Enrollment in the CoJMC graduate programs has declined sharply over the past five years, highlighting the need to reassess our approach to graduate education. Total enrollment has fallen from 82 students in Fall 2020 to just 46 students in Fall 2024, marking a 43.9% decrease.
Program Enrollment
All of our graduate offerings have experienced similar downturns, with the steepest decline in the Public Relations and Social Media graduate certificate program. Enrollment in the Integrated Media Communications (IMC) program dropped by 41.9%, Professional Journalism by 46.7%, and the certificate program by 58.8%.
Graduate Degrees
We are also seeing a decline in graduate degrees awarded, though this decline is lagging behind the drop in enrollment. Between 2019-2020 and 2023-2024, the total number of graduate degrees awarded fell by 37.7%, with the most significant decrease occurring between 2022-2023 and 2023-2024.
All of our graduate programs have experienced declines, with the steepest drop in IMC, where degrees awarded have decreased by 50%.
The Nebraska Coordinating Commission on Postsecondary Education establishes minimum degree production thresholds, calculated using a five-year average, to assess the sustainability of academic programs. Baccalaureate programs must average at least seven (7) degrees per year, master’s programs five (5) degrees, and specialist programs four (4) degrees annually.
Our professional journalism specialization meets the required threshold, with an average of 5.2 degrees awarded annually over the past five years. However, this figure is only marginally above the minimum, placing the program close to the sustainability threshold.
Course Enrollment
The sharp decline in program enrollment has led to corresponding drops in course enrollments. Given our budget constraints and the need to maximize instructional efficiency, these declines are making it increasingly challenging to offer enough courses for students to complete their degree requirements on time.
Graduate course enrollments have dropped by 31.7%, falling from 536 in 2019-2020 to 366 in 2023-2024. This decline has affected all terms—fall, spring, and summer—reflecting a consistent downward trend across the academic year.
The enrollment declines have directly affected required courses. To maintain instructional efficiency, each graduate course must have a minimum enrollment of 10 students. While the required courses in the IMC program consistently meet this threshold, those in the Professional Journalism program are falling short.
The declining enrollments are a significant concern, signaling that our programs may no longer align with market demands. Some programs are approaching the CCPE’s minimum degree requirements, and we face growing challenges in offering enough courses for students to complete their degrees on time. These trends underscore the urgent need to reevaluate our graduate offerings, implement changes to attract students, boost enrollment and ensure the long-term sustainability of our programs.
