Goals

 

 

Overall Target

Enroll 15,500 students by 2030

 

Goal 1

Sustain the size and academic profile of the first-year cohort

 

Goal 2

Expand the incoming undergraduate transfer population

 

Goal 3

Grow undergraduate adult enrollment

 

Goal 4

Increase graduate enrollment

 

Goal 5

Improve student retention and success

The DP Culp Student Center surrounded by flowering trees in spring

Executive Summary

The 2025-2030 Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM) Plan is intended to articulate and facilitate alignment between the university’s recruitment and retention efforts and its overarching strategic goals, including

  • Enrollment Growth
  • Student Success
  • Financial Stability

The document provides historical context, defines the current and projected enrollment environment, identifies opportunities for growth and improvement, prioritizes those opportunities, sets baselines and benchmarks, and provides a road map for implementation. 

The plan sets an overall target of reaching 15,500 students by 2030.

Download the full plan

 

 

Overall Target

ETSU's Strategic Enrollment Management Plan sets an overall target of reaching 15,500 students by 2030, representing an 11% increase in total enrollment, with 2.5% annual growth. 

 

Key Initiatives

 

Aligned Marketing & Communications

 

 

Military-Affiliated Student Support

 

International Student Support

 

Academic Portfolio Enhancement

 

Financial Aid Support

 

One-Stop Student Services

News and Updates

 

 

 

A chart tracking first-time freshmen enrollment since 2015 with targets through 2030. Prior to Fall 2022, enrollment fluctuated from 1,800 to around 2,000. Since fall 2022, the university has hit its target of 2,100 annually.


Goal 1: Sustain the size and academic profile of the first-year cohort

Objective: Sustain a first-year cohort of 2,100 students with an average GPA of 3.5.

Key Initiatives

  • Integrated recruitment marketing
  • International enrollment growth
  • Scholarship optimization
  • High-impact practices

See the plan

 

 

 

A chart showing historic data on undergraduate transfer enrollment numbers. Transfer enrollment peaked in fall 2020 standing above 1,200 but has since shown a marked decline


Goal 2: Expand the incoming undergraduate transfer population

Objective: Grow incoming undergraduate transfer enrollment by 2% annually.

Key Initiatives

  • Scholarships for transfer students
  • Targeted growth
  • Recruitment of military-affiliated students
  • Department of Defense tuition rate match

See the plan

 

 

 

A chart showing historic figures for undergraduate adult headcount, which peaked around 2,300 in 2015 and has since declined to about 1,400.


Goal 3: Grow undergraduate adult (age 25+) enrollment

Objective: Grow undergraduate adult enrollment by 7% annually to reach a total of 2,000 adult students.

Key Initiatives

  • Degree-completion initiatives
  • Alternate course schedules
  • Non-credit offerings
  • Targeted marketing

See the plan

 

 

 

A chart showing historic figures for graduate enrollment, which peaked around 2,500 in 2023.


Goal 4: Grow graduate enrollment

Objective: Grow graduate enrollment by 1.5% annually.

Key Initiatives

  • Continuous and returning enrollment
  • Data-informed recruitment and marketing
  • New program-delivery models
  • Review graduate tuition and fees
  • Online program management expansion
  • International enrollment

See the plan

 

 

 

A chart showing historic figures for 6-year graduation rates, which peaked at 55% in 2016.


Goal 5: Improve student retention and success

Objective: Increase the first-year persistence rate to 85% and the graduation rate to 60%.

Key Initiatives

  • One-stop student services
  • Student success center
  • Undergraduate advising
  • First-year and summer programming
  • Marketing and communications
  • High-impact practices
  • Data-informed student success practices
  • Financial stop-gaps
  • On-campus housing

See the plan

 

Learn More

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