Enrollment Up Again

[uofmman1122]

Fix the problems or whither away and die:

1. Degrees (i.e. Engineering and Aviation) - ROI and Desired Program of Study
2. Internships - Career Outcomes and Job Placement - Connect with graduates
3. Affordability - Cost of Tuition and cost of on/off campus housing - build off campus housing or encourage the City of Missoula to encourage off campus housing development
4. Location and Campus Feel - UM should excel over others
5. Safety and Student Life - Quality of Student Life Programming and On/Off Campus Safety - Loyola University in Chicago is a great model for Off Campus Safety

It's fine to focus on new degrees that are "useful" with high ROI, but at some point we need to reckon with the fact that the vast majority of liberal arts students in this state are foregoing an education at the liberal arts school in Missoula in favor of taking liberal arts classes at the "STEM school" in Bozeman.

We could optimistically add 100 or so students in an aviation degree, but we're still missing the hundreds to thousands of liberal arts and other "useless degree" kids that used to come here, but now go to MSU.

 

[nicktaber58]

I have degrees from both schools, and my experience at each school was similar in many ways, but there is some nuance that UM really needs to sell. Both schools are great for outdoorsy activities, but everything is so crowded around Bozeman. Fishing, hiking, and skiing are great there if you have an aversion to solitude. Much better around Missoula. The school experience was much better at UM. The UM campus is 100x better in so many ways. The professors at both schools are good, but I had more professors at UM who stressed critical thinking and problem solving. They really pushed me out of my comfort zone and forced me to grow. I benefit from this more than the more technical education I received at MSU. It has been set on here before, but now more than ever companies are looking for individuals capable of critical analysis and original thought.

Missoula is a town with a great vibe. Lots to do. Better restaurants, farmers markets, concerts, and community events. Bozeman is a shit hole. Everyone knows it but, “Look! Mountains!!!” Smh. Sports game atmospheres are better at UM…by a wide margin. Housing costs are lower in Missoula. UM needs to sell all of these amazing points. They need to tell a story that highlights these advantages. MSU sells itself by positioning itself as elite. UM needs to get back to truly believing they are, and selling themselves and the town as elite. I remember when UM recruited me 25 years ago, I was told it was the Harvard of the West at least 100 times. That mattered to me. There is no reason for enrollment to not be at least on par with MSU. It is objectively mystifying.

Great analysis.

 

[nicktaber58]

It is good news, but getting interest from R1s is commonplace. Lots of R1 applicants for the MSU President as well. Department Heads, Deans, Provosts and even "Dean of Fiscal whatever" from R1s apply for President positions often. If they get the UM job, they build creds, then re-enter as Deans of Texas A&M, Michigan, etc. for massive raises. I think that's a good thing because they better crush it in the position they landed to make that happen.

No matter what, my assumption is that UM's going to get a very good President. BOR, OCHE and The Commish know how important this is and it's a perfect position for a motivated person to show massive impact.

UM copying or adding niche engineering degrees, diluting classes at MSU & MT Tech? It's possible, but you're literally asking Montana taxpayers to pony up 10s of millions because an alumni base wants more students. Fiscal idiocy from a MUS perspective. The cost will be astronomical, new curriculum, entire new College, staff who will get much better pay and (if they're a licensed engineer) aren't going to join a faculty union. Any guesses at how long it would take to actually get students to attend and grow a new college?

I like what N Taber wrote: embrace what Missoula is: funky, iconic, hipster, great outdoor opportunities and stable at the same time. It's authentic, not made up. Embrace the grad school growth, it's awesome and grossly underappreciated (shame on all of you who don't think it's awesome! MSU would love to have what you have in a grad school), focus on the excellent existing STEM: computer science, pre-med, pre-vet and double down on liberal arts. Many tech execs have liberal arts degrees: promote and own that. The last great President of Boeing was a UM grad. The MeatEater guy is a UM grad, isn't he? Don't compare it to the sun/trendiness/growing tech sector of MSU: it screams insecurity. Everyone wants to think their college town is better than the other and we all "talk to parents and students" and get the story from those single or maybe up to 10 samples, which don't mean anything. I see HS classmates who were rabid about UM, now showing up to MSU games wearing blue and gold to be with their kids, who had no interest in UM. I know several, I give them tons of shit, and it still doesn't mean squat, it's not relevant data on UM's future.

Frankly and judgementally: we from over the hill for the last 35+ years have been wondering what UM's identity is: a good old boy network of pensioners driving maroon sedans, a liberal arts colony...it hasn't been clear.

Now is the time.

Good stuff, thank you!

 

[BrownBear9501]

MSU is dominating um on in state recruiting. AND theyre doing a great job out of state. MSUs Montana freshman enrollment only was more than UMs TOTAL freshman enrollment last Fall! Theybare dominating us in state. And sadly, I keep hearing about local families getting WAY more love and attention from msu for their children going through the college recruiting process.

I only say this because I know our potential and capacity. When I was in school in the early 2000s, our enrollment was way higher than msu, college campus and college life was electric, and missoula was rockin. We can get back there!!

Hoops loves mediocrity…..it’s pointless to try and prove your point with him.

 

[Skookum-Jim]

It's fine to focus on new degrees that are "useful" with high ROI, but at some point we need to reckon with the fact that the vast majority of liberal arts students in this state are foregoing an education at the liberal arts school in Missoula in favor of taking liberal arts classes at the "STEM school" in Bozeman.

We could optimistically add 100 or so students in an aviation degree, but we're still missing the hundreds to thousands of liberal arts and other "useless degree" kids that used to come here, but now go to MSU.

I think this is right.
Over the last 40 or so years we have essentially changed how we value education. We've gotten to the point where we all work for these tech bro cretans. They want engineers to design products and business people to squeeze every nickel of profit from it. We've defunded art, music and theatre in public education and conviced everyone that liberal art degrees are useless. If you're not studying STEM you should go to diesel mechanic or welding school instead.
It's a real shame because critical thinking civic minded people are not really found in those types of curriculums and are hugely undervalued in fortune 500 companies. The university of Montana is one of the premier institutions to get that kind of education at and has been for a very long time.
It's a sociatal issue that I'm definitely not optimistic about. I think leaning strongly into the Harvard of the west is a really great national promotion for out of state students.

 

[nicktaber58]

I think this is right.
Over the last 40 or so years we have essentially changed how we value education. We've gotten to the point where we all work for these tech bro cretans. They want engineers to design products and business people to squeeze every nickel of profit from it. We've defunded art, music and theatre in public education and conviced everyone that liberal art degrees are useless. If you're not studying STEM you should go to diesel mechanic or welding school instead.
It's a real shame because critical thinking civic minded people are not really found in those types of curriculums and are hugely undervalued in fortune 500 companies. The university of Montana is one of the premier institutions to get that kind of education at and has been for a very long time.
It's a sociatal issue that I'm definitely not optimistic about. I think leaning strongly into the Harvard of the west is a really great national promotion for out of state students.

So much benefit and potential with almost any degree UM has to offer. Time to lean back into what made us successful in the past and market to it!

 

[mthoopsfan]

I have degrees from both schools, and my experience at each school was similar in many ways, but there is some nuance that UM really needs to sell. Both schools are great for outdoorsy activities, but everything is so crowded around Bozeman. Fishing, hiking, and skiing are great there if you have an aversion to solitude. Much better around Missoula. The school experience was much better at UM. The UM campus is 100x better in so many ways. The professors at both schools are good, but I had more professors at UM who stressed critical thinking and problem solving. They pushed me out of my comfort zone and forced me to grow. I benefit from this more than the more technical education I received at MSU. It has been said on here many times before (because it is true), but now more than ever companies are looking for individuals capable of critical analysis and original thought.

Missoula is a town with a great vibe. Lots to do. Better restaurants, farmers markets, concerts, and community events. Downtown is amazing and walkable. Bozeman is a shit hole. Everyone knows it but, “Look! Mountains!!!” Smh. Sports game atmospheres are better at UM…by a wide margin. Housing costs are lower in Missoula. UM needs to sell all of these amazing points. They need to tell a story that highlights these advantages. MSU sells its brand by positioning itself as elite. UM needs to get back to truly believing they are, and selling themselves and the town as elite. I remember when UM recruited me 25 years ago, I was told it was the Harvard of the West at least 100 times. That mattered to me. There is no reason for enrollment to not be at least on par with MSU. It is objectively mystifying.

Bozeman has some very good restaurants, probably more than Missoula, and certainly more on a per capita basis.

 

[mthoopsfan]

The overall growth under bodnar was minimal, if not non existent. In fact, 4 year undergrad enrollment declined!!! There **slight** grad school enrollment growth, and missoula college. Other than that, we were absolutely awful under bodnar. And its wild that more people dont see this reality. How does he get a free pass?!??

I don't agree with your statement and analysis. Bodnar was terrific.

Bodnar's frosh enrollment has a 9-year high in 2024, before dropping off in 2025.

Frosh enrollment in each of the 4 years prior to 2025, was higher than than any year since 2016.

And enrollment is enrollment for the whole school. Grad students and Missoula College count.

I don't know what happened to cause frosh enrollment in 2025 to get down.

2024	1,450	+5.6%	9-year record high
2023	1,373	+6.9%	Sustained post-COVID recovery
2022	1,284	+0.6%	Stabilization of incoming classes
2021	1,276	+30.0%	Major rebound after pandemic lows
2020	982	-8.5%	Pandemic-era low point
2019	1,073	-14.2%	Period of administrative transition
2018	1,250	-1.5%	Shift in recruitment strategy
2017	1,269	+0.1%	Brief plateau in enrollment
2016	1,268

 

[mthoopsfan]

I agree, its been very underwhelming, and the corporate experience... you are spot on. There is nothing Inspiring about his corporate experience at GE. GE used to be a great american company, but it has struggled for years. The token "business and corporate experience " label that bodnar came with was not of substance. And the achievements at UM have resembled that.

Again, I don't agree. Bodnar did well at GE, and had several different jobs. Bodnar's experience wasn't token business and corporate experience. He was at GE for 6/7 years. CEO Jeff Immelt made some mistakes at GE, but he also had to deal with 9/11 and the 2008 financial crisis. GE is doing pretty well now. The CEO hired to replace Immelt lasted only 14 months, during which the stock declined 35%. The GE stock fell 30 % in his 16 or so years, according to Google. My info on Bodnar came directly from Immelt, who contacted me when he learned that Bodnar was seeking to be president of UM. I know Jeff because he played football at Dartmouth several years after I did.

 

[mthoopsfan]

Nothing to celebrate at all. Our grad school numbers are solid. However, the 4 year undergrad, and new freshman enrollment numbers, are truly abysmal and bodnar, before he slid out the door for politics, should not have been retained. For 15 years, montana families, many of whom I know well, continue to lament the lack of effort UM has shown towards recruiting prospective students is inexcusable. The BOR desperately needs to understand this in the hiring of our new president.

5 years straight of enrollment increases. Huge effort by MONTANA in recruiting. We’ll see if next president can do any better.

 

[nicktaber58]

I don't agree with your statement and analysis. Bodnar was terrific.

Bodnar's frosh enrollment has a 9-year high in 2024, before dropping off in 2025.

Frosh enrollment in each of the 4 years prior to 2025, was higher than than any year since 2016.

And enrollment is enrollment for the whole school. Grad students and Missoula College count.

I don't know what happened to cause frosh enrollment in 2025 to get down.

2024	1,450	+5.6%	9-year record high
2023	1,373	+6.9%	Sustained post-COVID recovery
2022	1,284	+0.6%	Stabilization of incoming classes
2021	1,276	+30.0%	Major rebound after pandemic lows
2020	982	-8.5%	Pandemic-era low point
2019	1,073	-14.2%	Period of administrative transition
2018	1,250	-1.5%	Shift in recruitment strategy
2017	1,269	+0.1%	Brief plateau in enrollment
2016	1,268

I know you're familiar with where enrollment was in 2005, when I was wrapping up my college years on campus. Freshman enrollment was north of 3000 students, and overall undergraduate enrollment was over 11,000 students. Including graduate degrees and other ancillary enrollment, UM was well-versed 14k students. As it stands right now, we are now below 6000 undergraduate students. Looking at bodnars tenure, he has not moved the needle much for our enrollment. Looking at MSU's 2025 freshman enrollment, they have more freshman from Montana alone, than UM does overall freshmen. Given that as of 2025, our freshmen enrollment hasnt grown since bodnar took office (flat, with some growth and loss amongst the years). The pedestrian growth that occurred 21-24 was entirely lost this past fall with the 16-17% drop in freshmen enrollment.

All of this is neither here nor there, as seth is now in politics. However, our new president absolutely needs a refreshed approach to student recruitment and growth.

 

[nicktaber58]

I don't agree with your statement and analysis. Bodnar was terrific.

Bodnar's frosh enrollment has a 9-year high in 2024, before dropping off in 2025.

Frosh enrollment in each of the 4 years prior to 2025, was higher than than any year since 2016.

And enrollment is enrollment for the whole school. Grad students and Missoula College count.

I don't know what happened to cause frosh enrollment in 2025 to get down.

2024	1,450	+5.6%	9-year record high
2023	1,373	+6.9%	Sustained post-COVID recovery
2022	1,284	+0.6%	Stabilization of incoming classes
2021	1,276	+30.0%	Major rebound after pandemic lows
2020	982	-8.5%	Pandemic-era low point
2019	1,073	-14.2%	Period of administrative transition
2018	1,250	-1.5%	Shift in recruitment strategy
2017	1,269	+0.1%	Brief plateau in enrollment
2016	1,268

The reasons behind the failure in student recruitment, especially the huge drop in 2025, is simple, and its been the same story for 15 years. We are simply not telling the story of UM enough and are not being as aggressive in recruiting students from Montana as MSU is. Time and time again, talking with friends and acquaintances with highschool juniors and seniors around missoula, the same story comes up. Across the board, MSU is better and more proficient at recruiting students. The high schoolers are inundated with outreach from MSU, the application and approval process is night and day different and more efficient at MSU, and the entire recruiting process isnt even close. MSU is crushing it, and we.... are not. I guess I'll see first hand in a few years when my current 7th grader gets to that point, but I have literally not had one conversation with those friends that say "yep, UM was way better than MSU at recruiting my child". Ive literally not heard that in 15 years.

Jack, I say this, not to be negative. Not my nature. I hope like crazy we can get back to the levels we were when I was a student. Campus was buzzing, student life was amazing, the difference felt around town was felt significantly. We absolutely need this issue to be recognized by our new president, and it needs to be addressed quickly.

 

[5280Griz]

The reasons behind the failure in student recruitment, especially the huge drop in 2025, is simple, and its been the same story for 15 years. We are simply not telling the story of UM enough and are not being as aggressive in recruiting students from Montana as MSU is. Time and time again, talking with friends and acquaintances with highschool juniors and seniors around missoula, the same story comes up. Across the board, MSU is better and more proficient at recruiting students. The high schoolers are inundated with outreach from MSU, the application and approval process is night and day different and more efficient at MSU, and the entire recruiting process isnt even close. MSU is crushing it, and we.... are not. I guess I'll see first hand in a few years when my current 7th grader gets to that point, but I have literally not had one conversation with those friends that say "yep, UM was way better than MSU at recruiting my child". Ive literally not heard that in 15 years.

Jack, I say this, not to be negative. Not my nature. I hope like crazy we can get back to the levels we were when I was a student. Campus was buzzing, student life was amazing, the difference felt around town was felt significantly. We absolutely need this issue to be recognized by our new president, and it needs to be addressed quickly.

When I was looking at colleges which was slightly under 15 years ago, MSU and UM sent a similar amount of recruitment material. They both sent quite a bit more than most out of state schools. Both sent recruiters to visit my high school.

 

[GriznMN]

The reasons behind the failure in student recruitment, especially the huge drop in 2025, is simple, and its been the same story for 15 years. We are simply not telling the story of UM enough and are not being as aggressive in recruiting students from Montana as MSU is. Time and time again, talking with friends and acquaintances with highschool juniors and seniors around missoula, the same story comes up. Across the board, MSU is better and more proficient at recruiting students. The high schoolers are inundated with outreach from MSU, the application and approval process is night and day different and more efficient at MSU, and the entire recruiting process isnt even close. MSU is crushing it, and we.... are not. I guess I'll see first hand in a few years when my current 7th grader gets to that point, but I have literally not had one conversation with those friends that say "yep, UM was way better than MSU at recruiting my child". Ive literally not heard that in 15 years.

Jack, I say this, not to be negative. Not my nature. I hope like crazy we can get back to the levels we were when I was a student. Campus was buzzing, student life was amazing, the difference felt around town was felt significantly. We absolutely need this issue to be recognized by our new president, and it needs to be addressed quickly.

I'm not in Montana but remember when I was at UM that President Dennison was all over Montana or had someone in every corner of Montana and every town, big and small, all the time. How much is that happening now?

 

[argh!]

I don't agree with your statement and analysis. Bodnar was terrific.

Bodnar's frosh enrollment has a 9-year high in 2024, before dropping off in 2025.

Frosh enrollment in each of the 4 years prior to 2025, was higher than than any year since 2016.

And enrollment is enrollment for the whole school. Grad students and Missoula College count.

I don't know what happened to cause frosh enrollment in 2025 to get down.

2024	1,450	+5.6%	9-year record high
2023	1,373	+6.9%	Sustained post-COVID recovery
2022	1,284	+0.6%	Stabilization of incoming classes
2021	1,276	+30.0%	Major rebound after pandemic lows
2020	982	-8.5%	Pandemic-era low point
2019	1,073	-14.2%	Period of administrative transition
2018	1,250	-1.5%	Shift in recruitment strategy
2017	1,269	+0.1%	Brief plateau in enrollment
2016	1,268

take it for what it's worth, but it seems the enrollment 'increase' was mainly due to missoula college having increased from 1716 student in the fall of 2025 to 2215 now. nothing against missoula college, but it is more of a college of technology/community college than a university. if the target is to increase it's enrollment, great, but i think the target should be increasing enrollment in the more traditional undergraduate ranks.

 

[nicktaber58]

When I was looking at colleges which was slightly under 15 years ago, MSU and UM sent a similar amount of recruitment material. They both sent quite a bit more than most out of state schools. Both sent recruiters to visit my high school.

First I've heard it in 15 years..

 

[nicktaber58]

take it for what it's worth, but it seems the enrollment 'increase' was mainly due to missoula college having increased from 1716 student in the fall of 2025 to 2215 now. nothing against missoula college, but it is more of a college of technology/community college than a university. if the target is to increase it's enrollment, great, but i think the target should be increasing enrollment in the more traditional undergraduate ranks.

This is literally the primary driver of growth in our enrollment numbers.

 

[argh!]

Again, I don't agree. Bodnar did well at GE, and had several different jobs. Bodnar's experience wasn't token business and corporate experience. He was at GE for 6/7 years. CEO Jeff Immelt made some mistakes at GE, but he also had to deal with 9/11 and the 2008 financial crisis. GE is doing pretty well now. The CEO hired to replace Immelt lasted only 14 months, during which the stock declined 35%. The GE stock fell 30 % in his 16 or so years, according to Google. My info on Bodnar came directly from Immelt, who contacted me when he learned that Bodnar was seeking to be president of UM. I know Jeff because he played football at Dartmouth several years after I did.

you say bodnar did well at ge, as he had several different jobs. what were they? did they lead to profit/success? bouncing around to different jobs in the same company over a mere 6/7 years doesn't automatically mean he was successful. also, your post seems more about immelt than anything. do you think he's going to say the people he hired weren't very good?

 

[mthoopsfan]

I know you're familiar with where enrollment was in 2005, when I was wrapping up my college years on campus. Freshman enrollment was north of 3000 students, and overall undergraduate enrollment was over 11,000 students. Including graduate degrees and other ancillary enrollment, UM was well-versed 14k students. As it stands right now, we are now below 6000 undergraduate students. Looking at bodnars tenure, he has not moved the needle much for our enrollment. Looking at MSU's 2025 freshman enrollment, they have more freshman from Montana alone, than UM does overall freshmen. Given that as of 2025, our freshmen enrollment hasnt grown since bodnar took office (flat, with some growth and loss amongst the years). The pedestrian growth that occurred 21-24 was entirely lost this past fall with the 16-17% drop in freshmen enrollment.

All of this is neither here nor there, as seth is now in politics. However, our new president absolutely needs a refreshed approach to student recruitment and growth.

Total enrollment is currently the highest it’s been since Bodnar arrived. Since the low covid year, it’s gone up every year. It went up this spring despite the frosh drop. The recent frosh drop is likely a blip, not a trend. The higher frosh numbers for prior rising are still in the number for enrollment for future. I’ve read that retention has generally gotten better or much better. Bodnar turned around a terrible situation. He did move the needle Enrollment and enrollment trends rarely turn on a Dime.

Bodnar can’t be blamed for the mess he inherited. He also adjusted and right-sized programs. He supported Bobby and Travis.

He will be missed. It’s a loss that probably won’t be able to be replaced.

 

[mthoopsfan]

you say bodnar did well at ge, as he had several different jobs. what were they? did they lead to profit/success? bouncing around to different jobs in the same company over a mere 6/7 years doesn't automatically mean he was successful. also, your post seems more about immelt than anything. do you think he's going to say the people he hired weren't very good?

He had mainly 2 roles in 6-7 years. That’s not bouncing around. Do you think my friend is going to lie to me? Do you think my friend would introduce me to Bodnar and suggest I help him get the job? Maybe your friends lie to you, but mine don’t lie to me.