Enrollment numbers on rise at Quincy University

QUINCY, Ill. – The number of freshman and transfer students at Quincy University has risen 5.9 percent, and overall enrollment has increased 2.6 percent for the fall 2021 academic term.

The school is reporting 340 new students on campus this year, with all undergraduate and graduate students totaling 1,154 students. The total enrollment has risen each year for the past four years.

“Our new and continuing students and families have recognized and chosen the quality and value of a QU education,” said Brian McGee, president of Quincy University, in a press release. “QU’s Success by Design program makes student success our highest priority, with students continuing to receive access to small in-person classes and individualized plans for their success. While the pandemic continues, we also continue to take strong steps to assure student, faculty and staff safety.” 

The 340 students making up the Class of 2025 come to QU from 160 high schools in 21 states and 11 countries. These students applied for college during a year interrupted by pandemic-related closures and quarantine. Their high school experiences switched from in-person to hybrid to online learning, so for many, they could only visit colleges virtually. 

“In this most unusual of years, QU continues to build enrollment by focusing on student success and the tremendous ways in which QU graduates are impacting the world in their various vocations and avocations,” said Tom Oliver, vice president for enrollment management, in a press release.

Quincy University Enrollment

Jacob Sprock from Arnold, Mo., is a biology/pre-med major and a member of the chamber choir. He chose QU because of the scholarship opportunities, community atmosphere and his mom’s review of her time as a QU student. 

“My mom cites QU as the source of many of her best friendships and most memorable moments,” Sprock said in the news release.

Hundreds of scholarships are made possible each year through the generosity of QU donors. Many of those scholarships are funded from the earnings of the Quincy University endowment. The market value of the endowment today is approximately $22 million. 

Gracie Whalen from Eureka, Mo., an elementary education major and a member of the dance team, chose QU to follow in her aunt’s footsteps. 

“She is my biggest inspiration and loved her experience at QU,” Whalen said in the news release. “On the tour, I knew that this place was home.” 

QU’s educational experience prepares students to enter the workforce with critical thinking skills, creativity and the ability to communicate, adjust, and work with others utilizing hands-on experiences. They have access to a faculty advisor and a success coach, along with a series of university-wide programs. 

During a weeklong orientation, new students were introduced to the QU House System, now in its second year. The university designed the house system to transform the student experience at the university, with each QU student becoming part of a close-knit house community. Each house is named for an inspirational figure linked in some way to Quincy University and downstate Illinois. 

The university also began the fall semester with a series of events for the annual Week of Welcome. The events, hosted by university offices, departments and alumni, engage new students and help them adjust to college life.