Davis & Elkins College welcomes back students this weekend, boasting the largest incoming Freshman class in a decade, plus historic fundraising for its ongoing capital campaign.
As 307 new Senators arrived at D&E for orientation on Thursday, Aug. 17, they represent a 35.8 percent increase in new enrollment over 2022 and boast a 22 percent increase in new students since 2018.
“Throughout D&E, you see this campus moving forward with a sense of purpose, momentum, and determination,” said President Chris A. Wood. “While other similar colleges are struggling to enroll students and remain financially viable, D&E is growing, residence halls are filled almost to capacity, and generous donors are propelling our capital campaign to meet student’s residential needs. There is a tangible sense of momentum on our campus, and it is a great time to be a D&E Senator!
The current capital campaign aims to create a dynamic living and learning community to enhance the student experience, noting an 88 percent increase in financial gifts to the College between 2022 and 2023.
“Our priority for our most recent campaign is the total transformation of the residential and campus life experience here at D&E, and we see it working,” Wood said. “We value the richness of place and the beauty of the natural world, and this campus experience must reflect that dynamic. Noting the corresponding increase in student enrollment as we invest in the comprehensive campus environment, we know we’re on the right track.”
Earlier this year, D&E was recognized by the global media company Forbes in an article titled “Forbes 2023 College Financial Grades: The Nation’s Strongest And Weakest Schools.” The magazine reviewed the latest financial data from the National Center for Education Statistics for 906 private, not-for-profit colleges in the U.S. The data covered colleges that enrolled at least 500 full-time students for the fiscal year that began in July 2020 and ended in June 2021, and that assessment resulted in a grade of “A” with a 4.07 GPA for D&E.
