With enrollment down and financial pressure rising, WSU looks for a turnaround

Washington State University (WSU) is grappling with a nearly 20% decline in enrollment across its campuses over the past six years, although recent data indicates a stabilization post-COVID. The WSU Board of Regents held a meeting in mid-September to review enrollment trends and discuss financial pressures caused by state funding cuts. Currently, WSU students pay $13,888 in tuition and fees, the highest among Washington's public colleges. President Elizabeth Cantwell, who took office earlier this year, plans to modernize WSU's identity and improve retention rates, as about 20% of students do not return for their second year. If approved, a proposed tuition increase would mark a decade of annual hikes due to reduced state funding for higher education.

Total enrollment has decreased from 31,607 in 2019 to 25,477 this fall, reflecting a loss of 6,000 students. Cantwell aims to enhance student support services and job placement programs to ensure that incoming students graduate. Despite challenges, the university is taking steps to reshape its future and attract new students.