Classes at Brevard College began on Tuesday, August 20, marking a historic milestone for the school.
With 810 full time undergraduate students enrolled for the Fall 2024 semester, this year’s numbers eclipse the previous enrollment record set in 1991. The College has significantly outperformed its college and university peers by growing enrollment more than 16% since 2018.
“We are very proud of the success we continue to achieve at Brevard College, including this unusual growth in turbulent times,” commented Dr. Bradley J Andrews, President of Brevard College. “Unfortunately, many institutions are struggling and making cuts; however, Brevard College is stronger than ever and on a growth trajectory.”
In the face of national enrollment and financial challenges, “about one university or college per week so far this year, on average, has announced that it will close or merge,” according to an article published by The Washington Post in April.
“Brevard College is evolving and adapting in ways that are not only relevant to today’s students, but are also consistent with our proud history and our strong experiential, liberal arts mission,” said Andrews. “Thanks to the remarkable talent and dedication of our faculty and staff, our college is reaching more and more people.”
Not only is the total enrollment growing, but the College is also seeing increases in the academic indicators of the incoming class. The average ACT score for first-year students is the highest ever on record for the college.
“The increase in academic profile plus a record enrollment in this climate is a significant point of pride for the Brevard College community,” said Dr. Chad Holt, Vice President of Admissions and Financial Aid. “The enrollment numbers suggest that students and their families continue to value the benefit of the kind of experiential education that Brevard College provides.”