Linfield University continues to become an increasingly diverse institution, fall enrollment numbers show.
Total fall enrollment is 1,931 undergraduate and graduate students, reflecting enrollment growth at the graduate level.
For the first time in more than 20 years, Linfield has a mix of undergraduate and graduate students thanks to its new Master of Science in Nursing program. The innovative program, offered completely online, specializes in healthcare leadership.
Undergraduate enrollment shows Linfield has made gains in the percentage of nearly every underrepresented student population at the university.
The number of “new majority” students rose to 66% of all students, up from 63% a year ago. These students include those who are the first generation in their family to go to college, U.S. students of color, lower income or transfer students.
The percentage of first-generation students at Linfield hit a six-year high this fall, at 32% of the total student population. This percentage has steadily increased from 19% in fall 2015.
The number of Latinx students at Linfield also increased by nearly 2 percentage points since last fall. Latinx students now make up 19% of the student body.
Linfield reported an increase in Pell Grant recipients, given to lower-income families, up 1.6 percentage points from last year to a total of 28%. The percentage of underrepresented minorities rose 2 percentage points, to 22%.
“Even in these challenging times of a pandemic, BLM, wildfires and unhealthy air quality, Linfield University remains committed to providing a high-quality, in-person education to all,” Linfield President Miles K. Davis said. “We will continue to reach out to underrepresented communities and seek to make a difference in the lives of our students.”
