Centenary reports big uptick in freshman enrollment

Centenary University has significantly increased its freshman enrollment for the 2018-2019 academic year, going against a national trend of declining enrollment at liberal arts colleges, it announced Tuesday.

The class of 2022 represents a 15 percent increase over last year’s freshman class. This is the second largest class in eight years, it said. The total number of undergraduates, which combines freshman and transfer students, increased by 12.9 percent.

Robert L. Miller Jr., vice president for enrollment management and marketing at the Hackettstown-based school, said the uptick is due to a growing recognition of smaller universities among high school students and their parents.

“More and more students and their parents are recognizing Centenary’s commitment to each student’s success, providing a challenging academic environment while at the same time offering the support needed to succeed,” Miller said. “Combined with a rich co-curricular experience and an affordable price, Centenary is the right choice for many students.”