University experiences 65 percent enrollment increase in past decade;
Class of 2022 boasts highest average ACT to date
Belmont University kicked off classes for its fall 2018 semester yesterday with a record-breaking enrollment number as the University welcomed 8,318 students to campus, nearly triple the enrollment in 2000 and marking a 65 percent increase in the last decade alone. This marks Belmont’s 18th consecutive year of record enrollment. Belmont’s sustained growth is being accomplished through traditional, residential education, as the University also marked the opening of its largest residence hall to date on Saturday. As part of its Vision 2020 strategic plan, Belmont aims to enroll 8,888 students by the Fall 2020 semester, providing more students than ever the opportunity to embrace the Belmont mission to “engage and transform the world.”
Belmont President Dr. Bob Fisher said, “August is always an incredible month at Belmont, as each year our upperclassmen create a Move In weekend experience like no other, cheering their new peers as they and their families first arrive to campus for the fall semester. I cheer along with them as we are honored that more and more students choose Belmont for their education, and that the quality of each incoming class continues to rise, this year seeing an average ACT composite score of 27. Our students are selecting Belmont because they want to be challenged by rigorous academics, taught by dedicated faculty and transformed by an education that will empower them to make a difference in their communities. And for the 74 percent coming from outside of Tennessee, they want to live in Nashville.”
Applications for freshman admissions for Fall 2018 saw a significant increase of 5.3 percent and resulted in an accomplished incoming freshman class of 1,634 students, the largest in University history. Belmont also continues to be among the top destinations for transfer students as 494 transfers, also a record, joined the campus this fall. The University’s graduate schools, which offer more than 25 master’s degrees and five doctoral programs, attracted 658 new students for 2018-19 new academic year.
This year’s incoming freshman class hails from 48 states and represents nine foreign countries, with 74 percent of the class originating from outside of Tennessee. As a group, Belmont’s Class of 2022 scored an average of 27 on the ACT and held an average high school GPA of 3.7. The new students made their presence known throughout Nashville Tuesday afternoon as more than 2,100 freshmen and transfers participated in the annual SERVE event, which allows students to engage in community service at nonprofit sites around the city.
Belmont’s student body currently consists of 6,730 undergraduate students and 1,588 pursuing graduate/professional paths.
Associate Provost and Dean of Enrollment David Mee added, “Each new admission cycle brings promise for continuing enrollment growth at Belmont. And Fall 2018 was no exception. Belmont continues to attract talented, thoughtful and civically-engaged students from every state and all corners of the globe. Growth at Belmont, first and foremost, represents the potential the University has to impact society through the great contributions our alumni make each and every day.”
