College again attracts larger pool of applicants

The College received 13,589 applications this year—the most in College history and a 9.6 percent increase from last year.

“The distinctive and enriching experience available in the College continues to attract some of the most talented and motivated students in the world every year,” said Michael Behnke, Vice President and Dean of College Enrollment. “Students are clearly drawn to the rigorous education, study abroad opportunities, internships and the exciting array of activities available on and off campus.”

This year’s applications also showed an increase in diversity. African American student applicants were up 21.4 percent to 776 this year, from 610 last year; there were 2,844 Asian applicants this year, up 4.8 percent from 2,710 last year; and Hispanic/Latino student applicants jumped 14.9 percent to 1,004 this year from 855 last year.

Both Behnke and Ted O’Neill, Dean of College Admissions, attribute the annual increases in College applications in part to the addition of the Odyssey Scholarship Program and the retention of the Early Action admissions option.

The Odyssey program allows the University to reduce student loans among undergraduate students whose families demonstrate low or moderate income and high financial need. The program went into effect in the fall of 2008 and benefits nearly 1,200 students at a time—almost 25 percent of the College enrollment.

For students whose annual family income is less than $60,000, the loans could be replaced entirely by grants, and for families whose income is between $60,000 and $75,000, the loans could be cut in half.

Approximately 1,300 students will enroll in the College as first-years in the fall.

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