Carson-Newman sees historic enrollment

^{Seniors Collin Smith (left) and De’Andre Thomas gather with other students for the University’s Fall Convocation last month. Carson-Newman is celebrating a record-breaking enrollment with 2,528 students.}

(Sept. 8, 2015) –Carson-Newman University announced today it has recorded its second consecutive record-breaking enrollment for the fall. The University has a total enrollment of 2,528 students. It posted a record 2,362 students last year.

The historic number represents a seven percent increase overall. The number is also generating a buzz on campus for the trend it represents: a 28 percent enrollment increase from just five years ago.

“This is simply great news,” said Carson-Newman President J. Randall O’Brien. “We are excited as a University that so many students are looking to Carson-Newman as their school of choice. It is an honor for a record number of families to put their faith and trust into Carson-Newman’s approach to education.

“Our world is changing at a rapid pace. With that in mind, I believe Carson-Newman’s mission of preparing students to become servant-leaders regardless of vocation is more relevant today than ever before.”

The University saw a slight increase in freshmen, from 491 students in 2014 to 497 this year. Its graduate programs continue to show strong growth resulting in 776 students enrolled, a 28 percent increase over last year.

It also represents a significant 173 percent vault over total graduate student enrollment five years ago.

Dr. Paul Percy, the University’s provost, is pleased, but not surprised by the numbers.

“For over 160 years Carson-Newman has offered exceptional value, personal attention and faculty and staff who care about student success. And we have an outstanding academic reputation,” said Percy. “Our graduate programs are growing for these same reasons. We are a great place to earn a degree.”

The news comes on the heels of national kudos for the University. Last month, Princeton Review named the University “one of the best schools in the Southeast.” Following that announcement, Washington Monthly magazine went a step further naming Carson-Newman the No. 9 baccalaureate college in the nation. It also ranked the University No. 2 in the nation in its “Community service participation and hours served” category.

Founded in 1851, Carson-Newman is located in Jefferson City, Tennessee, among the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. The University offers 50 undergraduate majors, as well as associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees.