Selected from Strong Application Pool, Increase in Diversity Marks Le Moyne’s Incoming Class of 2026

When they arrived on campus on Aug. 24, the members of the Le Moyne College Class of 2026 will be part of the most diverse undergraduate cohort in the College’s history, with more than 30 percent identifying as multi-cultural.

All told, approximately 630 first-year students are members of the class. The new Dolphins come from 20 states and 11 countries. Two-thirds come from outside Central New York.

“Le Moyne provides what we consistently hear that students want – an educational experience that offers close interaction with faculty and staff, and a sense of community with their classmates,” said Le Moyne President Linda LeMura. “Cura personalis – the individual attention to the mental, physical and spiritual needs of our students – defines Jesuit education.”

“The growth in students from increasingly diverse backgrounds, both culturally and geographically, is a strong indication of how well-respected Le Moyne is for prospective students and their parents,” said Tim Lee, vice president for enrollment at Le Moyne.

The academic profile for first-year students remains strong, with an average GPA of more than 3.5. Three of the 10 valedictorians and salutatorians from Syracuse City Schools selected Le Moyne. The top five declared majors are biology, nursing, psychology, business administration and finance, and other popular majors include accounting, marketing, physics, political science, computer science and criminology.

Members of the Class of 2026 were selected from over 7,000 applications. More than 14 percent are the first generation in their families to attend college, 34 percent are Pell grant recipients, and there are 52 legacy students in the class (those whose parents are alumni of Le Moyne.) In addition, approximately 120 transfer students will begin classes on Aug. 29.

Among the comments first-year students made in selecting Le Moyne:
“Le Moyne College is a great place and it really focuses on each individual student. I love the community and how the staff is open for help anytime.”… “I got really good vibes from everyone who I’ve talked to on campus and all of the faculty members.”… “Le Moyne seemed like it had a lot of camaraderie when I visited for accepted students’ day.”

On the graduate side, 350 new students will be taking on-campus and online classes this fall, with several programs welcoming their largest classes ever. Of particular note is the success of the Teacher Tuition Relief Program which has increased enrollment in graduate education programs by more than 40 students since fall 2021. The new Doctorate of Nursing Practice launched successfully with a full cohort this fall, the College’s second doctoral program after the Ed.D. in Executive Leadership, which welcomes its fourth cohort this month.

Le Moyne continues to enjoy success in various rankings. In U.S. News & World Report 2022 rankings released in September 2021, within the Northeast Regional Universities category, the College was #13 overall, #3 in “Best Value Schools,” #5 in “Strong Commitment to Undergraduate Teaching,” and #5 in the “Best College for Veterans” category. The Madden School was also ranked nationally for four specific undergraduate disciplines – analytics (#20), management information systems (#22), finance (#42) and accounting (#50). On the graduate side, five programs were recognized – Best Nursing Schools (Masters) (tied for #143); Physician Assistant Studies (#64), Occupational Therapy (#141), MBA Analytics (#31), and part-time MBA program (tied for #169), which followed a #68 ranking for the program in 2021 by Fortune Magazine.