September 27, 2021
COLUMBIA, S.C., September 27, 2021 —
The final enrollment report for the undergraduate program showed 282 new first-year students and transfer students compared to 163 in Fall 2020. Graduate enrollment is 327, up 37% from 238 in 2020 and up 130% from 142 in 2019.
President Dr. Tom Bogart attributes the 73% increase in undergraduates to three factors. First and foremost, we engaged our students, faculty, staff, and alumni in the recruitment process. Second, the College completely revised its marketing strategy and admissions process over the past 18 months. Third, admitting male students accounted for 63 of the additional 119 new students or 53% of the increase. He added, “We have a five-year plan to increase our enrollment by 50% in undergraduate and graduate students, and this year’s enrollment is already ahead of projections. The future is very promising for Columbia College.”
Dean of Enrollment management, Vincent Maloney credits the entire college for the success. “Everyone from the facilities personnel beautifying campus to faculty taking time to engage with prospective students made the difference. The team in admissions has worked so hard to streamline the admissions process from application to the first day of class, and their commitment has paid off.”
The result was a 57% increase in applications for admission. Vincent notes, “The extra work of faculty, staff, students and alumni improved our yield from applicant to student, which explains how we increased 57% in applications but increased 73% in new enrolled students.”
The future continues to shine bright for Columbia College.
About Columbia College
Founded in 1854, Columbia College educates women and men to build successful careers and live lives of impact. The College’s liberal arts foundation ensures that graduates learn to think critically, develop their curiosity, and nurture a love for learning. With an 11-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio, Columbia College students benefit from individualized support, engaged instruction, and personal mentorship. With more than 30 undergraduate programs and 10 graduate programs, students can discover and pursue their passion and purpose.