Dordt University Has Largest Enrollment Ever

Dordt University’s overall enrollment is 1,786 for the fall 2021 semester – the largest enrollment in the institution’s history, breaking the fall 2020 semester record of 1,666 students. This figure includes a record 1,401 full-time undergraduate students. In addition, Dordt has record full-time equivalent (FTE) enrollment at 1,544; FTE is a measure of how many credits students are taking.

There are 424 freshmen on campus this fall, which is the second largest freshmen class in Dordt’s history. The largest freshmen class was in 1998, which included 439 students.

Greg Van Dyke, director of admissions, is grateful for another year of record enrollment.

“There has been a lot of uncertainty over the past 18 months, and it is encouraging to see a record number of students choose Dordt because they trust the mission and experience that Dordt provides as a Christ-centered institution,” says Van Dyke.

There are many reasons why Dordt has seen record enrollment this year, says Registrar Jim Bos, including the quality education that Dordt faculty offer.

“There’s no doubt that students are interested in specific programs that we excel at: engineering, nursing, agriculture, education, business, accounting, and others,” says Bos. “We have faculty who are passionate and knowledgeable in their field. We have alumni who are achieving great things in their field as well. That, I think, speaks to what Dordt is doing from an academic standpoint.”

In addition, the class of 2021 was Dordt’s highest bachelor’s degree graduation rate of 74.6 percent—a percentage that Bos says is excellent.

Dordt also has record enrollment this fall for graduate programs, with 238 students currently enrolled in the Master of Social Work, Master of Public Administration, and Master of Education programs.

Brandon Huisman, vice president for enrollment and marketing, sees Dordt’s record enrollment for the fall 2021 semester as a blessing and evidence of God’s continued faithfulness to Dordt.

“Prospective students vote with their feet,” he adds. “They see tremendous value in a Dordt education and see this as a place where faculty and staff will pour into them as they lean into who God has called them to be.”

As an institution of higher education committed to the Reformed Christian perspective, Dordt University equips students, faculty, alumni, and the broader community to work toward Christ-centered renewal in all aspects of contemporary life. Dordt, located in Sioux Center, Iowa, is a comprehensive university named to the best college lists by U.S. News and World Report, Forbes.com, The Wall Street Journal, Washington Monthly, and Princeton Review. To learn more, visit dordt.edu.