Matt Proctor President of Ozark Christian College | occ.edu
Matt Proctor President of Ozark Christian College | occ.edu
Of the six institutions in the county, two provided detailed enrollment data at the time, including Ozark Christian College and Missouri Southern State University.
At least 2,314 people applied to Jasper County colleges in the 2022-23 school year.
NCES data shows that among them, around 5,032 students enrolled in the universities, including 4,859 in undergraduate and 173 in graduate programs. In total 7.2% of undergraduates transferred from another college or university.
The reported undergraduate student body is comprised mostly of white (70%) and Hispanic (7.9%) students.
Among the institutions that provided disclosed enrollment data, Missouri Southern State University stood out with the largest enrollment at the time, welcoming 4,144 students.
U.S. college enrollment has been in a downward trend since peaking at around 18.1 million students in 2010. Recent increases offered some relief, but experts project a steeper decline in 2025.
This decline is likely due to two main factors. First, the pool of young adults is shrinking as birth rates have fallen nearly 23% between 2007 and 2022. Second, the rising cost of higher education, including skyrocketing student loan debt. A 2023 Wall Street Journal report shows that more than half of Americans think a four-year degree is not worth the cost.
Some educational data is based on estimates. Shifting demographics among student populations can sometimes result in gender totals which do not equal 100%.
| Institution | # of Applicants | # of Admitted Students | Total Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Dimensions School of Hair Design | -- | -- | 29 |
| City Pointe Beauty Academy | -- | -- | 91 |
| Franklin Technology Center Adult Education | -- | -- | 61 |
| Ozark Christian College | 377 | 354 | 689 |
| Carthage R9 School District-Carthage Technical Center | -- | -- | 18 |
| Missouri Southern State University | 1,937 | 1,918 | 4,144 |
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