Western New England University announced a second consecutive year of enrollment growth in its recruitment efforts, as the student population at the University continues to increase. The University reported a total of 899 new students enrolled in classes for the 2017 fall semester, bringing the total opening full-time undergraduate enrollment up to 2,656, the largest in University history.
The University also saw a record number of admissions applications in 2017, totaling 7,037, along with an increase in the diversity of the incoming student population from 21% in 2016 to 26% in 2017.
“We are at a very important time in the history of higher education with respect to how families are assessing the rising cost to attend college. Students are asking the important questions during their college search process; they need and deserve hard data on internships and job placement rates, the availability of merit - and need-based scholarships, and the support networks that will be in place to enhance their academic and social development. We welcome this,” explained Bryan Gross, vice president for enrollment management and marketing for Western New England University. “The fact that Western New England University has been so successful in attracting diverse and highly qualified students while many other Universities are experiencing enrollment declines demonstrates that people are taking notice and realizing the true value we offer. Western New England University is a special place and I am thrilled to be a member of our community as we grow and expand.”
The University’s College of Arts and Sciences enrolled 403 new students, a 10.1% increase over 2016, while the College of Business enrolled 203 new students, a 3% increase over last year. In the first year of a new Business Impact Scholarship initiative the College of Business enrolled 67 new students from Hampden, Hampshire and Worcester counties compared to 44 new students from those counties last year. The renewable $2,000 per student Business Impact Scholarship was offered to support the recent surge of economic development in the Greater Springfield area, and to encourage business students to remain in the western Massachusetts area.
Many students are attracted to the University’s Merit Scholarship program which rewards previous academic performance. Merit Scholarships will again increase for the fall 2018 academic year up to $21,000 annually (each year students maintain academic standards), as well as need-based grants.
Western New England University students will also soon enjoy a new four-story, 70,000 square foot dining common, scheduled to open in January 2018, as the University continues to expand the campus facilities.
