrollment environment, CMU has the capacity to grow not just for growth’s sake, but to expand the reach and power of education to those who would not normally have the opportunity or the resources to participate. Guided by its first principal values, radical affordability efforts and Human Scale University mission, CMU is committed to making education accessible and meaningful to all.
While welcoming the largest freshman class to date is an accomplishment celebrated throughout campus, CMU’s successes reach beyond the numbers. Its dedication to providing affordable education, serving first-generation students and offering the opportunity for a better life is what sets CMU apart from the rest.