Cedar Crest College Achieves Historic Enrollment Growth

Allentown, PA (09/01/2026) — Cedar Crest College is achieving historic enrollment growth, welcoming the largest fall entering cohort in the College's 159-year history. Overall enrollment is up over 7% in just one year and nearly 20% since 2023, when Cedar Crest launched its strategic growth plan. The College is also welcoming its largest first-year undergraduate class in 20 years. Together, these results mark a powerful period of growth for Cedar Crest and demonstrate the accelerating momentum of the College's strategy.

This year's newest Falcons come from far and wide, representing 17 states-including California, Minnesota, and Texas-and 10 countries around the world. The class also represents a range of academic interests, with Nursing, Forensic Science, Psychology, and Biology among the most popular majors.

The historic enrollment growth reflects increasing interest in a Cedar Crest education. With nearly a dozen colleges in the Lehigh Valley alone and over 150 in Pennsylvania, students have many choices of where to earn their degrees. Increasingly, they're looking for more than a place to attend classes; they're looking for a place where they feel known, supported, and encouraged to grow, and a community they can call their own.

At Cedar Crest, that experience begins from the moment students arrive. Long-standing traditions like the Open Door Ceremony officially welcome new Falcons to the Cedar Crest community and mark the beginning of their college journey.

"Whether you're living on campus or commuting every day, know this: you belong here," said Keishla Garcia '27, Student Government Association President and Student Trustee of the College, during the Open Door Ceremony. "Being part of this community isn't determined by where you sleep at night; it's determined by how you show up, how you connect with others, and how willing you are to get involved. Cedar Crest has a place for every single one of you."

President Elizabeth Meade echoed that message during the Open Door Ceremony: "From this day forward, you will forever belong here."

About Cedar Crest College

Cedar Crest College has been empowering women to smash glass ceilings and achieve their educational goals since 1867. Today, the College continues to open the doors to opportunities for its diverse student body, both in the undergraduate women's college and in the co-ed School of Adult and Graduate Education. Located in Allentown, Pa., Cedar Crest is ranked by U.S. News & World Report's 2025-2026 Best College Rankings as #16 in Social Mobility, is among the top 100 colleges and universities in the region, and is ranked by Newsweek among the top 28% of all colleges nationwide for benefiting women.

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Cedar Crest's newest Falcons gather in front of Blaney Hall.

Cedar Crest College

Cedar Crest College Achieves Historic Enrollment Growth

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Cedar Crest College

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