The number of students attending Plymouth State is at its highest ever in history. In the past five years Plymouth State College has become one of the most popular secondary schools in New England. This is because the campus itself has been improving, and there is an increase in the quality of student that Plymouth is admitting. More students are graduating from high school than ever before, and they are continuing on to higher education. Currently, the population of PSC is approximately 3,600 undergraduate students, and about five hundred graduate students. There are two hundred faculty members as well. Gene Fahey, the Senior Associate Director of Admissions, said that in 1997 the college ran a campaign to improve the quality of students accepted to PSC. This was done in many different ways, for example, by increasing the number of scholarships awarded provide incentive to accomplished high school graduates. Every year these improvements have gradually allowed the college to be more selective in their decisions. In 1995, 85% of applicants were admitted, and in 2002 only 77% were admitted. Along with this, since 1999, the amount of applications received has gone up steadily. Fahey stated, “Plymouth is attracting better students because of efforts on behalf of the entire campus changing our reputation, and because going to college right out of high school is on an upward trend.” Fahey also spoke about changing over to a university in the next year or so. He said that Plymouth will receive more funding from the Federal Government, and therefore the school will be able to build more residence halls to accommodate more students, as well as other facility upgrades. Unlike schools such as Harvard, Yale, and Boston College, Plymouth has room for growth. Larger schools are immune to the amount of students they have in attendance; they have already reached their highest caliber of student enrollment. These are the facts about why the numbers at Plymouth are growing, but Fahey’s personal opinion is a little different. He said that he believes numbers are growing because of word of mouth about Plymouth from guidance counselors and the reduction of the “party school” reputation. Also, he believes the low tuition rates have always played a big factor in why students attend Plymouth State College. Our economy and stock market have pushed people to be more careful with their money and students are looking for less expensive ways to gain higher education. David McBride, Associate Director of Admissions, also had a lot to say about Plymouth’s enrollment being up. McBride said, “Plymouth has attained the image of being a caring and friendly, campus-based community school. Parents have come to the realization that it’s a good place to send their child for a good education at a good price.” He believes that the press inflates everything when it comes to the college’s “party school” image, and that is why we have not completely shed this reputation. Despite the negative connotations, it should be appreciated that a state college provides more reality than a private school. We must take the good with the bad. Plymouth is becoming a more diverse campus as well, with students in attendance from nineteen states and seventeen countries. Students are given the freedom to choose, and are not channeled into things. Also, he believes enrollment is on the rise because the town of Plymouth is growing itself. More and more stores and businesses are opening, and attracting more people to the Plymouth area. Overall, Plymouth is a great place to live and attend college. This is evident by the amount of students who apply here each year. Numbers are on the rise, and they will continue to grow as long as the numbers of graduating high school students continues to rise. With Plymouth poised to achieve University status, future growth seems limitless. This past year there were approximately 950 first year students in attendance during the fall semester, and the college received 3,600 applications. The college can only hope to continue getting the quality of student that it has in the past.
Plymouth State University
Thursday, June 26, 2025