Sweet Briar College enrollment jumps 20% with 132 new students

Sweet Briar College enrolled 132 new students this fall, up from 110 a year ago, as the Virginia school works to rebuild overall enrollment after graduating two of its largest classes. Early signs for fall 2027 are strong, with inquiries up 182% and deposits up 1,200% compared with the same point last year.

Why it matters: - Sweet Briar College needs steady incoming classes to offset the loss of two large graduating classes in 2025 and 2026. - The fall 2026 gain gives the college momentum as it works toward a long-term enrollment goal of 600 students. - Stronger inquiry and deposit numbers suggest the college is building a deeper pipeline for fall 2027.

What happened: - Sweet Briar College welcomed 132 new students this fall. - The incoming class is up 20% from 110 new students a year earlier. - The college said the recruitment cycle delivered stronger results across the admissions process. - The incoming class is one of Sweet Briar's most diverse in the past three years.

The details: - President Mary Pope M. Hutson ’83 said the result came from teamwork across Enrollment Management, faculty, staff, coaches, students and alumnae. - Dr. Christopher Smith, vice president for enrollment management, said the college used a more focused enrollment approach for fall 2026. - That approach combined more data use with personal outreach to students and families. - The work included broader outreach, stronger engagement through the college search process and a more intentional recruitment effort. - Smith said the team stayed flexible when something was not working and relied on phone calls, travel and follow-up. - Smith said the final number reflects work built one student and one family at a time. - Sweet Briar said the 132 students chose the college after a highly personal decision about where to spend the next four years.

Between the lines: - The enrollment gain matters more because large graduating classes can create pressure on overall headcount. - Smith said one year of gains will not solve the college's enrollment goals on its own. - The college's broader message is that data helps, but relationships still drive enrollment in a small-college setting. - Sweet Briar is also leaning on a more personal identity in a crowded higher-education market, with individualized mentorship, hands-on learning and leadership development.

What's next: - Sweet Briar has already shifted attention to fall 2027 recruitment. - Early fall 2027 inquiries are up about 182% from the same point last year. - Early fall 2027 deposits are up 1,200% from the same point last year. - Smith said both figures are very early indicators and not a reason to claim success yet. - The college plans to keep building on this year's approach while focusing on sustainable enrollment growth.