Sept. 19, 2024

This paid piece is sponsored by Augustana University.

More students are calling themselves Augustana University Vikings than ever before.

The university’s newly released 2024-25 academic year data reports 2,390 undergraduate and graduate students, representing a 10.75 percent increase over last year and the highest enrollment in Augustana’s almost 165-year history.

The student body includes 2,030 total undergraduates – the largest overall undergraduate head count at Augustana in 34 years.

The freshman class is especially strong, with 533 first-year students, compared with 454 last year – a 17 percent increase.

“We’ve enjoyed strong growth and are very pleased with these numbers, but there’s a bigger, broader storyline behind them,” Augustana University president Stephanie Herseth Sandlin said.

“I think it’s a combination of students seeing that we’re offering new academic programs, a unique student life experience, all the renovations we’ve made in housing and dining spaces and what we’ve been able to do with scholarships to close the financial gap some students encounter and make an Augustana education more accessible to many of them.”

The 2024-25 student body hails from 41 states and 54 countries but is equally strong in its draw for Sioux Falls and South Dakota students.

“Our first-year class of students from Sioux Falls increased 52 percent from last year, and the number of South Dakota students increased by 37 percent,” Herseth Sandlin said.

“The differentiated experience we’re offering in the classroom and on campus is appealing to local students and those across the state.”

While higher education enrollment is trending up across South Dakota, there are reasons related to decreases during the COVID-19 pandemic that account for some of the growth now, she added.

“Many of us should have seen some growth as we graduated a smaller class last spring due in part to the pandemic and welcomed a larger one this fall, but when we look deeper into our numbers at Augustana over the past four years, it becomes clear that this is much more than a natural rebound,” Herseth Sandlin said.

“Augustana is firing on all cylinders right now, and it’s reflected in the numbers.”

The top majors declared by Augustana students include nursing, biology, business administration, psychology, exercise science, finance, elementary education, computer science, accounting and marketing.

“It’s important for the Sioux Falls-area business community to know they play a key role in helping to drive this enrollment growth,” Herseth Sandlin said. “They are strategic partners with us – offering outstanding internships and other learning experiences, serving as guest speakers and mentors, and partnering to deliver new programs such as fintech and integrated behavioral health.”

Augustana also set a record for the overall number of graduate students in the university’s history with 387, thanks in part to the university’s first doctorate program: Doctor of Physical Therapy.

“We see expanding graduate programs as a driver of undergraduate enrollment as well,” Herseth Sandlin said. “We know that 30 percent of Augustana undergraduates last year went on to graduate programs and professional programs, so the ability to offer more advanced degrees on campus, or in an accelerated or hybrid environment, we think will continue to be very appealing.”

And don’t underestimate the appeal of athletics. The new Midco Arena definitely has done its part in attracting interest in the university, Herseth Sandlin added.

“Having a beautiful new facility is part of how we offer a differentiated student life experience — being there for game day and other activities and events will keep adding more energy and excitement to campus,” she said.

“No one else in the state has a hockey environment like this, and it’s also opening opportunities for students to participate in things like club hockey and figure skating. Athletics often serves as a ‘front porch’ to a university, and Division I hockey is prompting not just more South Dakota students to look at Augustana, but it’s expanding our reach into Minnesota as well.”

Once students begin to seek out Augustana, the conversation becomes even more positive, she added.

“Once we’re on their radar, we can bring them to campus and show them all the reasons they’re suddenly able to see themselves here – and that includes the community of Sioux Falls, which is increasingly attractive to college students as a place to live, learn and work,” Herseth Sandlin said.

“They might not say it in these words, but I think it comes down to innovation. They’re seeing that there’s always something happening, whether it’s a new academic program that’s cutting edge or hockey or really generous scholarships.”

From there, Augustana’s competitive approach to financial assistance can be a game-changer.

“We’re doing our best to bridge a gap for students between an Augustana education and other options they’re assessing, especially for those talented students who want a more intimate campus environment in a larger, dynamic community, where they can develop close faculty relationships and relationships in the business community as well,” Herseth Sandlin said. “We have a brilliant team in enrollment management, and we’re being creative and figuring out financial packages that work for students.”

Students who enroll also are surrounded by great support, she added.

“We’re using a collaborative communication tool that’s all about student success to help ensure students are getting the advising, information and services they need from faculty, career specialists and student life professionals for a healthy and positive experience at Augustana.”

That’s showing in the numbers, too, with the number of returning first-year students from fall 2023 to fall 2024 at 85.5 percent – the third highest retention rate in the university’s history.

“I encourage parents and students to consider factors like retention and graduation rates in making their college choices,” Herseth Sandlin said. “It’s such a substantial investment of time and resources, so you want to look for a place that’s setting you up to succeed from the first year to senior year and that leads to rewarding employment opportunities in your chosen career field after graduation.”

Members of the Augustana class of 2023 had a 98 percent positive career outcome, hired by 113 unique organizations, with the Sioux Falls area retaining 56 percent of those graduates.

“Employers love our students and graduates,” Herseth Sandlin said. “Just like the business community, we’re committed to attracting, developing and retaining talent, and we’re seeing that success in the outstanding placement rates of our graduates and the careers they go on to build as alumni.”

For information on how to Find Your Bold at Augustana, visit augie.edu/apply.