EMU enrollment grows as university welcomes largest incoming class in six years

Undergraduate growth continues for second straight year

There are more new faces on EMU’s campus this fall than there have been in years.

This semester, EMU welcomed 216 first-year students, a 7% increase from last year’s total and an 18% increase compared with fall 2024. Among those first-year students include 24 aviation students, sustaining three straight years of full cohorts within the EMU Lancaster program.

For the first time in the school’s history, more than half of first-year students identify as first-generation college students, defined as students whose parents have not earned a bachelor’s degree.

Those 216 first-year students are among 259 new undergraduates at EMU this fall, a group that also includes nine readmitted and 34 transfer students. The incoming undergraduate class is 8% larger than last year and 19% larger than in fall 2024, making it the university’s largest since fall 2020.

On Monday, EMU announced the results of its annual Fall Census, conducted Sept. 14 following the 10th day of classes. The census numbers reflect undergraduate, graduate, non-degree and non-credit enrollment at the university’s campuses in Harrisonburg, Virginia, and Lancaster, Pennsylvania, for the fall 2026 semester.

Key takeaways from the first-year class of 2030:

• 52% identify as students of color, up nearly 10 percentage points from last year and the second-highest percentage in school history.
• 53% identify as first-generation college students, up five percentage points from last year and the highest percentage in school history.
• 44% are student-athletes.
• 79% are from Virginia, including 28% from Harrisonburg and neighboring Rockingham County. The class represents 17 states, Washington D.C., and six countries.
• The average GPA rose from 3.49 last year to 3.55, its highest level in five years. Twenty-eight percent of students entered EMU with at least 10 college credits.

The five most popular majors among incoming undergraduate students are nursing, business administration, biology, aviation, and education. Engineering saw the largest increase, welcoming 19 new students this fall, up from seven last year.

Overall undergraduate enrollment stands at 736 students, a slight increase from last year’s total of 730.

“There is tremendous momentum at EMU, and it is exciting to see more students choosing to be part of our community. This growth reflects the strength of what we offer students: an exceptional education, a community that cares deeply about their success, and opportunities to discover who they are and the difference they can make in the world,” said Braydon Hoover ’11, MAOL ’21, vice president of enrollment and marketing.

“We remain committed to reaching first-generation college students and expanding access through programs like the EMU Promise Grant. I’m especially proud that more than half of our incoming class will be the first in their families to earn a college degree. We want students to know that financial barriers shouldn’t stand in the way of their educational and professional goals.”

EMU provided $19.4 million in financial aid to undergraduate and graduate students this year. Fifty-nine incoming students were awarded Promise Grants this year, bringing the total number of recipients to 113. The grant covers the full cost of tuition for eligible Virginia students whose families earn $75,000 or less.

EMU also enrolled 318 graduate students this fall, including 97 new students. The Center for Justice and Peacebuilding saw an incoming class that was 14% larger than last year. Graduate students represent 15 states and nine countries.

The Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program at EMU’s Lancaster campus enrolled 28 students this fall, a 175% increase from last year. The growth reflects the addition of a second student cohort and marks the program’s highest enrollment since its launch in 2022.

EMU’s four-year and six-year graduation rates are 49% and 64%, respectively. The university’s retention rate, a measure of how many first-year students return to continue their studies, stands at 78%, up four percentage points from last year.

“We’re excited to welcome more students to EMU, but what matters most is what happens after they arrive,” said Dr. Tynisha Willingham, provost and vice president for academic affairs. “Our goal is to ensure every student has the support, opportunities, and resources they need to succeed, graduate, and make a meaningful difference in their communities.”