You know they’re coming! Our students are the reason we’re all here, and they keep things interesting. Vice President for Enrollment Management and Marketing Amanda James gives us some insight on the students we’re enrolling this fall and new recruiting strategies.
Amanda’s Enrollment Q & A
At this time, we are sitting at a 7 percent increase in total enrollment for fall 2026. That equates to approximately 350 additional students and 3,000 additional credit hours compared to this time last year. We also welcomed approximately 1,350 new freshmen and transfer students to campus this month. On the graduate side, we currently have more than 900 students enrolled. Overall, we are really pleased with where we are as we start the semester.
Our fall 2026 undergraduate enrollment is consistent with what we were seeing prior to COVID, particularly in 2018 and 2019. For context, Winthrop welcomed 997 freshmen and 295 transfer students in fall 2018, followed by 1,078 freshmen and 293 transfers in fall 2019. It is exciting to see our enrollment returning to those levels.
We saw a shift in application and deposit activity during late spring and early summer. That was certainly disappointing, but what is most unfortunate is that some students may have made a decision about Winthrop without having the facts and the opportunity to experience for themselves what makes this university so special. We know the exceptional experience our students receive here, and we are going to continue focusing on telling that story and making sure prospective students and families see the Winthrop we know.
Our 35 Presidential Ambassadors will support admissions, advancement and the president’s office by helping us share the Winthrop story. For admissions, they will be an important part of the campus visit experience and one of the first Winthrop students our prospective students and families meet. These are paid positions, and the ambassadors will lead campus tours, interact with families during on- and off-campus events, and assist with major university events, including Homecoming. There is nothing better than having our own students share what they love about Winthrop and what it is really like to be part of this community.
Yes. We are very pleased with the academic profile of our incoming class. I don’t want to steal the spotlight from our annual Fun Facts for our incoming Eagles, but our average GPA is a 4.03 which is the highest in years. What we are seeing so far continues to demonstrate that we are enrolling academically strong students who are prepared to be successful at Winthrop.
Absolutely. We are already seeing students enrolling in newer bachelor’s programs including game design, criminal justice, health sciences and artificial intelligence, and we have received quite a bit of interest in our new aviation and business management program. Our Ed.D. program also has proven to be very popular. As we continue to add programs that align with student interest and workforce needs, including upcoming programs such as advanced manufacturing engineering, I believe we will continue to reach new groups of students who may not have previously considered Winthrop.
One of the most important things every employee can do is simply share their positive Winthrop story. We have an exceptional student experience here, from strong academics and meaningful student engagement opportunities to Division I athletics and all that Rock Hill and the Charlotte region have to offer. There is a lot to be proud of, and every interaction someone has with Winthrop helps shape how they see our university. And for anyone who wants to do even more, admissions is always happy to have volunteers help with our recruitment events. We would love to have you!
Thank you, Amanda, for the scoop on fall enrollment. Best of luck to the admissions team as they begin the recruiting season for the next class of Eagles! Watch for our next Q&A where Erica Panton will share the success of our dual enrollment program.
