MSOE welcomes largest class ever
| Published: 09/15/2008 |
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A record number of students have started classes at Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE). Faculty and staff welcomed 743 new full-time students, bringing the total enrollment for the university to about 2,600 students (2,200 full-time undergraduate and 400 part-time undergraduate and graduate students). The students are pursuing engineering, business and health-related degrees.
Enrollment at MSOE has increased an average of 6.5 percent each year since 2003. Despite a soft economy, there is still great demand for engineers, nurses and business professionals. Baby boomers are retiring, leaving many job vacancies. Young adults are capitalizing on this opportunity and pursuing degrees in these lucrative industries. MSOE is doing an excellent job of preparing its graduates to enter the work force. Graduates enjoy a 98 percent placement rate and an average starting salary of $51,506.
The demand for engineers and early exposure to engineering careers are contributing factors to MSOE's increasing enrollment. MSOE offers a number of programs for high school students during the summer and throughout the school year to learn about and explore careers in engineering, nursing, technical communication and business.
The university also serves as Wisconsin's National Affiliate for Project Lead The Way (PLTW). PLTW is a national not-for-profit organization that promotes pre-engineering courses for middle and high school students. MSOE and PLTW are committed to fostering higher standards in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) within the nation's precollege educational system. This academic year, MSOE is expecting approximately 85-100 of its new freshmen will have taken PLTW courses in high school.