This fall, Cedar Crest College, a liberal arts educational institution for women in Allentown, Pennsylvania, welcomed its largest fall entering cohort in its 159-year history and its largest first-year undergraduate class in 20 years.
Over the past year, enrollment at Cedar Crest is up by more than 7 percent. Since the women’s college launched a new strategic plan in 2023, enrollment has increased by nearly 20 percent.
Cedar Crest’s newest students hail from 17 states and 10 countries around the world. The first-year class also represents a wide range of academic interests, with nursing, forensic science, psychology, and biology among the most popular majors.
During the college’s Open Door Ceremony officially welcoming new students to campus, Keishla Garcia, president of the Student Government Association and student trustee of the college, said, “Whether you’re living on campus or commuting every day, know this: you belong here. Being part of this community isn’t determined by where you sleep at night; it’s determined by how you show up, how you connect with others, and how willing you are to get involved. Cedar Crest has a place for every single one of you.”