DAYTON, OH (08/14/2014)(readMedia)-- Erron Vandemore of Bettendorf, IA, will attend the University of Dayton as part of one of the largest classes in the University's history, as the school exceeded all enrollment goals and received a record 16,918 applications for the 2014-15 academic year.
At 59 percent, the overall selectivity remains competitive, including more than 1,000 out-of-state students and nearly 200 international students.
The University plans to welcome about 2,200 first-year students when classes start Aug. 27.
"We are exceptionally pleased with the quality and the size of the incoming class," said Sundar Kumarasamy, vice president of enrollment management and marketing. "With increasing competition in Ohio and nationally for a declining number of college-aged students, we are gratified to see the University of Dayton's continued broad appeal all over the world. It's a resounding endorsement of the academic quality and value of a Catholic, Marianist education."
The fall class is also expected to boast the highest average test scores in school history and more diversity as well, with the number of African-American and Hispanic students up significantly.
With the number of applicants on the rise in recent years, the University of Dayton is bucking a trend among private schools in the region. Approximately two-thirds of 35 small private colleges in the Midwest have experienced two consecutive years of smaller entering classes, according to a May 9 report in Bond Buyer. Some private universities in the Midwest have faced layoffs, and one recently merged.
Kumarasamy suggests the uptick in enrollment is due to:
- Expanded efforts by the deans and faculty in the recruitment effort, particularly for minority students.
- A transparent, guaranteed four-year tuition plan that promises scholarships and grants will increase every year to offset any tuition increases. In addition, the University has eliminated all fees and offers up to $1,000 annually for textbooks.
- The NCAA men's basketball tournament run with the Dayton Flyers appearing in the Elite 8 for the first time in 30 years.
- A strategic decision to diversify the University's enrollment to combat the demographic trends in the Midwest. The number of students from outside Ohio continues to outnumber in-state students, with 54 percent expected to enroll from outside the state and internationally.
- Other value-added distinctions, including a four-year graduation pledge; a four-year guarantee of University housing to first-year students who make that choice; and study-abroad scholarships for select programs, including China.
"The University of Dayton has added these features because they align perfectly with our mission," Kumarasamy said. "We want our students to graduate in four years, experience our distinctive highly residential campus and study abroad because all graduates need to be exposed to global issues and cultures. It's part of our Catholic, Marianist mission to prepare students to succeed in diverse and global environments."
The University of Dayton is a top-tier national, Catholic, research university and Ohio's largest private university. Founded by the Society of Mary (the Marianists), the University of Dayton educates students for excellence in scholarship and practical wisdom, grounded in faith and reason, to build community and partner for the common good.
