Overall enrollment up 31 percent 

WATERVILLE — Thomas is welcoming its largest incoming undergraduate class in its 113-year-old history this week—putting the College on track for its goal of doubling its undergraduate enrollment in 10 years.  When classes began Monday, August 27, Thomas saw 255 new full-time undergraduates fill its classrooms. Of those enrolled, 196 are Maine residents and many are first-generation students.

In the past five years, the College has seen its enrollment of undergraduate students rise from 202 to the current 255; an increase of 26 percent. Last year the College welcomed 234 new students.

Thomas estimates its total undergraduate full-time and part-time enrollment for the fall 2007 semester as 686. Since 2002, the College’s full-time and part-time combined enrollment has increased 31 percent.

The most popular majors are accounting, criminal justice, management, sports management and elementary education. Out-of-state students attending Thomas this fall are from a variety of states including California, New York, Georgia, Maryland, Virginia and New England, and the country of Ghana.

A strategic plan put forth by Thomas College’s Board of Trustees calls for doubling the size of the undergraduate division from 510 to 1,000 students by 2013.

Founded in 1894, Thomas College is a private college that offers baccalaureate and master’s degrees, and provides higher education to many who might not otherwise attend college. The College prepares undergraduate and graduate students for careers in business, technology, education, liberal arts and criminal justice. Thomas is the only college in the nation that guarantees its graduates employment within six months of graduation. For more information about Thomas College visit www.thomas.edu.