Freshman class breaks record
College admissions announced a new record on Friday: this year’s freshman class hit an all-time high with 396 freshmen, beating the previously recorded high, 393 students in 2007.The numbers were finalized as a part of “census day,” which is when all colleges and universities openly declare their enrollment numbers for the start of the year.
Graphic by Drew Lipinski
Overall enrollment
Coupled with 43 new transfer students, the college’s overall headcount totaled 1,303 students. The National Center for Educational Statistics recorded Monmouth College’s opening enrollment on census day last year as 1,255 students.President Clarence Wyatt saw the numbers as a sign, not for “the sake of numbers” but what they imply.“At a time when many institutions are struggling, Monmouth is becoming better known and more attractive as a place that offers a particularly powerful experience,” Wyatt said. “It indicates growing success in being a place of high opportunity and high achievement.”
The numbers make for a promising change. Opening enrollment numbers had fallen each year from 2007 to 2011, which had 340 freshmen, and only increased to 343 in 2012.Last fall marked the first turn in the tide, when the incoming freshman class swelled to 392 students (not counting transfers), according to the office of the registrar.
Questions remain
The only cloud over these positive numbers is the reported record number of discounts given to incoming students. More information about discounts, transfer students, retention and attrition will be covered in the first print edition of The Courier, hitting news stands on Friday, Sept. 12.Cassie Burton
Courier Editor-in-Chief
