Despite the increase, the graduate school has seen a tiny enrollment decrease of 25 students between this year and last.

Council of Graduate Students President Stefan Fletcher said a possible reason for the smaller number this year is the debt many students accumulate while working toward an undergraduate degree.

“There is mounting concern … Will a (graduate degree) be beneficial with a student’s debt load and projected earning?” he said.

However, being a holder of an advanced degree from MSU is worth it, Fletcher said.
Graduate student Stephen Boona said it was a no-brainer to go to graduate school.

“The area I work in, MSU has a very good combination of professors and facilities,” he said.

Fletcher said the number might be decreasing also because students have been deciding to take jobs after graduation to pay off their debt before pursuing a graduate degree.

Dr. Karen Klomparens, the graduate school’s dean, said she believes the enrollment numbers will continue to slowly decrease over time.

She said some countries are making more of an effort to keep students in their home countries for graduate education, but MSU still has a great standing internationally.

“Word gets around (about our reputation),” Klomparens said.

Although enrollment has decreased, Klomparens said the total applications received has increased each year since 2009 from 9,489 to 10,492 applications this fall.

But Klomparens said it doesn’t matter how many students are enrolled or how many applications they receive, it’s about the quality of the applicant pool.