MU
Enrollment Initiative
Meet Them Where They Are
How MU is adapting to the needs of today’s students
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olleges and universities across the country have spent the last several years facing difficult and complex odds. From declines in enrollment to a general distrust of higher education, schools like Manchester are working to find creative solutions to these ever-growing problems.

Within the past year, Manchester has implemented and expanded a number of initiatives to help make a Manchester education possible for even more students, and to improve both enrollment and the overall student experience at Manchester.

“The priorities and interests of the modern student are changing. Manchester’s job is to continue to meet their needs while providing transformative academic and personal experiences”
prospective students and their families walking across the MU campus
The Admissions team host dozens of campus visits a year. The one on one events provide individualized experiences for the thousands of high school and middle school students. The larger events host hundreds at a time and provide a full range of MU experiences to prospective students and their families.
This spring, Manchester University began allowing students with a 2-year associate degree in arts or sciences to transfer to MU by accepting their degree as a block of 60 credits and fulfilling all general education requirements. Recognizing students’ prior academic work and making the transition to Manchester as seamless as possible marks a significant step forward for the University’s transfer process.

Along with the new associate degree transfer program, Manchester has become one of just five private colleges and universities in Indiana to accept the Indiana College Core, further strengthening the institution’s commitment to acknowledging the prior college-level work students bring to Manchester and helping them graduate on time and with less debt. The Indiana College Core is a set of statewide competencies defined by the Indiana Commission for Higher Education that allow high school students to earn college credit before graduating, while also easing the process of transferring from one higher education institution to another. Previously only accepted by public Indiana colleges and universities, it will now transfer as a block of 30 credit hours applied toward Manchester’s general education curriculum.

chart displaying the nursing graduates NCLEX pass rate
Manchester also offers financial support through the Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP), which helps Manchester graduates from local areas with their federal student, parent PLUS and private alternative loans if their income after graduation is below $45,000.

In addition to these initiatives, new academic programs continue to be developed to meet the desires of today’s students.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 6 percent growth in the nursing workforce by 2031, and Indiana is projected to add more than 5,200 new registered nursing positions between 2020 and 2030. To address this increased need, Manchester launched its nursing program in 2021. The program offers two tracks: a traditional four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and an accelerated BSN second degree for those who already have a bachelor’s degree in another field. The most recent cohort of nursing graduates reported a 100 percent pass rate on the National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX), with a program average pass rate of 94.5 percent. The national average is 80 percent.

student esports member wearing headphones and at a computer
Esports is an online gaming team where students take on the best players from other universities in six games: Super Smash Bros., League of Legends, Fortnite, Valorant, Rocket League and Overwatch
The Doctor of Physical Therapy program at Manchester University Fort Wayne will begin classes on May 20, 2024. This first cohort is expected to have around 30 students. While most DPT programs require nine semesters (36 months), MU’s program is designed to be completed in eight semesters (30 months).

In response to Manchester’s thriving esports team of 90 students, the University launched an esports management minor in 2022, making it one of the few schools in the U.S. to offer such a program.

The priorities and interests of the modern student are changing. Manchester’s job is to continue to meet their needs while providing transformative academic and personal experiences. The commitment to improving the human condition persists as Manchester builds new paths for future generations of Spartans.

What's New At MU typography
student from Manchester University's nursing cohort
Graduates from Manchester University’s Dec. 2023 nursing cohort reported a 100% pass rate on the National Council Licensure Exam, with a program average pass rate of 94.5%. The national average is 80%.
W. Thomas Smith, dean of health sciences and pharmacy, was inducted into the 2024 Hall of Fame at his alma mater, Saint Louis University School of Law, on Feb. 24. Induction into the Order of the Fleur de Lis Hall of Fame is the highest honor from Saint Louis University School of Law. Members are chosen based on professional successes and significant contributions to the community.
W. Thomas Smith being inducted to the 2024 Hall of Fame
students of Manchester's Doctor of Physical Therapy program looking at a glass screen
The first cohort of Manchester’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program will begin classes on May 20.
Ruby Rusk ’25 was the keynote speaker and presented “Essential Oils and Antibiotics: Synergizing to Combat Bacteria” at the 2024 Research Symposium on April 26.
Ruby Rusk giving a presentation
Enrique Salazar and Connor Havens at the NCAA DDIII Cross Country National Championships
Enrique Salazar ’24 and Connor Havens ’24 competed at the NCAA DIII Cross Country National Championships in Nov. 2023. Salazar clinched 19th place, becoming the first men’s NCAA DIII All-American in the history of Manchester’s cross country program. Havens returned for his second NCAA DIII National meet, delivering his career-best NCAA performance.
What's New At MU typography
student from Manchester University's nursing cohort
Graduates from Manchester University’s Dec. 2023 nursing cohort reported a 100% pass rate on the National Council Licensure Exam, with a program average pass rate of 94.5%. The national average is 80%.
W. Thomas Smith being inducted to the 2024 Hall of Fame
W. Thomas Smith, dean of health sciences and pharmacy, was inducted into the 2024 Hall of Fame at his alma mater, Saint Louis University School of Law, on Feb. 24. Induction into the Order of the Fleur de Lis Hall of Fame is the highest honor from Saint Louis University School of Law. Members are chosen based on professional successes and significant contributions to the community.
students of Manchester's Doctor of Physical Therapy program looking at a glass screen
The first cohort of Manchester’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program will begin classes on May 20.
Ruby Rusk giving a presentation
Ruby Rusk ’25 was the keynote speaker and presented “Essential Oils and Antibiotics: Synergizing to Combat Bacteria” at the 2024 Research Symposium on April 26.
Enrique Salazar and Connor Havens at the NCAA DDIII Cross Country National Championships
Enrique Salazar ’24 and Connor Havens ’24 competed at the NCAA DIII Cross Country National Championships in Nov. 2023. Salazar clinched 19th place, becoming the first men’s NCAA DIII All-American in the history of Manchester’s cross country program. Havens returned for his second NCAA DIII National meet, delivering his career-best NCAA performance.
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