Meredith College Sees Strong Fall 2020 Enrollment

Meredith College is experiencing strong enrollment for Fall 2020, including near-record retention rates.

Meredith has welcomed approximately 449 new students, including freshmen, transfers and Wings students, which is up from Fall 2019. New enrollment is positive, despite challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Meredith’s admissions office pivoted to a virtual visit model while incoming students were dealing with disrupted college searches.

Overall enrollment is approximately 1,800, including undergraduates and graduate students.

College leaders are also celebrating an 85.4% freshman to sophomore retention rate, which is Meredith’s highest retention rate since the late 1990s. This achievement comes after another strong retention rate of 81.3% in 2019.

“Every member of the Meredith College community can celebrate the strong retention rate because everyone plays a role in helping students succeed and in providing a positive college experience for our students,” said Senior Vice President and Provost Matthew Poslusny.

Meredith has made concerted efforts to support students in their progress toward graduation, including implementing StrongPoints®, a personalized advising and coaching initiative that is an integral part of the Meredith experience. Meredith also established a full-time staff position focused on retention.

Retention is the highest since 1999 and Meredith’s four-year graduation rate has been over 60% for two years in a row.

“There are few metrics that demonstrate the strength of a college and its students better than retention and graduation rates. I am so impressed by and grateful for the hard work put forth by our students to be resilient and successful – in the midst of an international pandemic, no less,” said Brandon Stokes, director of retention and student success.  “I am also grateful for the faculty, deans, counselors, advisors, financial aid staff, residence directors, student leaders, and countless others who paid such close attention to their students and helped them continue in their journey towards a degree. Meredith is truly a special place.”