RECORD ENROLLMENT! 17,165

[wbtfg]

Yet another great day to be a BOBCAT!!

https://www.montana.edu/news/24786/mont ... -retention

[norcal cat]

Yet another great day to be a BOBCAT!!

https://www.montana.edu/news/24786/mont ... -retention

21 more than last year

[wbtfg]

Yet another great day to be a BOBCAT!!

https://www.montana.edu/news/24786/mont ... -retention

21 more than last year

It's remarkable how much MSU has experienced continued growth over the past 15-20 years. It's a full team effort from recruiting large freshman classes to retaining them once they've arrived on campus.

[TomCat88]

Yet another great day to be a BOBCAT!!

https://www.montana.edu/news/24786/mont ... -retention

21 more than last year

It's remarkable how much MSU has experienced continued growth over the past 15-20 years. It's a full team effort from recruiting large freshman classes to retaining them once they've arrived on campus.

How much can enrollment grow? I remember packed classrooms and auditoriums when I was there. I know there’s been additional construction of halls and dorms but I wonder if there’s a cap.

[wbtfg]

Yet another great day to be a BOBCAT!!

https://www.montana.edu/news/24786/mont ... -retention

21 more than last year

It's remarkable how much MSU has experienced continued growth over the past 15-20 years. It's a full team effort from recruiting large freshman classes to retaining them once they've arrived on campus.

How much can enrollment grow? I remember packed classrooms and auditoriums when I was there. I know there’s been additional construction of halls and dorms but I wonder if there’s a cap.

This doesn't answer your question, but I remember back in the mid-2000's when Geoff Gamble was president. MSU was hovering right around 12,000 students. Gamble made the statement that he'd never allow MSU to grow to over 15,000 students. We all laughed at how absurd that statement was because we thought MSU wouldn't ever come close to hitting 15k students.

[TomCat88]

Yet another great day to be a BOBCAT!!

https://www.montana.edu/news/24786/mont ... -retention

21 more than last year

It's remarkable how much MSU has experienced continued growth over the past 15-20 years. It's a full team effort from recruiting large freshman classes to retaining them once they've arrived on campus.

How much can enrollment grow? I remember packed classrooms and auditoriums when I was there. I know there’s been additional construction of halls and dorms but I wonder if there’s a cap.

This doesn't answer your question, but I remember back in the mid-2000's when Geoff Gamble was president. MSU was hovering right around 12,000 students. Gamble made the statement that he'd never allow MSU to grow to over 15,000 students. We all laughed at how absurd that statement was because we thought MSU wouldn't ever come close to hitting 15k students.

Confusing comment.

[wbtfg]

Yet another great day to be a BOBCAT!!

https://www.montana.edu/news/24786/mont ... -retention

21 more than last year

It's remarkable how much MSU has experienced continued growth over the past 15-20 years. It's a full team effort from recruiting large freshman classes to retaining them once they've arrived on campus.

How much can enrollment grow? I remember packed classrooms and auditoriums when I was there. I know there’s been additional construction of halls and dorms but I wonder if there’s a cap.

This doesn't answer your question, but I remember back in the mid-2000's when Geoff Gamble was president. MSU was hovering right around 12,000 students. Gamble made the statement that he'd never allow MSU to grow to over 15,000 students. We all laughed at how absurd that statement was because we thought MSU wouldn't ever come close to hitting 15k students.

Confusing comment.

No Cap.

[coloradocat]

I wonder how many students continue to live on campus after their freshman year. I would be surprised if the rental capacity in Bozeman has grown significantly in the last 10-20 years but people keep moving in and sticking around, pushing up prices. Most of the enrollment growth is coming from outside the state so any cap would come from their ability to afford to live in Bozeman after the first year. Has MSU become a destination college for upper middle class kids whose parents can afford Bozeman's COL?

[coloradocat]

I know they have to report exact numbers for that sweet sweet government money but it would be great if they just rounded down to the nearest 7.

[TomCat88]

Yet another great day to be a BOBCAT!!

https://www.montana.edu/news/24786/mont ... -retention

21 more than last year

It's remarkable how much MSU has experienced continued growth over the past 15-20 years. It's a full team effort from recruiting large freshman classes to retaining them once they've arrived on campus.

How much can enrollment grow? I remember packed classrooms and auditoriums when I was there. I know there’s been additional construction of halls and dorms but I wonder if there’s a cap.

This doesn't answer your question, but I remember back in the mid-2000's when Geoff Gamble was president. MSU was hovering right around 12,000 students. Gamble made the statement that he'd never allow MSU to grow to over 15,000 students. We all laughed at how absurd that statement was because we thought MSU wouldn't ever come close to hitting 15k students.

Confusing comment.

No Cap.

Gamble’s comment about 15,000 is confusing

[AFCAT]

I wonder how many students continue to live on campus after their freshman year. I would be surprised if the rental capacity in Bozeman has grown significantly in the last 10-20 years but people keep moving in and sticking around, pushing up prices. Most of the enrollment growth is coming from outside the state so any cap would come from their ability to afford to live in Bozeman after the first year. Has MSU become a destination college for upper middle class kids whose parents can afford Bozeman's COL?

https://montanafreepress.org/2025/06/23 ... y-flipped/
https://www.thegvsentinel.com/the-affor ... f-bozeman/

[allcat]

Yet another great day to be a BOBCAT!!

https://www.montana.edu/news/24786/mont ... -retention

21 more than last year

It's remarkable how much MSU has experienced continued growth over the past 15-20 years. It's a full team effort from recruiting large freshman classes to retaining them once they've arrived on campus.

How much can enrollment grow? I remember packed classrooms and auditoriums when I was there. I know there’s been additional construction of halls and dorms but I wonder if there’s a cap.

This doesn't answer your question, but I remember back in the mid-2000's when Geoff Gamble was president. MSU was hovering right around 12,000 students. Gamble made the statement that he'd never allow MSU to grow to over 15,000 students. We all laughed at how absurd that statement was because we thought MSU wouldn't ever come close to hitting 15k students.

Confusing comment.

No Cap.

Gamble’s comment about 15,000 is confusing

I really understand it. Back then construction wasn't really something that was attainable to much degree. You really looked to the legislature for the money. Most of the construction we've had lately has been private money. He understood how much room he had and didn't want it to be too congested. I think back then 15,000 would have been bursting at the seems. I have no idea what it's like now but I think an equivalent number might be around 20,000.

[coachouert]

I wonder how many students continue to live on campus after their freshman year. I would be surprised if the rental capacity in Bozeman has grown significantly in the last 10-20 years but people keep moving in and sticking around, pushing up prices. Most of the enrollment growth is coming from outside the state so any cap would come from their ability to afford to live in Bozeman after the first year. Has MSU become a destination college for upper middle class kids whose parents can afford Bozeman's COL?

Rental capacity in Bozeman has increased by quite a bit this past year or so, which does make it more accessible to rent (granted still not cheap to do so). More students are living on campus this year than ever before and no students were in a temporary space. You are correct that the growth over the years has predominately come from out-of-state students, but keep in mind that Montana only has roughly 10,000 graduating seniors each year, and less than half go onto higher education. MSU pulled in 1,572 new Montana first year students, which will most likely be close to, if not more than any other campus has in their entire first year class including the vast majority of MUS Honors Scholar winners. MSU/Bozeman definitely has a draw for the out-of-state population, but it still draws the majority of college going Montana students.

[coloradocat]

I wonder how many students continue to live on campus after their freshman year. I would be surprised if the rental capacity in Bozeman has grown significantly in the last 10-20 years but people keep moving in and sticking around, pushing up prices. Most of the enrollment growth is coming from outside the state so any cap would come from their ability to afford to live in Bozeman after the first year. Has MSU become a destination college for upper middle class kids whose parents can afford Bozeman's COL?

Rental capacity in Bozeman has increased by quite a bit this past year or so, which does make it more accessible to rent (granted still not cheap to do so). More students are living on campus this year than ever before and no students were in a temporary space. You are correct that the growth over the years has predominately come from out-of-state students, but keep in mind that Montana only has roughly 10,000 graduating seniors each year, and less than half go onto higher education. MSU pulled in 1,572 new Montana first year students, which will most likely be close to, if not more than any other campus has in their entire first year class including the vast majority of MUS Honors Scholar winners. MSU/Bozeman definitely has a draw for the out-of-state population, but it still draws the majority of college going Montana students.

Good to know the rental market is becoming more renter friendly.

I assumed we've been attracting a majority of the in-state students which is great and is really the most important goal (so that they go to MSU over Missoula but more importantly that they go into degree programs that MSU focuses on over the alternative). The growth in out of state students is nice in that it subsidizes in-state tuition and helps the operating budget but otherwise record enrollment is just a bragging rights topic to me.

[PapaG]

I know they have to report exact numbers for that sweet sweet government money but it would be great if they just rounded down to the nearest 7.

*taxpayer money

[TomCat88]

I wonder how many students continue to live on campus after their freshman year. I would be surprised if the rental capacity in Bozeman has grown significantly in the last 10-20 years but people keep moving in and sticking around, pushing up prices. Most of the enrollment growth is coming from outside the state so any cap would come from their ability to afford to live in Bozeman after the first year. Has MSU become a destination college for upper middle class kids whose parents can afford Bozeman's COL?

Rental capacity in Bozeman has increased by quite a bit this past year or so, which does make it more accessible to rent (granted still not cheap to do so). More students are living on campus this year than ever before and no students were in a temporary space. You are correct that the growth over the years has predominately come from out-of-state students, but keep in mind that Montana only has roughly 10,000 graduating seniors each year, and less than half go onto higher education. MSU pulled in 1,572 new Montana first year students, which will most likely be close to, if not more than any other campus has in their entire first year class including the vast majority of MUS Honors Scholar winners. MSU/Bozeman definitely has a draw for the out-of-state population, but it still draws the majority of college going Montana students.

Good to know the rental market is becoming more renter friendly.

I assumed we've been attracting a majority of the in-state students which is great and is really the most important goal (so that they go to MSU over Missoula but more importantly that they go into degree programs that MSU focuses on over the alternative). The growth in out of state students is nice in that it subsidizes in-state tuition and helps the operating budget but otherwise record enrollment is just a bragging rights topic to me.

I have to say that the City of Bozeman Planning and Public Works is doing a good job preparing for the growth around town by being out front with their infrastructure projects. That's going to pay off in the long run. I you get around the outskirts of town you can see the water, sewer, streets etc. are out in front of the construction. They're ahead of the rest of the larger cities in Montana in that regard.

[grizzh8r]

I wonder how many students continue to live on campus after their freshman year. I would be surprised if the rental capacity in Bozeman has grown significantly in the last 10-20 years but people keep moving in and sticking around, pushing up prices. Most of the enrollment growth is coming from outside the state so any cap would come from their ability to afford to live in Bozeman after the first year. Has MSU become a destination college for upper middle class kids whose parents can afford Bozeman's COL?

Rental capacity in Bozeman has increased by quite a bit this past year or so, which does make it more accessible to rent (granted still not cheap to do so). More students are living on campus this year than ever before and no students were in a temporary space. You are correct that the growth over the years has predominately come from out-of-state students, but keep in mind that Montana only has roughly 10,000 graduating seniors each year, and less than half go onto higher education. MSU pulled in 1,572 new Montana first year students, which will most likely be close to, if not more than any other campus has in their entire first year class including the vast majority of MUS Honors Scholar winners. MSU/Bozeman definitely has a draw for the out-of-state population, but it still draws the majority of college going Montana students.

Good to know the rental market is becoming more renter friendly.

I assumed we've been attracting a majority of the in-state students which is great and is really the most important goal (so that they go to MSU over Missoula but more importantly that they go into degree programs that MSU focuses on over the alternative). The growth in out of state students is nice in that it subsidizes in-state tuition and helps the operating budget but otherwise record enrollment is just a bragging rights topic to me.

I have to say that the City of Bozeman Planning and Public Works is doing a good job preparing for the growth around town by being out front with their infrastructure projects. That's going to pay off in the long run. I you get around the outskirts of town you can see the water, sewer, streets etc. are out in front of the construction. They're ahead of the rest of the larger cities in Montana in that regard.

You must not have been to Billings in a while. Water and sewer are good things to have planned, but I would argue the streets comment. Getting around in Bozeman SUCKS. No arterials, beltways or bypasses. In Billings, the completion of Shiloh Lane in 2010/2011 with all the roundabouts was a game-changer for West End traffic, as well as the more recent Skyway Drive and the connector to Zimmerman Trail. It's now so much easier to get around in Billings and will only get better once the Johnson Lane/Billings Bypass interchange is finished off. Widening of Zoo exit will also help.

[TomCat88]

I wonder how many students continue to live on campus after their freshman year. I would be surprised if the rental capacity in Bozeman has grown significantly in the last 10-20 years but people keep moving in and sticking around, pushing up prices. Most of the enrollment growth is coming from outside the state so any cap would come from their ability to afford to live in Bozeman after the first year. Has MSU become a destination college for upper middle class kids whose parents can afford Bozeman's COL?

Rental capacity in Bozeman has increased by quite a bit this past year or so, which does make it more accessible to rent (granted still not cheap to do so). More students are living on campus this year than ever before and no students were in a temporary space. You are correct that the growth over the years has predominately come from out-of-state students, but keep in mind that Montana only has roughly 10,000 graduating seniors each year, and less than half go onto higher education. MSU pulled in 1,572 new Montana first year students, which will most likely be close to, if not more than any other campus has in their entire first year class including the vast majority of MUS Honors Scholar winners. MSU/Bozeman definitely has a draw for the out-of-state population, but it still draws the majority of college going Montana students.

Good to know the rental market is becoming more renter friendly.

I assumed we've been attracting a majority of the in-state students which is great and is really the most important goal (so that they go to MSU over Missoula but more importantly that they go into degree programs that MSU focuses on over the alternative). The growth in out of state students is nice in that it subsidizes in-state tuition and helps the operating budget but otherwise record enrollment is just a bragging rights topic to me.

I have to say that the City of Bozeman Planning and Public Works is doing a good job preparing for the growth around town by being out front with their infrastructure projects. That's going to pay off in the long run. I you get around the outskirts of town you can see the water, sewer, streets etc. are out in front of the construction. They're ahead of the rest of the larger cities in Montana in that regard.

You must not have been to Billings in a while. Water and sewer are good things to have planned, but I would argue the streets comment. Getting around in Bozeman SUCKS. No arterials, beltways or bypasses. In Billings, the completion of Shiloh Lane in 2010/2011 with all the roundabouts was a game-changer for West End traffic, as well as the more recent Skyway Drive and the connector to Zimmerman Trail. It's now so much easier to get around in Billings and will only get better once the Johnson Lane/Billings Bypass interchange is finished off. Widening of Zoo exit will also help.

Sorry for keeping this thread going. I hope it gets split into the Hangout section.

For now, no I haven’t been to Billings in years and I haven’t been there for the job I have now. I’ve worked from Whitefish to Livingston and to Dillon. Everything in between, Kalispell, Missoula, Helena, Butte. Most of our work is in Kalispell and Bozeman areas. That’s where most of the growth is.

[Bobcat4Ever]

I wonder how many students continue to live on campus after their freshman year. I would be surprised if the rental capacity in Bozeman has grown significantly in the last 10-20 years but people keep moving in and sticking around, pushing up prices. Most of the enrollment growth is coming from outside the state so any cap would come from their ability to afford to live in Bozeman after the first year. Has MSU become a destination college for upper middle class kids whose parents can afford Bozeman's COL?

Rental capacity in Bozeman has increased by quite a bit this past year or so, which does make it more accessible to rent (granted still not cheap to do so). More students are living on campus this year than ever before and no students were in a temporary space. You are correct that the growth over the years has predominately come from out-of-state students, but keep in mind that Montana only has roughly 10,000 graduating seniors each year, and less than half go onto higher education. MSU pulled in 1,572 new Montana first year students, which will most likely be close to, if not more than any other campus has in their entire first year class including the vast majority of MUS Honors Scholar winners. MSU/Bozeman definitely has a draw for the out-of-state population, but it still draws the majority of college going Montana students.

Good to know the rental market is becoming more renter friendly.

I assumed we've been attracting a majority of the in-state students which is great and is really the most important goal (so that they go to MSU over Missoula but more importantly that they go into degree programs that MSU focuses on over the alternative). The growth in out of state students is nice in that it subsidizes in-state tuition and helps the operating budget but otherwise record enrollment is just a bragging rights topic to me.

I have to say that the City of Bozeman Planning and Public Works is doing a good job preparing for the growth around town by being out front with their infrastructure projects. That's going to pay off in the long run. I you get around the outskirts of town you can see the water, sewer, streets etc. are out in front of the construction. They're ahead of the rest of the larger cities in Montana in that regard.

That’s a big change. I’d see projects in other states with subdivisions that had stoplights on empty streets. They didn’t stay empty for long. Bozeman has never been ahead in infrastructure, especially streets, because they have always waited on adjacent property to develop. That led to things like the Oak St. mess where it had a bunch of disparate chunks — alternating two- and four-lane etc.

I wonder how they are paying for leading infrastructure. Are impact fees sufficient?

[TomCat88]

I wonder how many students continue to live on campus after their freshman year. I would be surprised if the rental capacity in Bozeman has grown significantly in the last 10-20 years but people keep moving in and sticking around, pushing up prices. Most of the enrollment growth is coming from outside the state so any cap would come from their ability to afford to live in Bozeman after the first year. Has MSU become a destination college for upper middle class kids whose parents can afford Bozeman's COL?

Rental capacity in Bozeman has increased by quite a bit this past year or so, which does make it more accessible to rent (granted still not cheap to do so). More students are living on campus this year than ever before and no students were in a temporary space. You are correct that the growth over the years has predominately come from out-of-state students, but keep in mind that Montana only has roughly 10,000 graduating seniors each year, and less than half go onto higher education. MSU pulled in 1,572 new Montana first year students, which will most likely be close to, if not more than any other campus has in their entire first year class including the vast majority of MUS Honors Scholar winners. MSU/Bozeman definitely has a draw for the out-of-state population, but it still draws the majority of college going Montana students.

Good to know the rental market is becoming more renter friendly.

I assumed we've been attracting a majority of the in-state students which is great and is really the most important goal (so that they go to MSU over Missoula but more importantly that they go into degree programs that MSU focuses on over the alternative). The growth in out of state students is nice in that it subsidizes in-state tuition and helps the operating budget but otherwise record enrollment is just a bragging rights topic to me.

I have to say that the City of Bozeman Planning and Public Works is doing a good job preparing for the growth around town by being out front with their infrastructure projects. That's going to pay off in the long run. I you get around the outskirts of town you can see the water, sewer, streets etc. are out in front of the construction. They're ahead of the rest of the larger cities in Montana in that regard.

That’s a big change. I’d see projects in other states with subdivisions that had stoplights on empty streets. They didn’t stay empty for long. Bozeman has never been ahead in infrastructure, especially streets, because they have always waited on adjacent property to develop. That led to things like the Oak St. mess where it had a bunch of disparate chunks — alternating two- and four-lane etc.

I wonder how they are paying for leading infrastructure. Are impact fees sufficient?

I work all around western Montana, so that's the extent of my scope of knowledge. I don't pay as much attention to things like this if just out on leisure time. So, I'm no expert. Just something I noticed in Bozeman as most of the work I do now is near new developments. I've only been doing this current job for about 4 years. One of the main areas that I notice what I'm talking about is right near the football stadium. If you go south of Stuckey to Blackfoot and then turn east that area is a good example of what I'm talking about. Streets are stubbed into vacant areas, and it appears water, sewage and drainage are in place. Just a visual analysis. I don't talk to anyone at the city about it. Lots of people have a poor opinion of gov't workers and I like to point out the good things they do when I see them. There's no denying that they/we all make our share of mistakes.