Earlham College welcomes the Class of 2030 and a new academic year

Earlham College begins the 2026-27 academic year today with the arrival of the Class of 2030, the launch of a new 3+1 education pathway with John Carroll University, national recognition for academic excellence from The Princeton Review, and anticipation of the next event in the Presidential Lecture Series featuring former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder. 

Welcoming the Class of 2030 

The Class of 2030 includes academically excellent students from 23 states and 12 countries, continuing Earlham’s longstanding tradition of bringing together students with diverse backgrounds and perspectives. The incoming class also includes eight legacy Earlhamites — students whose parents or other family members attended the College. 

Among the incoming class: 

• 50% are recruited student-athletes competing in NCAA Division III sports. 

• 40% are first-generation college students. 

• 30% graduated in the top 10% of their high school class, among students who reported class rank. 

“Every incoming class brings its own energy and possibilities, and this is an especially exciting group of Earlhamites,” said President Paul Sniegowski. “They are talented, curious, and eager to contribute, and I’m excited to see what they will discover and accomplish here.  

“My advice to them is simple: ask questions, think deeply, participate fully, and take advantage of the opportunities in front of you,” Sniegowski said. “Earlham is a place where those choices can lead somewhere you never expected — and I can’t wait to see where this class goes.” 
 
Valerie Barry is one example of the possibilities that drew members of the Class of 2030 to campus. The first-year student from Fort Wayne, Indiana chose Earlham after participating in the 2026 Japanese Olympiad of Indiana in February as the captain of the Caroll High School team. The event brings together high school students from across the state for an intensive showcase of their knowledge of Japanese language and culture. Earlham’s campus was the host site for the 2026 event has committed to hosting again in 2027 and 2028. 

“My college decision was cemented when I discovered the unparalleled study abroad opportunities offered here — especially the chance to obtain a double degree at Waseda University in Tokyo,” said Barry, who plans to study business and international relations at Earlham. 
 
“As a person with a deep-rooted fascination with cultures other than my own, this major allows me to both fuel my individual passion for the subject and build influential relationships — not exclusively within the United States, but on a global scale as well,” she said. 
 
Information about the Class of 2030 is considered unofficial until fall census on Tuesday, Sept. 8. 

A new path to becoming a teacher 

This fall also marks the debut of a new 3+1 education partnership with John Carroll University, giving aspiring teachers an accelerated path to earn two degrees and teaching licensure in four years. 

Students spend their first three years at Earlham, building a strong liberal arts foundation and completing the coursework required for their bachelor’s degree. During their fourth year, students enroll in John Carroll’s School-Based Master of Education program, completing graduate coursework online while student teaching in an approved placement. 

The pathway leads to a Bachelor of Arts from Earlham, a Master of Education from John Carroll and teaching licensure. Students can pursue licensure in primary education, middle childhood education, or adolescent/young adult education. 

The program also gives students flexibility in where they complete their professional preparation, allowing them to pursue student teaching in a community where they hope to begin their teaching careers. 

National recognition for teaching, learning and community 

The start of the academic year comes on the heels of a strong showing in The Princeton Review’s 2027 edition of The Best 392 Colleges. 

Earlham earned seven Top 25 national rankings, including No. 11 for Best Classroom Experience, marking the 11th consecutive year the College has ranked among the nation’s Top 25 in the category. 

Earlham also ranked: 

• No. 12 for Most Accessible Professors 

• No. 19 for Professors Get High Marks 

• No. 7 for Best College Radio Station 

• No. 21 for Friendliest Students 

• No. 24 for Green Matters: Everyone Cares About Conservation 

• No. 15 for LGBTQ-Friendly 

The Princeton Review’s 2027 guide includes only about 14% of the nation’s four-year colleges, with rankings based on surveys of approximately 172,000 students. 

Eric Holder to headline Presidential Lecture Series 

The new academic year will also bring a nationally prominent voice to campus when Eric Holder, the 82nd U.S. attorney general and the first African American to hold the position, visits Earlham on Sept. 17 as part of the College’s Presidential Lecture Series. 

Holder, who was Attorney General under President Barack Obama, will discuss law, leadership, voting rights, criminal justice and civic participation, drawing in part from his new book, Our Unfinished March, co-authored with Sam Koppelman.  

The conversation will be moderated by Sunu Chandy ’94. Chandy is a social justice activist, including through her work as a poet and a civil rights attorney. She is the daughter of immigrants from Kerala, India, and currently lives in Washington D.C. with her family. Her award-winning collection of poems, My Dear Comrades, was published by Regal House, and she is a Pushcart Prize nominated poet.  Sunu is currently a Senior Advisor with Democracy Forward, and on the board of the Transgender Law Center. Sunu has been named one of the Washington Blade’s Queer Women of Washington. 

The event begins at 7 p.m. in Goddard Auditorium in Carpenter Hall.

Admission is free, but advanced tickets are required. 

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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.