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The class of 2028, Mount 51�ֿ�’s latest cohort of blue lions, has arrived on campus ready to learn beyond boundaries.

“Mount Holyoke is a powerful site for deep intellectual engagement and experiential learning. But Mount Holyoke is, as you know, fertile ground for emerging leaders, and many of you are well on your way,” Vice President for Enrollment Management Robin Randall said to members of the class and their families during this year’s Move-in Day. “I think you’ll agree that as a class, you’re not only accomplished but wildly interesting, and that is where the lifelong connections start — at the intersections of your identities, your experiences, your curiosity and your aspirations, alongside all of the individual distinctions you’ve earned. There’s a strength of mind that connects all of you to one another.”

Application records were shattered for a fourth consecutive year, with 5,226 people applying for a spot in the entering class. Of these, 36% were admitted to MHC’s intellectually adventurous community, making this year one of the most selective in the College’s history. A total of 532 first-year students and 10 from the waitlist enrolled.

Even though this year’s class was the first enrolled after last year’s Supreme Court ruling to end affirmative action for higher education, the class of 2028 was robustly diverse. Among the entire class, 29% are domestic students of color. 16% are first-generation students. Some 23% of the class qualify for ; 61% of the class are receiving some form of need-based aid. The College meets the full documented need of every admitted student who applies for aid.

The class of 2028 comes from around the nation and around the world. International students from 38 different countries make up 19% of the incoming class. Among the domestic students, 39 states are represented. Massachusetts has the highest representation, followed by New York, Connecticut, California, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Texas. This year, Mount Holyoke welcomed nine Posse scholars from Miami, Florida. MHC’s diverse student body ensures the community will have a robust and global perspective on everything from physics to philosophy.

The new students are bold and boundless learners. Seven are Frances Perkins scholars and nine are transfer students. The average GPA of the class on a 4.0 scale is 3.88. Notably, 75% of the students were ranked in the top 20% or higher of their secondary schools, with 45% of them being in the top 10% or higher. The mean composite SAT score was 1453, and the ACT composite mean was 32. 48% of the class of 2028 submitted their SAT or ACT scores.

“Choosing to attend the leading gender-diverse women’s college is a bold choice, one that demonstrates a high level of self-awareness,” Randall continued. “It also means that you are in exceptional company, surrounded by those who have a spark and passion and curiosity similar to your own. And we know that among these peers and in this place, each of you will both inspire and be inspired.”