For Immediate Release
GALLATIN, TN—Welch College enrolled 393 students for its fall 2023 semester, slightly higher than last fall’s enrollment of 388, according to Matthew McAffee, Provost of Welch College.
“These numbers signal continued institutional stability in our recovery from the pandemic,” McAffee said. “Our campus community especially rejoices over the sizeable enrollment increase of this year’s incoming class. The Lord continues to sustain us in our rebuilding efforts and advancement of Welch’s mission to educate Christian leaders.”
At press time the college reported 148 dormitory students (8 of which are graduate students), 44 commuter students, 35 non-residential graduate students, 27 Adult Studies students, 43 Online Studies students, and 96 dual enrollment students. Full-time equivalency (FTE) was 259 students. Total enrollment statistics indicate students from 24 states, 1 territory, and 7 foreign countries.
This fall, 80 new students enrolled in traditional on-campus programs at Welch, an 11% increase over last fall’s number of new students (72), and a 43% increase over fall 2021 freshman and transfer enrollment (56) during COVID, the lowest number of freshmen and transfers in many years.
“We’re thankful to continue our enrollment recovery after COVID,” Welch President Matt Pinson said. “The latest research shows that enrollment at church-related colleges and universities has declined over the past decade. Thankfully, Welch has been immune to those trends.”
“Even though our full-time equivalent (FTE) enrollment plunged by 17% during that first fall semester after the onset of COVID, Fall 2020 FTE enrollment was still 11% higher than Fall 2010,” Pinson said. “And Fall 2019 FTE enrollment, the semester before COVID hit, was 35% higher than Fall 2010. Our new campus here in Gallatin has been a big factor in that upsurge.”
“Small college enrollment is a ‘one-fall-freshman-class-at-a-time’ business,” Pinson continued. “So our rebound back to pre-COVID enrollment is going to take time; those two very small freshman classes during COVID have to cycle out before full enrollment recovery can be achieved. But it’s still good, in view of the across-the-board dip in faith-based college enrollment, that we’re holding our own. The thing that makes it all worthwhile is the quality of our students, not just the quantity, and in terms of spiritual formation, church ministry, and cultural impact, our students are poised to make an amazing kingdom impact.”
For more information about Welch College, email recruit@welch.edu or visit the college’s website at www.welch.edu.