The incoming class of students at Drury University is the largest at the school in five years. Drury says 503 new students were on campus when classes began in the traditional Day School on Tuesday.
The preliminary number represents a 39 percent growth over the 363 total freshmen, transfer and international students last fall. The school’s largest ever incoming class was 538 in fall 2010.
“I am extremely proud of the work that has been done by our faculty and staff to bring in one of the largest classes in Drury’s history,” Drury President Dr. Tim Cloyd said in a statement. “There is truly a demand for a Drury education, and for the kinds of engaged learning experiences and mentorship that are an integral part of the Drury experience.”
The number of first-time domestic students rose by 42 percent, international enrollment by 55 percent and transfer student population by 38 percent.
Drury credits the enrollment boost to a multi-faceted market expansion and faculty outreach plan, plus new academic and athletic programs.
Overall, the university is projecting 1,360 total enrolled in the traditional day school when the census is final. That would mark a three percent increase from last year, when 1,315 attended Drury.
Final enrollment totals will be released after the school’s Sept. 9 Census Day.