Loyola welcomes record-breaking Class of 2027 during New Student Convocation

Loyola University Maryland is welcoming its third largest and most diverse class in history to the University’s Evergreen Campus this fall. The Class of 2027 formally became members of the Loyola community and took the student honor pledge at the University’s New Student Convocation on Friday, Sept. 1.

The 1,128 students in the Class of 2027 have already broken several University records. Forty percent of the incoming class identify as students of color, making it the most diverse class in University history. Additionally, the new class has the highest average grade point average in Loyola history at 3.69. Finally, 26% of students are entering as first-generation and 22% are eligible for federal Pell grants—both the highest on record.

“The students in the Class of 2027 have already impressed us by being such accomplished, high-achieving individuals who are eager to make their mark,” said Terrence M. Sawyer, J.D., president. “We are looking forward to getting to know them better as we welcome them into our Loyola family and help them learn and thrive through our world-class Jesuit, liberal arts education.”

This year’s historic class builds on the ongoing success of recent years. Since the pandemic, undergraduate enrollment at Loyola has seen an increase, as two of the three largest classes in University history were enrolled in the last two years.

“We couldn’t be more excited to welcome all our incoming students to Loyola this year,” said Eric Nichols, vice president of enrollment management. “It’s exciting to see the momentum building these last few years with our record-breaking incoming classes and is continued evidence that the Loyola experience is resonating more than ever with prospective families.”

The students in the Class of 2027 hail from 32 states and 15 countries. Twenty-three international students in the class make up the largest cohort of incoming international students in a decade.

Six percent of incoming students are from Baltimore City, and 36% are from Maryland, with New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Virginia trailing close behind. In addition, Loyola welcomed 56 transfer students, the largest number of transfer students in eight years.

Theresa Nguyen, Ph.D., assistant professor of chemistry, spoke at the New Student Convocation. Nguyen specializes in biochemistry and molecular biology.

“We are so proud to learn from you, learn about you, to teach you, to walk alongside you,” Nguyen said. “And we will celebrate you, your stories, and pick you up when you fall, because as marvelous as we all are, we all make mistakes. Mistakes, errors, mutations–that’s the only way we evolve.”

In total, undergraduate enrollment is projected to be approximately 3,950 students in fall 2023, which would account for the fourth-highest undergraduate enrollment in school history.