As Elon University expands in resources and recognition, so, too, has the crop of wide-eyed first-year students enrolling into the medium-sized private institution.
This week, Elon will welcome a trailblazing Class of 2020 group, one Greg Zaiser, vice president of Admissions and Financial Planning, characterized as the “largest and most diverse [class] in Elon history.” Spearheaded by 10,098 applications and a 60% acceptance rate, this year’s freshman class edges out the Class of 2019’s metrics in almost every category.
The biggest differences between the incoming freshman classes of the Class of 2020 and Class of 2019 are the enrollment size and average GPA. The Class of 2020 enrolled 45 more students, and the cumulative GPA was 0.5 points higher than the current sophomores. The SAT and ACT scores between both underclassmen groups are identical, but the male-to-female ratio shifted from 42 percent-58 percent to 40 percent-60 percent. North Carolina and Massachusetts still reign at the top of the most represented states list.
Aaron Schretzmayer, an incoming Class of 2020 student, said he was excited about the increasing numbers because it showed Elon’s commitment to growth and that he and his classmates were “too good to turn down.”
“It shows that the school is growing and that they are opening the door for more opportunities and to meet more people,” Schretzmayer said. “I’m excited to get a new group of friends and opportunities, and these numbers show that there is a great chance for me to do that. “