Mars Hill University Welcomes Record-Setting Incoming Class

Mars Hill, NC (08/24/2023) — When Mars Hill University welcomes students for new student check-in on August 24, the university will be welcoming more new students into the Lion family than it has seen since pre-pandemic years. An increase of 15% over last year brings the largest incoming class of traditional students since 2016.

"The admissions team is extremely excited to welcome our new students to The Hill this week," said Kristie Vance, director of admissions. "This strong enrollment would not have been possible without a total campus effort, as this class is composed of students from across all majors with diverse interests and talents. I appreciate the efforts of everyone across campus, especially the recruitment efforts from coaches and faculty to help us reach this milestone."

The incoming class includes students from 24 states and 23 countries as well as a nearly-60% increase in students coming from the counties of western North Carolina and east Tennessee who are eligible for the Local Lion and Tennessee Neighbor scholarships. These scholarships offer students from neighboring counties in northeast Tennessee and western North Carolina a meaningful tiered scholarship of at least a 50% discount on tuition.

President Tony Floyd said, "A main part of our mission has been to serve western North Carolina and the surrounding region. I love seeing our graduates make a difference. Whether it is leading a classroom or taking care of patients at our local hospitals, it is so important to make an impact in the region. The Local Lion Promise is working to make the out-of-pocket cost for local families competitive with any four-year college or university in the region."

The university's Adult and Graduate Studies (AGS) program is poised for an additional increase in enrollment for the sixth time in the last seven semesters. AGS undergraduate programs in business, education, psychology, and social work are designed to provide convenient, accessible pathways to degrees for working adults.

Master's degree programs in business, criminal justice, and education will also combine to welcome a record number of new graduate students to the university.

Carolyn Kuzell, associate director of admissions for AGS, said, "I am very excited to see new graduate numbers up more than 50% compared to the same point last year. I look forward to continuing that momentum and helping more professionals earn their master's degrees."