Eastern Mennonite University has released its fall 2023 enrollment and retention numbers, which reflect selective growth in the undergraduate, graduate, and Intensive English Program (IEP) academic areas.
The census data, collected on Sept. 10, reflect undergraduate, graduate, dual and non-credit enrollment on the main Harrisonburg campus and the Lancaster, Pennsylvania, site for fall 2023.
“I am pleased to see increases in the number of transfer students, full-time graduate students, and in specific undergraduate and graduate program areas,” said Mary Krahn Jensen, vice president for enrollment and strategic growth. “EMU has worked diligently to attract a diverse and talented pool of students who will contribute to the vibrancy of our campus.”
The number of incoming transfer students was up by 60 percent, contributing to a total undergraduate enrollment of 801 students and an incoming class enrollment of 236 students. The class of 2027 represents 18 states and six countries and includes 35 percent of students who identify as first-generation (an increase from last year) and 44 percent who identify as BIPOC.
Top majors include nursing and psychology followed by business administration and a cluster of STEM-related fields: biology, computer science, pre-professional health and engineering. IEP realized a nine-percent enrollment increase from 77 to 84 students.
“EMU continues to invest in strategic ways to help all of our students succeed and ultimately graduate. While there is no one-size-fits-all strategy to student success, many departments across campus work closely with one another to help our students ‘find their ROAR’ at EMU,” said Zach Yoder, assistant provost for student success. “In addition, this year marks the fifth consecutive year that we have had a 75 percent or higher first-year student retention rate.”
Full-time graduate students rose from 218 to 221 with increases in the biomedicine, counseling and nursing programs. Combined graduate and seminary enrollment stands at 462 students.
The fall 2023 enrollment numbers give a positive picture of EMU’s investment in attracting a “diverse and talented pool of students.”
In the Class of 2027, of the 44 percent who “identify as BIPOC” how many identify as Indigenous?
Undergraduate students should be counselled on the importance of going on to graduate school. There are many unemployed young men and women with only undergraduate degrees.
Wait, did you forget to include the enrollment #?
I see percentages, maybe I overlooked the number of students.