IMMACULATA, PA — Immaculata University is set to open the fall semester with a record-breaking incoming undergraduate class, marking the highest enrollment of first-year students in its history. More than 415 freshmen, joined by over 60 transfer students, will begin classes this fall — a 38% increase from last year and a 46% jump compared to fall 2023.
University President Barbara Lettiere ’72 credited the milestone to a mix of program strength, affordability, and campus commitment. “This continued growth in enrollment is a reflection of the strength and affordability of our academic programs, our mission and values, and the dedication of our faculty, staff and administrators,” she said. “This milestone isn’t just about numbers—it’s about the students choosing to begin their future here at Immaculata.”
The surge follows a sharp rise in applications. Undergraduate applications have climbed steadily over the past three years — from 1,940 in 2023 to 2,573 in 2024, then to 3,345 in 2025, representing consecutive double-digit increases.
Steven M. Kendus, vice president for communications and marketing, pointed to targeted outreach and the university’s reputation for attainable education as key drivers. “Thanks to innovative marketing and enrollment management strategies, university-wide collaboration and increasing demand for attainable education, more prospective students and their parents know about and believe in Immaculata’s mission, value and student outcomes,” Kendus said.
To meet growing housing needs, the university has converted Gillet Hall — once a residence for the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary — into student accommodations. The renovated facility will house 56 students in a mix of single- and double-occupancy rooms. Patricia Canterino, vice president of student development and undergraduate admissions, said the additional space enhances the student experience. “It offers more students the opportunities to experience traditional college life firsthand,” she noted.
Interest is also building across other programs. Graduate and adult professional student applications are on the rise, with total enrollment projected between 2,600 and 2,700 students this fall. Christine Rhine, executive director of undergraduate admissions, said the atmosphere on campus will be “unlike anything we’ve seen before,” adding, “Hundreds of new student stories will shape our campus for years to come.”
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