Bourbonnais, IL — Olivet Nazarene University (ONU) has set a new record for its largest freshman class, welcoming 791 first-time freshmen this fall, representing a more than 5% increase over the previous high. The growth in freshman enrollment is part of a larger surge that has brought 1,327 new students to the university this year.
Along with the freshman class, ONU welcomed 141 new transfer students, exceeding the university’s five-year average for transfers. The university also saw significant growth in its Early Scholars program, with 100 high school students enrolling this fall, the largest number since the program’s inception five years ago.
Graduate enrollment has also increased, with 231 new graduate students, marking the largest graduate class since 2020. This growth in multiple student categories has brought ONU’s total student population to 3,332.
According to Luke Franklin, Executive Director of Traditional Enrollment, the university is excited about the growth and the potential these students bring. “We are celebrating this milestone and look forward to seeing how these students shape our campus and the communities they go on to serve,” Franklin said.
ONU, founded in 1907, offers nearly 200 areas of study and continues to be recognized as a Best College by U.S. News & World Report.
