Stevenson University welcomes the largest freshman class in its 63-year history this fall. A total of 886 full- and part-time freshman enrolled for the start of classes for the fall 2010 semester. The class represents students from 15 states, including Maryland, and a growing percentage of male students (39 percent). The diversity of Stevenson’s student body is also increasing with minority students comprising 39 percent of the class. Stevenson’s total student population, undergraduate and graduate, has reached 3,929.

“We are very excited by these numbers, for they demonstrate the success of our strategy for growing Stevenson,” said Kevin J. Manning, Ph.D., President of the University. “First, we are seeing the fruits of our name change in 2008 and building of a strong reputation beyond Maryland. Second, the focus on developing programs that serve both the academic and career goals of our students is bringing more students our way who want this experience in higher education.”

Manning added that the launch of Stevenson’s new football program has also been critical to attracting students and creating the kind of spirit and excitement that enliven a campus community.

Stevenson University plans to grow its full-time undergraduate population—currently at 2,985—to 4,000 over the next several years. This growth will mean increasing the University’s capacity to house students. Stevenson’s Owings Mills campus, which currently houses 1,500 students, will add two residence halls to house 500 more students by fall 2011. The campus recently opened a new 60,000-square-foot gymnasium and will begin construction of a 3,500-seat stadium to complement the growing Owings Mills campus sports complex.

Stevenson is the third-largest independent university in Maryland with more than 3,900 students pursuing bachelor’s, master’s, and adult accelerated degrees in the classroom and online. The University is committed to providing a career-focused education and historically has placed 95 percent of its students in jobs or graduate programs upon graduation.

Visit Stevenson online at www.stevenson.edu.