Maryville plans for record enrollment and largest freshman class ever
8/20/13
St. Louis –At a time when many colleges and universities are experiencing declining enrollment, Maryville University will welcome a record number of freshmen this fall.
Maryville University President Mark Lombardi expects total enrollment to crest 5,000 – a 19 percent increase over last year –also a record. He said 415 freshmen arrive on campus this week, up 19 percent over last year. Classes begin Aug. 26.
“With our largest freshmen class ever, we are looking toward even greater growth and recognition,” Lombardi said. “As a national university, we are proud to have students from 48 states and more than 30 countries. We also know students and parents care about outcomes. We have an 87 percent retention rate, a 78 percent graduation rate and a 94 percent career placement rate; those numbers reflect the quality of our academic and student-life experience.”
Jeff Miller, vice president for Enrollment at Maryville, says there are two things at work – a growing national reputation and strategic planning for recruitment.
In late November, U.S. News & World Report named Maryville the top over-performing university in the country, after ranking Maryville one of only three national universities in St. Louis. Maryville has also won honors from Forbes and Kiplinger’s as a top college and best value.
In May, Maryville won the NCAA Division II Presidents Award for being the only university in the country to graduate 100 percent of its student-athletes in four years.
“More people are talking about Maryville and are exploring our degree programs,” Miller said. “They find we are very strong in the health sciences, education and liberal arts. In the past year, others learned about Maryville when Rawlings Sporting Goods named our sport business management program. We’re riding a wave of accomplishments and recognition.”
Miller said Maryville has also expanded its recruitment area.
“Five years ago, through targeted analysis we purposefully expanded our recruitment area to Texas, the entire Midwest and the West Coast,” Miller said. “As a result, Maryville recruits a national student population.”
Miller credits Shani Lenore-Jenkins, associate vice-president for Enrollment, for leading the counselors and enhancing the University’s marketing reach to prospective students through social media.
Media Contact
Janet Edwards, Editorial Content Specialist, Marketing and Community Relations, 314-529-9347 (office), jedwards@maryville.edu, 314-249-7982 (cell).