Fordham just sent out offers of admission to top students who applied from across the country and around the world, and it will be a few months before this fall’s entering class is finalized. But for now, one thing is clear: the Jesuit University of New York is attracting more interest than ever.
Before sending out admission offers on March 13, the admission team evaluated more than 54,000 submitted applications—a record number that represents an unprecedented 23% increase over the year before. Approximately 47% of applicants were offered admission, a dramatic shift in selectivity over last year.
The 23% increase in applications far exceeds the nationwide 5% increase for public and private institutions that use the Common App platform, as of March 1. The significant rise shows that Fordham’s efforts to promote the University are finding a receptive audience among academically talented students at high schools everywhere, said Michael Gratale, Fordham’s vice president for enrollment strategy.
“As always, we sought to create a diverse and inclusive entering class by casting a wide geographic net in our recruitment while also seeking students of the highest academic caliber,” he said. “This is a remarkable surge in applications, and our applicants showed the same levels of academic achievement as we’ve seen in years past.”
Admitted Students: A Diverse Cohort of Academic Achievers
Drawn from a talented applicant pool, Fordham’s admitted class displayed high academic achievement during their high school careers. The mean GPA of applicants was 3.53, and the average GPA of admitted students was 3.77.
The University seeks to enroll a class of approximately 2,500 students in the fall. Admitted students come from more than 6,700 high schools and represent all 50 states, the District of Columbia, four U.S. territories, and 125 countries around the globe. About 8% of admitted students are international.
Changemakers with Caring Hearts
Many members of the admitted class have already demonstrated caring hearts and a desire to ignite change, Gratale said, by founding nonprofits or taking other initiatives to help others. They founded advocacy organizations, published peer-reviewed research, or launched nonprofits providing basic resources, education, or enrichment to those in need.
“With every admissions cycle, it becomes even more apparent that Fordham’s persona and values are attracting students with compassionate hearts who seek to effect real change in their communities and live by the values that have defined the Jesuit education at Fordham since 1841,” Gratale said.
Reflecting Fordham’s Jesuit values, Gratale said, the University has remained test-optional, focusing on the whole person when evaluating applicants. This is Fordham’s sixth year of being test-optional, meaning that students are still considered for admission, scholarships, and honors programs if they opt not to submit their SAT or ACT scores. About 60% of students were admitted without scores. Gratale said Fordham will stay test-optional for the foreseeable future.
The University is still in the process of allocating financial aid to admitted students, but has already made awards to some of the highest achievers. About 9% of admitted students were awarded the Dean’s Scholarship; their average GPA was 3.95. And roughly 3%, with an average 4.0 GPA, received the highly competitive full-tuition Fordham Scholarship. More than 95% of first-year students at Fordham receive scholarships or grants.
“We’re grateful to everyone on our admissions, financial aid, and marketing teams for all of their excellent work during this first part of the admissions cycle,” Gratale said. “I know we’re all looking forward to meeting the Class of 2030 and welcoming them to Fordham this fall.”
