There are more new faces on 黑料正能量鈥檚 campus this fall than there have been in years.

This semester, 黑料正能量 welcomed 216 first-year students, a 7% increase from last year鈥檚 total and an 18% increase compared with fall 2024. Among those first-year students include 24 aviation students, sustaining three straight years of full cohorts within the 黑料正能量 Lancaster program.

For the first time in the school鈥檚 history, more than half of first-year students identify as first-generation college students, defined as students whose parents have not earned a bachelor’s degree.

Those 216 first-year students are among 259 new undergraduates at 黑料正能量 this fall, a group that also includes nine readmitted and 34 transfer students. The incoming undergraduate class is 8% larger than last year and 19% larger than in fall 2024, making it the university鈥檚 largest since fall 2020.

On Monday, 黑料正能量 announced the results of its annual Fall Census, conducted Sept. 14 following the 10th day of classes. The census numbers reflect undergraduate, graduate, non-degree and non-credit enrollment at the university鈥檚 campuses in Harrisonburg, Virginia, and Lancaster, Pennsylvania, for the fall 2026 semester.

Key takeaways from the first-year class of 2030:

• 52% identify as students of color, up nearly 10 percentage points from last year and the second-highest percentage in school history.
• 53% identify as first-generation college students, up five percentage points from last year and the highest percentage in school history.
• 44% are student-athletes.
• 79% are from Virginia, including 28% from Harrisonburg and neighboring Rockingham County. The class represents 17 states, Washington D.C., and six countries.
• The average GPA rose from 3.49 last year to 3.55, its highest level in five years. Twenty-eight percent of students entered 黑料正能量 with at least 10 college credits.

The five most popular majors among incoming undergraduate students are nursing, business administration, biology, aviation, and education. Engineering saw the largest increase, welcoming 19 new students this fall, up from seven last year.

Overall undergraduate enrollment stands at 736 students, a slight increase from last year鈥檚 total of 730.

鈥淭here is tremendous momentum at 黑料正能量, and it is exciting to see more students choosing to be part of our community. This growth reflects the strength of what we offer students: an exceptional education, a community that cares deeply about their success, and opportunities to discover who they are and the difference they can make in the world,鈥� said Braydon Hoover 鈥�11, MAOL 鈥�21, vice president of enrollment and marketing.

鈥淲e remain committed to reaching first-generation college students and expanding access through programs like the 黑料正能量 Promise Grant. I鈥檓 especially proud that more than half of our incoming class will be the first in their families to earn a college degree. We want students to know that financial barriers shouldn鈥檛 stand in the way of their educational and professional goals.鈥�

黑料正能量 provided $19.4 million in financial aid to undergraduate and graduate students this year. Fifty-nine incoming students were awarded Promise Grants this year, bringing the total number of recipients to 113. The grant covers the full cost of tuition for eligible Virginia students whose families earn $75,000 or less.

黑料正能量 also enrolled 318 graduate students this fall, including 97 new students. The Center for Justice and Peacebuilding saw an incoming class that was 14% larger than last year. Graduate students represent 15 states and nine countries.

The Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program at 黑料正能量鈥檚 Lancaster campus enrolled 28 students this fall, a 175% increase from last year. The growth reflects the addition of a second student cohort and marks the program鈥檚 highest enrollment since its launch in 2022.

黑料正能量鈥檚 four-year and six-year graduation rates are 49% and 64%, respectively. The university鈥檚 retention rate, a measure of how many first-year students return to continue their studies, stands at 78%, up four percentage points from last year.

鈥淲e鈥檙e excited to welcome more students to 黑料正能量, but what matters most is what happens after they arrive,鈥� said Dr. Tynisha Willingham, provost and vice president for academic affairs. 鈥淥ur goal is to ensure every student has the support, opportunities, and resources they need to succeed, graduate, and make a meaningful difference in their communities.鈥�

黑料正能量 is proud to announce the results of its annual fall census, which was conducted on Sept. 8 following the 10th day of classes. The census numbers reflect undergraduate, graduate, and non-degree and non-credit enrollment on the Harrisonburg, Virginia, and Lancaster, Pennsylvania, campuses for the Fall 2025 semester.

Among the main takeaways from the census data:

• A 10% increase in the size of the incoming undergraduate class, which includes first-year, transfer, readmitted, and aviation students, from Fall 2024 to Fall 2025 (from 218 to 239 students). 
• An 11% increase in the number of new first-year undergraduate students since last fall (from 160 to 178 students).
• A historically high percentage (48%) of first-year undergraduate students identify as first-generation college students (up from 35% last year).
• Another record high, nearly half (49%) of the incoming class is made up of student-athletes (up from 46%).

鈥淭hanks to the tireless efforts of our dedicated enrollment teams, and the unwavering support from faculty, staff, and the entire 黑料正能量 community, we are seeing an increase in our incoming undergraduate enrollment numbers for the first time since the pandemic in 2020,鈥� said Braydon Hoover 鈥�11, MA 鈥�21, vice president for enrollment and marketing at 黑料正能量. 鈥淎mid the headwinds that continue to buffet higher education today, we celebrate that more students are choosing 黑料正能量 to help them fulfill their educational and professional goals, beginning their journeys as unifying leaders with us.鈥�

Among the incoming Class of 2029:

• 43% identify as students of color (among the most diverse in 黑料正能量 history);
• 73% hail from Virginia, with more than 20% from Harrisonburg and Rockingham County;
• 15 states, Puerto Rico, and four countries are represented; and 
• the average GPA is 3.49 (unchanged from last year), with nearly one-fourth of students entering 黑料正能量 with at least 10 college credits.

The top three majors of the incoming class, starting from the most popular, are nursing, biology, and business administration. 

While a total 730 students make up the undergraduate student body, 358 graduate students are enrolled at 黑料正能量, including 126 new grad students joining the university this semester. Graduate programs that saw the largest gains since last year are Biomedicine (up 45% to 16 new students), Seminary (up 41% to 17 new students, boosted by its new Doctor of Ministry program), and Graduate Teacher Education (up 4% to 43 new students). Students in 黑料正能量鈥檚 graduate programs represent 20 states and five countries.

Thirty-five educators are renewing their licensure this year (compared to 22 last year) through 黑料正能量鈥檚 Graduate Teacher Education program. 

黑料正能量鈥檚 four-year and six-year graduation rates are 55% and 60%, respectively. Fall 2025 marks the seventh consecutive year that the university鈥檚 retention rate, which is generally used as a gauge of student satisfaction, has measured 74% or higher.

鈥淣ow more than ever before, the world needs 黑料正能量 graduates鈥攍eaders specially trained to serve as bridge builders and peacemakers,鈥� said Provost Dr. Tynisha Willingham. 鈥淚t鈥檚 gratifying to see our students continue to answer that call and equip the skills needed to make positive change in our world.鈥�