Campus News
Westminster Welcomes Historic Number of Out-of-State Students
More than 55 percent of this year’s freshman class hails from states other than Utah
SALT LAKE CITY– Breaking yet another historic record, Westminster College welcomes its first freshman class with more students from out-of-state than from Utah. From Delaware to California, to as far as Rwanda and Malaysia, students traveled across the globe to attend the state’s only private, comprehensive liberal arts college.
In addition to the record-breaking numbers of out-of-state students, the college also boasts its largest total enrollment, largest enrollment of international students, and largest number of students from underrepresented groups. Approximately 3,300 undergraduate and graduate students are projected to attend Westminster this semester, including 2,462 undergraduates and 919 graduate students.
This year’s out-of-state freshmen come from 35 states and 15 countries. Since 2004, enrollment at Westminster has grown more than 30 percent.
“We are honored to have the largest ever class of out-of-state students,” said Gary Daynes, interim vice president for enrollment management. “Their presence demonstrates that Westminster's reputation as an excellent school and an outstanding value is growing across the United States. Families outside of Utah are learning what Utah students have always known--that the Westminster community is a unique environment for learning, and that Salt Lake City is a great place to learn and to live.”
Idaho native and incoming freshman Chris Cunningham was drawn to Westminster because of its exceptional academic programs as well as the location. As the only incoming freshman with a perfect ACT score, Cunningham had his choice of colleges, but believed Westminster would be the best fit.
“I chose Westminster because it had everything I wanted in a campus,” he explained. “It’s a top choice school with enticing academic programs. It also has a great Honors program, an open and friendly environment, and it’s located in a big city with a lot of resources, including outdoor activities.”
In terms of academic accomplishment, this year’s freshman class possesses an average high school grade point average of 3.50, well above the national average for high school seniors. The Westminster College Class of 2015 also includes 13 valedictorians and 16 national merit finalists.
Some additional statistics include:
2011 Freshman Profile
246 or 47% are male
279 or 53% are female
About 23% of the entering class is either a U.S. student of color or an international student:
100 (19%) are U.S. students of color (excludes international)
22 (4%) are international/non-resident
Average GPA: 3.50
Average ACT: 24.7
Average SAT: 1119
Geographic Information
Utah: 235 (45%)
Out-of-state: 290 (55%)
35 states and 15 countries are represented including:
States:
CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, ID, IL, KY, MA, MD, ME, MN, MO, MT, NC, NC, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WY
Countries:
Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Hong Kong, India, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, Mongolia, Pakistan Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Thailand
Financial Aid Awarded
97% of incoming freshman class received a financial aid award
Average financial aid award $23,207
(Funding received from all sources - scholarship, work, federal loans, and grants)
Media Contacts: Krista DeAngelis and Arikka Von (801) 832-2682
August 25, 2011
About Westminster:
Westminster is a nationally recognized, comprehensive liberal arts college. With a broad array of graduate and undergraduate programs, Westminster is distinguished by its unique environment for learning. Westminster prepares students for success through active and engaged learning, real world experiences and its vibrant campus community. Westminster’s unique location, adjacent to the Rocky Mountains and to the dynamic city of Salt Lake, further enriches the college experience. For more information, visit http://www.westminstercollege.edu or follow WestminsterSLC on Twitter.
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