Enrollment at Houghton is continuing to trend upward, despite previous year’s lows. Ryan Spear, Director of Admissions, has seen a growth in first year student enrollment, with this year’s enrollment at the highest it has been since 2011. The college welcomed 300 new students this fall, 244 of which are first year students. Currently Houghton’s total enrollment stands at 1,028.
Senior Clara Robertson believes this is based on the new addition to the school, “I transferred to Houghton in 2013. There were about fifty fewer students enrolled than this year’s incoming class,” she said. “I’m sure a lot of it must have to do with K-PAC (Kerr-Pegula Athletic Complex). As Houghton’s athletic programs and facilities continue to improve, I think the school will attract a wider range of students.”
“Compared to recent years, the international student population is the highest it has been,” said Spear. “Not including Canadian students, there are eighteen new international students living on campus, compared to nine two years ago.”
Seemingly because of the currency exchange rate, the college has seen a decline in Canadian students. “The dollar continues to go and the Canadians are being punished,” stated Eric Currie, Vice President for Enrollment Management. Currie also said the college is looking to to recognize the financial situation, and work out some opportunities for next year’s enrollment.
Spear went on to say, “If someone is saying they want to be at Houghton, we are going to do everything in our power to make that happen.” Currie said Houghton falls within the national average range of offering a 52% discount rate to students and said, “With students, it’s all about the final price. What am I going to have to take in loans and pay out of pocket?”
According to Spear, Houghton is constantly working on new strategies to bring in prospective students. For example, this year they are using technology to connect with students and make them aware of opportunities. A recent visit email sent to 14,000 people noted that 84% of those people opened the email on a mobile device.
In addition to technology, the Common Application is another way prospective students to learn about Houghton. “One way for international recruiters and schools to learn about Houghton is through the Common Application. This app gives Houghton credibility to these people who generally don’t know that Houghton exists,” said Spear.
On the print side of things, the college is focusing on making a good first impression to potential students. They are making sure that the eye-catching materials they provide really provide a full picture of what Houghton is and what the college values.
Spear went on to say, “We have a beautiful campus and we’re one of the safest colleges in the nation. Nearly everything that goes out of Houghton has the message of value. Everybody gets a personalized acceptance letter. It’s a labor of love, not just a gimmick.”
When it comes to visit days, the “Highlander Preview Day” is among the most popular for prospective students. According to Betsy Rutledge, Assistant Director of Admission Events, the average Highlander Preview Day normally averages 30-40 students and their families, but this year they are currently anticipating 200 students and their families. Rutledge said, “This needs to be a campus-wide to ensure the best visit experience possible for this large group.”
