Eastern Mennonite University begins the new academic year with gains in new student enrollment, including among transfer students, and a record-high retention rate, according to university officials.
“EMU’s unique educational experience and excellent post-graduate outcomes continue to draw students who seek the skills and knowledge to be unifying leaders in their careers and communities,” said President Susan Schultz Huxman. “These gains highlight one of our ongoing strategic priorities of creating new pathways of access and affordability for all students.”
Growth in transfers: A significant percentage of the new students on campus, which number 255 in total, classify as transfer students. Forty-four transfer students have chosen to continue their education at EMU.
“This large number forecasts a growing trend as students seek smooth pathways to a four-year degree from community colleges, said Director of Admissions Matt Ruth. “EMU has new, more nimble transfer agreements with Blue Ridge and Lord Fairfax community colleges, as well as Hesston College in Kansas.”
He added that EMU is collaborating with several area community colleges on program-specific transfer articulation agreements.
High retention rate: Enrollment figures have also been boosted by EMU’s record-high retention rate of 85 percent, a full 10 percentage points above the national average. The statistic measures the percentage of a school’s first-time, first-year undergraduate students who continue at that school the next year and generally looked upon as an overall measurement of student satisfaction.
High GPA and most diverse class: Additionally, the class of 2023 arrives on campus as high academic achievers, based on average GPA, and the most diverse class in the university’s history, with 36 % of students of African, Hispanic, Asian and/or Native American descent.
Growing programs: Graduate programs showing increases in enrollment include biomedicine, counseling, graduate teacher education at EMU’s Lancaster site, and the collaborative MBA offered jointly with Bluffton University and Goshen College.
In its second year, Lancaster’s aviation leadership program, which offers a bachelor’s degree in leadership and organizational management with several professional pilot ratings, has doubled in size. The program’s unique curriculum prepares graduates for various professional career paths within the changing landscape of the aviation industry.
Additionally, EMU’s summer programs enrolled a record high number of students.
Enrollment figures were released by the registrar’s office following the university’s official census date of Sept. 12. Enrollment totals are reported as of this same point each semester to reflect registration as it has settled after two full weeks of classes.