Lebanon Valley College began its fall semester last week with the highest number of first-year students ever.
This year’s new class of 478 students represents a 1% increase over last year’s class of 473 first-year students.
The enrollment increase contravenes what small private colleges elsewhere — including Elizabethtown College locally — have been facing in recent years with declining enrollments.
“The record first-year class is due to several reasons, including the personal attention provided by our faculty and coaches, offering majors desired by students and employers, and the tremendous employment success of our graduates,” said Edwin Wright, vice president of enrollment for LVC, in a news release.
Along with 37 transfer students joining the college, total undergraduate enrollment now stands at 1,638 students.
The college shared some details about the current first-year class, including the following:
- 45 are members of the Pride of the Valley Marching Band
- 40% are student-athletes
- 15 states and seven countries are represented
- Exercise science, physical therapy, actuarial science, biology, and early childhood education are the top majors
- 40 students received Alumni Referral Scholarships, which provide $1,000 per year for up to four years
- 28% of the first-year class are enrolled in the health sciences (athletic training, exercise science, physical therapy, or speech-language pathology)
Read more coverage of LVC
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A look back at Lebanon Valley College’s trip to the NCAA Tournament
Lebanon Valley College trims budget by dropping some majors and minors
Career website names LVC top college in PA for job placement