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Lycoming College's Fall 2026 semester began with the institution's strongest enrollment in four years, surpassing its student recruitment goals with total deposits up 9.4 percent over fall 2025 and first-year deposits up 7.6 percent.
The momentum extends well beyond the numbers. Lycoming College enters fall 2026 ranked No. 96 among National Liberal Arts Colleges in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings, climbing four spots. The College also earned No. 21 on Best Value Schools and No. 5 for Top Performers on Social Mobility, a recognition that reflects how far a Lycoming education can take students from all backgrounds.
“I am pleased to share that the admissions team has reached this year's student recruitment goal,” said Chip Hinton, vice president for enrollment management and marketing. “This is cause for celebration! Thank you to everyone who contributed to making our college a place where future students can see themselves succeed. We look forward to building on this momentum together.”
“I am pleased to share that the admissions team has reached this year's student recruitment goal."
New academic programs are fueling that growth. At the start of the summer, Lycoming unveiled a new major in sport management. This interdisciplinary curriculum is engineered to prepare students for diverse roles across the sports landscape, from marketing and front-office administration to collegiate athletics and the management of non-profit community programs. The College also added new programs in exercise science, biomedical sciences, and environmental studies, expanding the pathways students can pursue.
These additions reflect what has long set Lycoming apart. Here, classic meets cutting edge. Founded in 1812, Lycoming is among the nation's oldest colleges, delivering a top-tier liberal arts and sciences education infused with 21st-century innovation. Students don't simply choose a major. They build a direction, applying their interests through fieldwork, internships, research, and global study.
Mentorship anchors the experience. Lycoming's nationally recognized faculty know their students by name and guide them to become innovators rather than imitators. Specialized career advising begins at first-year orientation, even before classes start, so graduates leave prepared not just for their first jobs, but for a lifetime of professional growth.
The results speak for themselves. With more than 80 percent of students living on campus and one of the highest endowments per student in the country, Lycoming offers the resources and community that families should expect. Millions of dollars in merit scholarships and financial aid make the College accessible to families of all income levels.
For prospective students and their families, Lycoming offers a place to stand on a solid foundation and the confidence to stand out. This year's enrollment shows that more students than ever see themselves succeeding here.