Cumberland University has announced the largest enrollment in its 182-year history with 3,072 students, an increase of 18.7% from 2,588 students last fall.
Cumberland’s previous record enrollment stood at 2,704 in 2020.
Record enrollment was achieved for many types of students at the university including transfer students, Tennessee Reconnect students, graduate students and dual enrollment students.
Cumberland Vice President for Enrollment Services Reggie Blair noted some of the factors that contributed to record enrollment, attributing it partly to Cumberland’s commitment to continually expanding its programs and course offerings to meet the needs of students and remain competitive in today’s market.
“By expanding graduate program offerings to include STEM-related areas and fields like Forensic Psychology and IT Management, we are reaching new populations of students,” Blair said in a news release from the university. “We have also focused on improving dual enrollment partnerships with local high schools across the state, prioritized streamlining the admissions process, and intentionally reinforced our faculty and staff’s commitment to supporting student success.”
“The university has recently seen a significant influx of newcomers to our Middle Tennessee region who want a personalized educational experience,” Cumberland University President Paul C. Stumb said in the news release. “Parents of high school students are seeking ways to optimize their student’s education through programs like Dual Enrollment and Early College. Cumberland University is growing for many reasons, including our robust financial aid and program offerings; however, I attribute the growth to our community of caring faculty and staff who help attract and retain intellectually curious students who want to align their passions with a meaningful career.”
