Mount Vernon Nazarene University kicked off the 2024-25 school year with boosted enrollment numbers over the previous academic year.

The university welcomed 1,317 traditional undergraduate students, including 303 first-time college students, marking an 10.2% increase from last year. Overall, MVNU traditional and online enrollment grew by almost 9%.

“We are very encouraged by the enrollment growth we’ve seen this fall,” said Johnna Vanover, vice president for enrollment and marketing. “There’s still a lot of work to do, but the momentum is exciting and contagious. Our Enrollment & Marketing team, which includes financial aid, has worked tirelessly to recruit a strong class for our residential campus with both first-time freshman and transfer students, and grow our Graduate and Professional Studies enrollment. We’ve intentionally and strategically focused on expanding each area of growth noted within these statistics.”

This year saw a notable influx of transfer and international students, totaling 54, along with students from 21 different countries. Retention has also played a crucial role in helping the overall enrollment go from 1,893 to 2,078.

The School of Graduate and Professional Studies has also shown progress, with 761 undergraduate and graduate students enrolled — a 29% increase overall.

“It’s a global team effort shared with the entire campus community to accomplish this work,” Vanover said. “Every area on campus collectively impacts the enrollment journey for these students, their families, and the trajectory of their lives. It is a privilege for us to serve them and be a part of their journey. We are already looking forward to continued GPS growth throughout this academic year and the 2025-26 class.”

MVNU President Dr. Carson Castleman made it a priority to enhance student engagement, leading to significant overall growth for the university.

“We’ve experienced a lot of changes and still came out with a growth opportunity,” he noted. “I think that is a miracle. It has nothing to do with me; it’s a miracle that God’s been in, and God has touched us and given us direction.”

Another key focus for Dr. Castleman has been to strengthen connections with Nazarene Churches in the East Central Educational Region. The incoming freshman class includes 100 Nazarene students, representing a remarkable 28% increase from the previous year. Overall, there are 48 different denominations represented.

“I am convinced that the foundation for deepening our relationship with the Church lies in our clarity about our identity in Christ and His Kingdom,” said Dr. Castleman. “As a Christ-centered academic university, we are dedicated to transforming the world through character, scholarship and service.”

For more MVNU enrollment options, visit mvnu.edu.