Berry’s growing stature among those seeking a quality, high-value education was affirmed this fall with the arrival of a record class of 729 freshmen, as well as 32 transfer students. Their presence on campus – together with solid retention of returning students – boosted undergraduate and overall enrollment to 2,177 and 2,308, respectively, both all-time highs.
These numbers are particularly notable when undergraduate enrollment declined 3.2% nationally this fall and 6.5% over the last two years according to the Oct. 26, 2021, issue of Inside Higher Ed, which cited early data collected by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center.
“In a time when many colleges are struggling, it is exciting to see that Martha Berry’s education of the head, heart and hands is just as inspiring to families today as it was in years past,” said Dr. Andrew Bressette, Berry’s vice president for enrollment management. “Students are attracted to our strong academic programs, the practical hands-on experiences available through the LifeWorks Program, and a campus environment that encourages moral and ethical development. I’m so happy to see that slowly but surely Berry is losing the moniker as “The Best Kept Secret in Georgia.”
The new class was gleaned from an initial pool of 5,200 applications for admission, a 21% increase over the previous year. A total of 36 different states are represented among the newcomers, 64% of whom are female and 26% are students of color. Also, 27% are Pell Grant recipients, signifying Berry’s continuing mission to extend access and opportunity to students from a wide range of socio-economic backgrounds.
To help accommodate this growth, a former motel adjacent to Oak Hill and The Martha Berry Museum has been purchased, refurbished and renovated as the Oak Hill Residences.
“This gives us an opportunity to increase our housing options for senior and junior students and provides flexibility for the campus as we continue to see increased interest in the college,” President Steve Briggs said at the time of the acquisition. “The bones of this property are good, and its location next to Oak Hill is important to us as we seek to improve the community and continue our investment in the Rome area. We are pleased to join the cooperative effort to enhance the Martha Berry corridor.”
