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As Lycoming College continues its rise toward becoming one of the best liberal arts and sciences colleges in the nation, it announced that its Class of 2023 has the strongest academic credentials of any incoming class in more than a decade. Twenty-five percent of students rank in the top decile of their high school class — six percentage points above average for freshmen classes of the past decade. In addition, the College has increased selectivity, accepting just 61 percent of applicants for admissions compared with 72 percent five years ago.
Lycoming credits this shift to a multi-pronged approach that reaches every corner of campus: An increase in experiences outside of the classroom, such as internships, study abroad opportunities, and hands-on research, made possible by the College’s Center for Enhanced Academic Experiences (CEAE); an Outdoor Leadership and Education (OLE) program that has enabled students to experience nature while honing leadership skills; the establishment of majors in biochemistry and neuroscience and minors in entrepreneurship and energy studies; the construction of the College’s new Krapf Gateway Center that will provide a new entryway to campus and become a hub of student activity; and renovated residence halls and classrooms to increase access to the latest technologies.
Confirmations have held steady for the fall 2019 semester, with 345 first-year students confirming their enrollment. As with recent classes, the incoming class will be highly diverse with more than 38 percent domestic students of color and 4 percent international students. Forty-seven percent of the class comes from outside of Pennsylvania, including 21 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, while the countries of Bolivia, Canada, China, Ghana, India, Mauritius, Nepal, and Nigeria are also represented.
Industry rankings have helped to cement Lycoming’s reputation as a college that delivers results to students looking for a 21st-century approach to a classic liberal arts and sciences education. This year, the College maintained its spot on the Princeton Review’s “Best 384 Colleges” and continued its ascent in other College rankings, including a rise of 16 spots in the 2019 U.S. News & World Report National Liberal Arts Colleges list, and a jump of 108 places in the Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education (WSJ/THE) U.S. College Rankings 2019.
“We have made investments in the quality of the education we offer and the facilities that support it,” said Kent C. Trachte, Ph.D., president of Lycoming College. “The 21st-century liberal arts education that we have crafted prepares young scholars for success in their careers and lives of meaning.”
“There is no silver bullet when it comes to attracting a strong class of freshmen,” said Mike Konopski, vice president for enrollment management at Lycoming College. “With a well-rounded approach, we are addressing not only academics, but every part of the student, including social growth, physical being, the footprint of the College, and of course, academic rigor. All these things together strengthen our campus and have made it an appealing choice for students and families looking for best college fit.”