As college enrollment numbers continue to decline nationwide among first-year students during the coronavirus pandemic, Montclair State University is bucking the trend.<\/p>\n
The institution welcomed 3,619 first-year students to campus for the fall 2021 semester. It is the largest incoming class in the University\u2019s 113-year history and is 14% larger than the previous record. The total is also a 16% jump from the fall of 2020.<\/p>\n
Members of the Class of 2025 represent 32 states and 11 countries. But the class isn\u2019t just bigger; it also boasts an average high school GPA of 3.32, marking the second consecutive year the mark has been above 3.3.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are excited to welcome such a large, diverse and talented group of students to Montclair State University,\u201d says President Jonathan Koppell. \u201cThey are joining an institution that will empower them to discover their passions and solve our most pressing problems. I cannot wait to see what they achieve.\u201d<\/p>\n
Montclair State has maintained its momentum in spite of the pandemic. Evolving from a Carnegie R3 research doctoral institution to R2 high-research activity<\/a> and New Jersey Public Research University<\/a> designations in the span of just three years, the institution\u2019s reputation in both the Garden State and abroad has grown exponentially.<\/p>\n One of the only New Jersey universities to welcome students back to live and learn on campus in 2020 (without going entirely remote due to a coronavirus outbreak), the institution\u2019s ability to provide a safe, affordable and high-quality educational experience has students from all corners of the world taking notice \u2013 and joining the state\u2019s second-largest university in record numbers.<\/p>\n \u201cMontclair State is increasingly being seen as a highly desirable option for prospective students,\u201d says Vice President for Enrollment Management Wendy Lin-Cook. \u201cStudents and their parents are now more aware than ever of the value and return on investment we provide. A Montclair State University degree is a vehicle to a great career, graduate school or anything a student may wish to pursue in the future. And, with new educational programs \u2013 such as our pre-med, pre-law and 4+1 MBA programs \u2013 students have even more opportunities here.\u201d<\/p>\n