As the new first-year students settle into their Worcester State University classes and activities, Vice President for Enrollment Management Ryan Forsythe is optimistic about the academic prospects and diversity of the incoming class of 2029.
“This class is very similar in many ways to recent years,” Forsythe said: just over 800 first-years and around 250 transfer students. Their academic profile is almost exactly the same as in recent years, with an average GPA of 3.4 for first-years and 3.1 for transfers.
While the overall size of the class is on par with previous years, Forsythe highlighted a few key differences. “Our out-of-state population, including domestic out-of-state and international students, is hovering at 9.5%—a few percentage points higher than most previous years.”
Notably, the incoming class is also one of the most diverse in Worcester State’s history, with just under 50% identifying as BIPOC and/or Latino. “This reflects the diversity of our top feeder schools, like the Worcester Public Schools and Leominster Public Schools”, Forsythe said.
The university’s commitment to supporting first-generation college students also remains strong. “As we have been for many years now, we are at a 50% first-gen status,” Forsythe said. “That’s something we’re really proud of as we work to ensure these students have the resources and support they need to succeed.”
About the Class of 2029:
Residency – 90.5% in-state, 9.5% out-of-state
Top 6 cities/towns represented: Worcester, Leominster, and Auburn (tie), Marlborough, Holden, Shrewsbury
Top 5 school districts represented: Worcester Public Schools, Wachusett Regional High School, Leominster High School, Marlborough High School, Milford High School
Most popular majors: nursing, business administration, psychology, criminal justice, biology, computer science
Sample of international students’ home countries: Canada, Ghana, Vietnam, Lebanon, India.
Demographic data:
46% ALANA/BIPOC
62% Female / 38% Male
50% first-generation college students
Average age: 20
Age range: 16-70
Most popular male names: Jacob, John, Nicholas, Anthony, Ryan
Most popular female names: Emily, Abigail, Emma, Isabella, Ava
Forsythe is confident about the class of 2029’s prospects. “The academic preparation is there, and we know high school GPA is the Number One indicator of college success,” he said. “This class is poised for great things.”
Photo above: New first-year students and transfer students at Academic Convocation in the Wellness Center competition gym on Sept. 9. Photo by Mary Leufstedt
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