Earlham College welcomes largest fall entering class in 5 years

Earlham College opens the new academic year today with its largest fall entering class in five years.

The Class of 2028 features students hailing from 26 states and 29 countries. Nearly 22 percent of the class comes to Earlham from outside the United States, a welcoming sign that international enrollment is returning to pre-Covid pandemic levels.

“Honestly, I felt like I was a priority,” said Lwandile Mavimbela, a first-year student who comes from Mbabane, Eswatini, on why she chose Earlham. Mavimbela is interested in pursuing a major in international studies and minoring in history and French.

“Earlham made me feel seen, heard and loved even before I got to campus,” she said. “When I got to campus, it felt very inclusive like a tight-knit environment where everyone is appreciated one way or another.”

“Honestly, I felt like I was a priority. Earlham made me feel seen, heard and loved even before I got to campus.”

Lwandile Mavimbela

The Class brings impressive academic credentials to campus. The average grade point average reported by students is 3.58 and 22 percent of students reported being in the Top 10 percent of their high school graduating class. Students also reported an average SAT score of 1140 and 23 on the ACT.

“We are thrilled to welcome the Class of 2028 to Earlham College,” said Paul Sniegowski, president of Earlham College. “They are joining a nurturing community of teachers, staff and fellow students who are eager to help them on the exciting journey ahead — a journey that can set the course for a purposeful and fulfilling life.

“These students embody the curiosity, dedication and diversity that have defined our community for centuries,” he said. “Their passion for learning and commitment to making a positive impact aligns perfectly with our values, and we are excited to see how they will contribute to and enrich our vibrant campus life.”

About 35 percent of the class identifies as being among the first in their families to attend college. Nearly half, a staggering 45 percent, is recruited student-athletes, bolstered by the recent addition of softball and the return of men’s and women’s tennis and golf.

“It was not hard to come to the conclusion that I wanted to go to Earlham to play tennis and major in biochemistry on a pre-med track,” said Mary Daoud, a first-year student from Richmond, Indiana, who chose Earlham over 38 other colleges and universities she was pre-admitted to across the state.

“On the academic side, Earlham has outstanding research opportunities, study abroad opportunities and a welcoming and kind community,” Daoud said. “On the athletics side, Earlham is a school that values the balance between academics and athletics while also providing wonderful opportunities and outlets for their students to grow stronger not only in their sport but in several aspects of their lives.”

Enrollment numbers are unofficial until Census Day on Tuesday, Sept. 3.

***

About Earlham College 

Earlham College and Earlham School of Religion foster a collaborative learning community that inspires and motivates students with transformative opportunities and experiences so they can become catalysts for good in a changing world. Located in Richmond, Indiana, Earlham is one of U.S. News & World Report’s Top 100 national liberal arts colleges and offers one of the top 20 classroom experiences in the nation, according to the Princeton Review.