Loyola Maryland welcomes the Class of 2030
Loyola University Maryland is excited to welcome 1,089 new first-year and transfer students to the community for the Fall 2026 semester. The Class of 2030 was officially inducted into the Loyola community and pledged the Honor Code at New Student Convocation on Friday, Aug. 28.
“We are thrilled to welcome the exceptional Class of 2030 to Loyola,” said Cheryl Moore-Thomas, Ph.D., provost and senior vice president. “They are a high-achieving class with varied interests, and we look forward to seeing how they thrive in our community that is so centered on student success.”
The Class of 2030 has excellent academic credentials, including the highest average GPA on record of 3.70, as well as the highest middle 50% SAT range of 1230-1390 for those who submitted scores.
The Class of 2030 was selected from an applicant pool of just over 12,800 representing an 8% increase over last year. The applicant pool was the 4th largest pool in history and the largest in over a decade. This class was chosen through the most selective admission cycle in more than a decade with an acceptance rate of 67%.
“Here at Loyola, we are honored to walk with you on this journey. Whatever adventures lie ahead, you will not encounter them alone,” Terrence M. Sawyer, J.D., president of Loyola, told the new students at Convocation. “You have the opportunity to walk with people who believe in you, people who will accompany you, people who are deeply committed to your success.”
The Class of 2030 hails from 37 U.S. states, three U.S. territories, and 11 countries. Maryland is the most represented state, followed by New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Virginia, California, Florida, and Puerto Rico.
“We are thrilled to welcome the Class of 2030 to our Evergreen campus,” said Eric Nichols, vice president for enrollment management. “The growth in our applicant pool and continued increases in academic quality and selectivity are clear indicators that the Loyola experience is resonating with prospective families. We look forward to watching how the Class of 2030 will leave their unique mark on our campus.”
Jesse More, Ph.D., associate professor of chemistry and Loyola’s Distinguished Teacher of the Year, spoke at the New Student Convocation.
“You have all obviously done well in high school, or you wouldn’t be here today, but moving up to college work is like getting the call up to the big leagues, and so there is a jump in the level on which you need to perform,” More told the students. “And I am here to convince you that you are all up to the challenge, even if you don’t believe it yourself yet.”
First-Year Fall Welcome Weekend will continue through Sunday, Aug. 30, with a variety of events to allow new students to connect with their classmates and get acclimated to life on Loyola’s Evergreen campus.
This year’s common text for Messina is A Backpack, a Bear, and Eight Crates of Vodka: A Memoir by Lev Golinkin. Loyola faculty members, administrators, and students chose this book for its vibrant memoir and humor in the face of adversity, and complex and nuanced exploration of the experiences of antisemitism, the refugee experience, immigration, family dynamics, and more.