Mount Vernon Nazarene University's first-time freshmen increased for the fall 2015 semester.

University Registrar Mel Severns said MVNU achieved a strong enrollment.

“Our freshmen retention rate was over 80 percent for the second year in a row," he said. "Last year the rate was 82.1 percent, and this year it was 80.1 percent.”

There are an estimated 2,100 total students enrolled in the fall 2015 semester at MVNU.

Brock Schroeder, vice president for Graduate and Professional Studies and Enrollment at MVNU, said that the high number of first-time freshmen is “due to added academic and athletic programs [and] very affordable education due to strong scholarships and grants that are made available.”

“Our strong freshmen-to-sophomore retention rate is due to increased efforts campus-wide to assist students in being successful," Schroeder said. "This effort is led by our new Center for Student Success. The new center has just relocated into its new facilities on the first floor of the Thorne Library and Resource Center. These facilities are funded in part by the University Board of Trustees. This demonstrates the commitment the university has toward investing in student academic progress."

--Mount Vernon Nazarene University

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