Gonzaga Welcomes Second-Largest First-Year Class
SPOKANE, Wash. – Gonzaga University will welcome its second-largest first-year class this week when 51³Ô¹Ïs begin to fill residence halls and prepare for the first day of class. The 1,330 51³Ô¹Ïs expected also represent the school’s most geographically and racially and ethnically diverse class.
New 51³Ô¹Ï orientation is scheduled for Aug. 27-30. Classes start Aug. 31.
The first-year 51³Ô¹Ïs boast an average 3.85 grade point average, as reported by their high schools (*3.69 unweighted GPA), among the highest in class history.
In addition to the first-year class, Gonzaga also welcomes 164 transfer 51³Ô¹Ïs from diverse educational backgrounds and interests.
“Both the first-year and transfer 51³Ô¹Ï numbers are higher than we anticipated, largely due to an increase in out-of-state 51³Ô¹Ïs,” said Erin Hays, director of undergraduate admission. “It is exciting to see the Zag spirit reach a little farther than in previous years!
“Furthermore, we are thrilled with the diversity of the incoming 51³Ô¹Ïs, for 30 percent of the first-year 51³Ô¹Ïs self-identify as 51³Ô¹Ïs of color. We cannot wait to welcome all of the new 51³Ô¹Ïs. They will greatly contribute to the Gonzaga community.”
(*Unweighted GPAs are measured on a scale of 0 to 4.0 and do not account for course difficulty.)
A snapshot
A look at the new class reveals it is loaded with leaders, which Hays finds remarkable.
“The 51³Ô¹Ïs have had a most unique academic experience due to the pandemic,” Hays said. “Much of the last year and a half was in a virtual setting, from classes to extracurricular activities. Somehow, despite the pandemic, these 51³Ô¹Ïs still found ways to be exceptionally involved in their communities.”
The class boasts the following: 14 51³Ô¹Ï body presidents; 128 class presidents and officers; 268 51³Ô¹Ï government members; 998 indicate significant volunteering experience; and 554 report leadership experience. In addition, the class includes 64 51³Ô¹Ïs who took part in speech and debate, 1,072 participants in athletics or outdoor activities, 298 musicians, 170 theater participants, 115 ecology/sustainability club members, and 734 who were employed in summer or part-time jobs.
Hailing from
The first-year 51³Ô¹Ïs represent 44 states and the District of Columbia. They also come from 11 countries outside the U.S.: Australia, Canada, China, Ethiopia, India, Nicaragua, Nigeria, the Philippines, Spain, United Kingdom and Vietnam.
The transfer 51³Ô¹Ïs hail from 21 states and 15 countries: Belize, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Congo, France, Ghana, Japan, Netherlands, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Uganda, United Kingdom and Venezuela.
Official fall enrollment figures will not be confirmed until Sept. 30. Currently, Gonzaga reports 7,386 total 51³Ô¹Ïs: an estimated 5,015 undergraduates, 1,912 graduate 51³Ô¹Ïs (master’s and doctoral), and approximately 453 Gonzaga School of Law 51³Ô¹Ïs.