What are the demographics in Ohio and how will changes impact enrollment?
- Ohio’s population is declining. Growth rate for the U.S. between April 2000 and July 2005 was 5.3 percent; in Ohio it was
less than 1 percent.
- The southern and central section of Ohio are expected to grow while little growth is predicted for the seven counties—Wood,
Lucas, Cuyahoga, Erie, Lorain, Franklin and Huron—that supply about 50 percent of BGSU students.
- As the percentage of older adults grows in Ohio, the percentage of traditional age college students (18-24) is predicted to
remain flat.
- Ohio and other Midwest states are losing population to the Sun Belt (Texas, Florida, Georgia, Arizona). Some experts theorize
that this population decrease could lead to a lower tax base and less political support for higher education, and a downward
spiral of decreasing enrollment and resources, greater competition and growing mediocrity.
- The U.S. middle class continues to pull apart into economic “haves” and “have nots” with educational levels as the primary
determinant. Ohio’s college participation rate continues to lag behind the national average.
Changing face of students
at BGSU
By 2013-14 Ohio will graduate 10,000 fewer high school graduates than today according to a report on high school graduates
by the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education. During that time span, African American high school graduates in
Ohio are projected to decline by 12.5%, whites by 8.42%, and Hispanics are projected to gain by 24%. BGSU will be increasingly
reliant on transfer, international, distance, adult and other non-traditional populations to maintain enrollments.
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"In an era of declining numbers of Ohio high school graduates, accountability and fiscal challenges, it will be increasingly
important that the BGSU community come together to recruit and retain students in targeted, intentional and fiscally responsible
ways."
–Gary Swegan, Assistant Vice Provost and Director of Undergraduate Admissions
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