Manhattanville College Bucks National Trend by Increasing Transfer Student Enrollment

PURCHASE, NY, February 18, 2022 – Manhattanville College increased its incoming transfer students by more than 30 percent between 2020 and 2021, bucking a national trend of colleges losing transfer students overall last year. 

Several factors were behind Manhattanville’s success, said Troy Cogburn, Vice President for Admissions and Marketing at Manhattanville. Cogburn said personalized attention that students get at a smaller school like Manhattanville, the availability of scholarships and grants, coupled with the college’s reputation for connecting students with good jobs upon graduation, all added up to a windfall of transfers for the school.

“Transfer students are choosing to enroll at Manhattanville College in greater numbers because not only will their credits transfer, but they recognize early during the application process that they will have easy access to administrative and faculty assistance, multiple opportunities for career networking, and they know the college is committed to offering all transfer students merit scholarships and institutional grants that assist with making the college affordable,” said Cogburn.

While Manhattanville’s transfer numbers rose, that was not the case overall for colleges. Nearly 200,000 fewer students transferred last year compared to the year before — an 8.4% decline, according to new data from the National Student Clearinghouse.

Part of the increase may have been because some students decided to stick closer to home during the COVID-19 pandemic and saw an attractive alternative in Manhattanville.  

Transfer student Gregory Fusco Jr. said he transferred “because of how amazing the campus really is and how close to home it was. The history behind the school and the castle being the focal point of campus, really made me like the college. The transfer process was super easy, and it felt like I got in right away with students and knowing where to be.”

Another transfer, Warren Kennedy-Nolle, said he too found the college’s close proximity to home attractive along with individualized, one-on-one attention. “I have been pleased with my small class sizes and attentive, inspiring professors. I have had a smooth transition, and I look forward to taking more classes in Biology and Music.”

But these trends due to the pandemic do not alone account for the growth of incoming transfer students since the growth dates back to 2018. Manhattanville saw a 41 percent growth in transfers between 2018 and 2021 and is on track to continue that upward trend in 2022.

Another factor attracting transfer students might be the new offerings of the college. This year, Manhattanville added a new Radiologic Technology program and the year before added a new nursing program. A new partnership with the New York Institute of Finance (NYIF) where NYIF students can take courses at the college, may bring in additional students.

Transfer student Kaelei Lewis recognized the great program opportunities the college offered, saying, “I transferred to Manhattanville to complete my bachelor's degree in computer science. I chose the college because its computer science program has a very individualized approach, and I get the opportunity to explore different focuses within my major.”

Cogburn added that the college admissions office has recently streamlined the application and enrollment process. Counselors give one-on-one attention to applicants through individual appointments and Instant Decision Days make the transfer process quick and easy.

“Every Wednesday is Transfer Wednesday at Manhattanville,” said Cogburn. “Prospective transfer students who have applied to the college can tour the campus, meet with a counselor, receive scholarship consideration, get an unofficial credit evaluation, and an admissions decision on the spot.” Those interested should bring unofficial or official transcripts. For more information or to apply, visit https://www.mville.edu/admissions-and-aid/admissions/admissions.php/undergraduate-admissions/apply/transfer-applicants.
 

About Manhattanville College: Manhattanville College is a small, private liberal arts institution dedicated to academic excellence, purposeful education, and social justice. U.S. News and World Report ranks Manhattanville the number one private, non-profit institution among Top Performers on Social Mobility in Regional Universities North 2022. Located 30 miles from New York City on a 100-acre suburban campus in the heart of bustling Westchester County, Manhattanville enables easy access to robust entertainment offerings, educational resources, and business opportunities for its primarily residential and diverse student body. The College serves more than 1,500 undergraduate students and nearly 1,000 graduate students from more than 30 countries and 20 states. Founded in 1841, the college offers more than 75 undergraduate and graduate areas of study in the arts and sciences, education, business, and creative writing, as well as continuing and executive education programs. Graduate students can choose from more than 70 graduate and certificate programs. Extracurricular offerings include more than 45 clubs and 20 NCAA Division III teams. To learn more, visit www.mville.edu.
 

Contact: Cara Cea, cara.cea@mville.edu, 914-323-1278 or 914-906-9680.
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