Transylvania University welcomed around 290 new students to campus this week for five days of orientation before classes begin Monday.
These incoming Pioneers excel academically, posting an average high school GPA of 3.96, with nearly 20% earning Premier Scholarships.
“This year’s entering class represents an important milestone for Transylvania,” said Erin Craig, senior vice president for enrollment management. “Not only are we welcoming one of our largest classes in recent years, but we are doing so with students whose academic achievement, leadership and accomplishments speak to the strength of our institution. In an increasingly competitive enrollment environment, this class affirms that families continue to value the distinctive, personalized education and real-world opportunities that define the Transylvania experience.”
Orientation has included longstanding traditions like the induction ceremony Wednesday after move-in, along with the greet line and class photo.
The new students list psychology, pre-med, pre-law and business administration as the fields they’re most interested in pursuing.
Additionally, many of them have parents or other relatives who are fellow Pioneers, as legacy enrollments rose to 37 — up from 25 last year.
The incoming class hails from 12 states, coming from as far west as California and Washington. Transylvania continues expanding its reach to remain a top destination for both Kentucky and out-of-state students.
A top-tier liberal arts school, Transylvania supports faculty excellence through initiatives including the $25 million Bingham Endowed Chairs for Teaching Excellence program and a recently announced $10 million commitment benefiting the W.T. Young Scholars Program.