FOR RELEASE: Oct. 19th, 2023
GREAT FALLS, MONTANA – The University of Providence (UP) saw both an increase in enrollment and retention rate for the 2023 fall semester in its full-time campus programs, the latter being well-above the national average for retention.
UP’s School of Liberal Arts and Sciences saw an 8% increase in undergraduate enrollment, while the University experienced an 11% boost in full-time on-campus students.
The university also saw improvement in freshman to sophomore retention, something that has been a goal for the University since the pandemic disrupted both retention and enrollment in 2020.
“These numbers indicate that we are on the path of recovery from COVID-19 and that our strategies to ‘build back’ the University are delivering positive results,” said UP President, Fr. Oliver Doyle.
UP leadership believes this upward trend, initially starting in 2021 amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, will continue to rise, thanks to the collaborative effort between the University’s admission team, marketing, coaches, faculty, and staff.
Small class sizes and the family-like environment are a big pull for students looking to get a more intimate college experience. UP prides itself on offering students the opportunity to connect with professors and receive the attention they need while earning their college degree.
“In addition to our strong mission, I believe students attend the University of Providence because they experience how the UP community embraces and nurtures our students, both in and out of the classroom. The University of Providence strives for a high level of personal care for our students that is becoming rare in higher education. Our commitment to whole person formation and our small campus community meet an important need for a lot of students and their families, whether they come from one of our local communities or across the globe,” said Mackenzie Sick, VP for Enrollment Management
