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HWS enrollment tops 2,000 as first-year class grows

HWS enrollment tops 2,000 as first-year class grows

Hobart and William Smith Colleges will welcome 552 first-year students and 28 transfers this fall, pushing total enrollment above 2,000 after a more than 20% increase in the incoming class.

The Geneva colleges said they received a record 18,989 inquiries and 6,699 applications. Inquiries rose nearly 30% from the prior year, while applications increased 15.7%.


The Class of 2030 includes students from 35 states and several countries. The incoming students have an average high school GPA of 3.64, and 62% attended public high schools.

Thirty-six percent plan to compete on one of HWS’ 31 varsity teams. The class also includes the first 20 Melly Scholars, selected from more than 500 applicants for a scholarship created through a $70 million gift from L. Thomas Melly and Judith Hershey Melly.

Geneva High School’s top two graduates, Madeline Askin and Alexander Dorrington, are also joining the class.

Orientation runs Aug. 26-30 and includes first-year seminar meetings, faculty advising, campus activities and community projects. Convocation will formally open the academic year at the end of the program.