A milestone in the making

This fall, Augsburg University welcomed the newest Auggies to the start of its 157^th academic year.

As the largest incoming class ever, the 715 first-year students represent a significant milestone in the university’s history. The class of 2030 represents 204 high schools, 22 states, and 24 countries, with 58% female and 44% male students joining the Augsburg community.

The new class is made up of over 65% first-generation college students, a reflection of Augsburg’s ongoing commitment to improving experiences and advancing success for students who are the first in their family to attend a four-year institution.

The class of 2030 boasts academic interests from a wide variety of disciplines, with the top four intended majors being biology, psychology, computer science, and social work. Rounding out the top 10 are business administration/economics, accounting, finance, management, exercise science, elementary education, and marketing.

Beginning his final year as Augsburg’s president, Paul Pribbenow said he is particularly proud of the work being done to keep students enrolled at Augsburg, with a retention rate of nearly 70%.

“This number represents the cumulative impact of countless daily efforts by our staff and faculty: reaching out, checking in, catching problems early, using data, and truly embracing student success as a shared responsibility across campus,” Pribbenow said. 

In addition to first-year students, Augsburg also welcomed to campus 222 new transfer students, 75 new PSEO students, and 165 new graduate students. The newest graduate program, the Doctor of Medical Science, nearly doubled its enrollment, seeing an increase from 15 students to 27 students between last fall and this fall.

Pribbenow extended his welcome to the entire campus community, noting the excitement reliably felt each year. “Whether you’re new to Augsburg or have been part of this community for decades, nothing compares to the promise and energy of a new fall semester.”