Merrimack Welcomes 700 New Students for Fall 2008

New Academic Programs and Curriculum Changes Yield 700 New Students

NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. (May 16, 2008) – Merrimack College announced today that more than 600 freshmen will begin classes in Fall 2008 which, coupled with an expected  increase in transfer students, will bring approximately 700 new students to the campus.  This represents the largest number of total incoming students at the college since the 1980s.

Merrimack saw an 8% increase in undergraduate applications this year as well as a 50 %  increase in campus visits by prospective students and their families. 

“We are pleased at the number of students and their families who have selected Merrimack College as the ideal institution to pursue academic achievement,” said Mary Lou Retelle, Merrimack’s vice president of enrollment management.  “The interest in Merrimack has been very high, and we are pleased that we did not go to our wait list and were able to keep our acceptance rate in line with previous years.”

Several new initiatives and programs have been developed at Merrimack College to meet the changing needs of students and remain competitive in today’s evolving marketplace. New academic programs in criminology, biotechnology, and sports management – all areas experiencing strong growth and offering many career opportunities – have been added. 

The college will also move from a traditional five-course curriculum model to a four-course/four-credit model this fall.  With the move, Merrimack will join 35 other top liberal arts schools with a 4x4 curriculum. 

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