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The Rotunda
Wednesday, July 2, 2025

Projected Class of 2023 expected to be similar to recent classes

Longwood University’s class of 2023 is projected to be between 1050 and 1100, according to Jason Faulk, dean of admissions.

“The projection is pretty comparable for the class of 2022,” Faulk said.

Per Faulk, final numbers will not be known until August 2019.

“Enrollment is a delicate dance,” Faulk said. “There are many factors that impact the actual class size. The enrollment process for the class of 2023 is still ongoing.”

According to Faulk, “There are not specific conversations, at the moment, to increase enrollment.”

However, there are plans for admissions to move to “the new building currently under construction across from Ruffner (Hall)”.

Faulk said there have been active efforts to diversify the incoming class and for Longwood as the state of Virginia diversifies as well.

“We continue to receive more applications and enroll a diversified class,” Faulk said. “Diversity does not only encompass race and/or ethnicity for Longwood but it also includes where students are coming from, religious background and experiences. We have continued to gain a few percentage points each fall so it would be safe to say we should see similar gains this year.”

Faulk said diversity for Longwood also includes students from historically underrepresented geographic areas.

Additionally, Longwood has seen an increase in high achieving students applying, receiving an offer of admission and committing to Longwood, according to Faulk.

He said it was a “common trend for Longwood for at least the last three incoming classes.”

Per Faulk, most students who apply are in-state, but “slight gains” have been made for out-of-state applicant numbers.

International admissions is seeking to increase the number of new international students coming to Longwood, according to Patricia F. Trent, executive director of the Center for Global Engagement.

The goal is a 38 percent increase in international student enrollment, according to Trent.

“Longwood began actively recruiting international students in 2011,” Trent said. "The highest percent increase over the last seven years was 38 percent (2015 to 2016) and we are aggressively working to meet this goal again.”

From 2016 to 2019, new enrollment of international students has remained steady with an average of 19 new international students per year, according to Trent.

“We increased the total number of international students to 73 in 2017-18, up from 15 in 2010-11,” Trent said. "International students represent just over one percent of the total number of students (at Longwood).”  

Trent said Longwood actively seeks international students because they add to a more diverse university in addition to the economic benefit international students bring to the region.

“The number of international students at U.S. colleges and universities has decreased since 2016. The political climate, social and safety issues, particularly gun control, have made the U.S. less appealing,” Trent said. “Nevertheless, (Longwood) will continue to recruit international students for the value of the global perspective in the classroom, and also for the economic value to our communities.”

According a statistic provided by Trent from the the National Association for International Educators (NAFSA), in 2017-18 international students in Virginia contributed more than $700 million dollars to the state and supported 9,016 jobs. In the fifth congressional district, where Longwood is located, international students contributed $119 million and supported 1,755 jobs.

Admissions Update Graphic

Trent said international students at Longwood “literally come from around the globe” and from a variety of regions but higher enrollment from China and Saudi Arabia has happened in the past few years.

Faulk noted “enrollment is a total campus initiative” and said current students who would like to be involved should reach out to admissions.

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