CIC would like to highlight a sampling of member institutions that shared with us that they have surpassed their fall and/or spring enrollment goals. There are successes to celebrate in our sector, and we are pleased to pass on some great examples that were sent to us.
If you have important or exciting news to share about your institution, please email Allison Barkley, CIC editorial content specialist, at abarkley@cic.edu to be considered for an upcoming newsletter article.
Ferrum College Celebrates Largest Spring Class of New Students
Ferrum College (VA) welcomed more than 50 new students in Spring 2025, making this the largest spring class of new students in many years. Representing six states and multiple countries, members of this new class of students come from as far away as California and Mexico. This milestone reflects Ferrum’s commitment to providing a transformative educational experience and highlights the growing interest in their unique programs and student-centered approach.
Fall Enrollment at Midway University Surpasses 2,000
Midway University (KY)’s enrollment has grown for a ninth consecutive year. The overall fall enrollment has reached 2,003 students, with the largest growth segment in the university’s evening/online undergraduate programs.
Incoming Class Highlights
- 51 percent female, 49 percent male
- 285 new traditional undergraduate students
- Students from 22 states and 7 countries
- 72 percent from Kentucky, 24 percent out-of-state, 4 percent international
Hiram College Surpasses Fall Enrollment Goal for Second Consecutive Year
Hiram College (OH) has exceeded its 2024–25 enrollment goal with 274 incoming undergraduate students following the fall census count. The number of students demonstrates a 7.5 percent increase in first-year enrollment from the 2023–24 academic year and is the second consecutive year that the college has surpassed the enrollment target.
As part of this year’s enrollment, Hiram brought in a record 64 transfer students, the largest transfer cohort in the college’s history. The incoming class features students from across the United States and internationally, many from where Hiram has successfully drawn in the past, including Ohio, Pennsylvania, Florida, California, Texas, Washington, Michigan, Georgia, and Colorado. While some students enrolled at Hiram as undecided, many started their academic career in a chosen major with top enrollments in nursing, education licensure, integrative exercise science, and sport management.
Centre College’s Incoming Class, By the Numbers
The transformational Centre College (KY) experience has already started to unfold for the Class of 2028 and a record number of transfer students. Here are ten things to know about the newest Centre College students that started in Fall 2024:
- Athletics continues to be a big part of the Centre student experience with more than 200 student-athletes joining the College.
- With 396 incoming first-year students, the Class of 2028 is shaping up to be one of the largest in Centre’s history.
- Centre welcomed the most transfer students in school history this year with 27 joining from other colleges and universities.
- Incoming students hail from 28 US states.
- Centre saw a 25 percent increase in first-year applications this year.
- The College saw a 34 percent increase in out-of-state applications.
- There are 261 high schools represented in this year’s incoming class, a 13 percent increase from last year.
- International applications were strong this year with new students hailing from 18 countries across the globe.
- First-generation enrollment at Centre continues to be strong with 96 students who are the first member of their families to attend college.
- More than one quarter of the incoming class are students of color.
Goshen College Incoming Enrollment Rises
With an incoming class of 201 first-year students and 50 transfer students, Goshen College (IN)’s enrollment rose at the start of the 2024–25 academic year. The college has roughly 25 percent more incoming students than it did last year, and roughly six percent more than the average of the last ten years. The last time Goshen College matriculated more than 200 students was 2017; before that, it was 2009.
A number of internal factors contributed to the rise in enrollment this year, including an increased commitment from senior leadership to address challenges. The admissions team hired two directors: Heather Weeks is the director of admissions, while Matt Wimmer is the director of financial aid. Athletic recruitment this year was also much higher than in the past—97 of the 201 first-year students are student-athletes, up from 60 last year. Additionally, the admissions department created new opportunities for recruiting students, including hosting events like the Nursing and Public Health Day, and building intradepartmental initiatives. The college is increasing its focus on local admissions and strengthening relationships with high schools. For many of the new initiatives, the goal was not simply to increase enrollment for the 2024–25 school year, but for years to come. Goshen plans to continue its efforts and grow its enrollment further.
Oral Roberts Welcomes Record-Breaking Class for Fall 2024
For the sixteenth consecutive year, Oral Roberts University (OK) has once again achieved record enrollment growth, with the 2024 fall census reporting an all-time high of 5,936 students, a 10.5 percent increase from last year. The 2024 incoming class marks another historic milestone, with 2,245 residential students, including the largest incoming class in the university’s history. Oral Roberts’ global footprint expanded, with an international student population of 21 percent representing 129 countries, and students from all 50 states. Oral Roberts also achieved a 92 percent residential retention rate.
Arcadia Welcomes Largest Incoming Class in Seven Years
Arcadia University (PA) welcomed its largest class of first-year and transfer students in several years in Fall 2024. A total of 718 first-year and transfer students (598 first-year, 120 transfer) are now members of the Arcadia community, the highest number of first-year students in seven years and the highest number of transfer students in ten years.
The Arcadia Class of 2028 includes:
- Students from 31 different states and 5 countries, including China, South Korea, and Australia
- 20.9 percent of students are Black, non-Hispanic (highest rate in ten years)
- 17.1 percent of students are Hispanic (highest rate in ten years)
- 34.1 percent of students self-reported as first-generation students
- 65 students speak a different first language than English
- 18 students are from Jiangsu University in China
- 27.9 percent of incoming first-year students are recruited student athletes
Overall enrollment is up at Arcadia for the second year in a row: eight percent above the previous year, and 12 percent from 2022. Undergraduate enrollment is up six percent from the previous year, the highest since 2019. In addition, undergraduate retention (first-to-second year, second-to-third, and third-to-fourth) is at, or near, ten-year highs.
Trine Sets Record for Spring Semester Enrollment
Trine University (IN)’s spring enrollment has once again set a record, with more than 13,000 enrolled across all locations and platforms. Trine had 13,513 students enrolled in all programs for the Spring 2025 semester in its official headcount, almost five percent above the 12,891 enrolled a year ago. Among the areas seeing significant enrollment increases were programs offered through the Brooks College of Health Professions. The university also saw significant year-over-year growth in the number of new students starting at its Angola campus and in the number of dual enrollment students it is serving.
Trine’s continued strong career outcomes for its graduates also continues to attract students to the university. Trine University recently announced that 99.1 percent of its Class of 2024 had obtained their desired career outcome within six months of graduation. Trine’s placement average has been more than 99 percent over the past 12 years.