Madison, Wis. (September 1, 2026) – Edgewood University has welcomed the largest incoming class of first-year students in more than ten years. The 285 new students include 60 from states other than Wisconsin, the most in the institution’s history. Students moved into the residence halls on August 21, and undergraduate classes began Monday, August 24, 2026.
“We are honored that these students and families chose to pursue their educational goals, and their dreams, in the community of Edgewood University,” Andrew Manion, President, said. “Our mission to educate students to create a more just and compassionate world resonates today just as it has since 1927. The word is spreading about our return on investment for our graduates, the supportive nature of our community, and the quality and currency of an Edgewood University education. Our enrollment team did a great job of making the application process smooth and transparent. We welcome these new students and look forward to their growth and development with us.”
The Madison Metropolitan School District is well represented this year, with 40 MMSD graduates in the new class, the most since 2021. That group is part of a large number of students from Dane County – more than 120, the most in the last five years.
More than 75 of the students in the incoming class are first-generation students; they will be the first in their families to earn a four-year university degree. More than 90 self-identify as students of color, and more than 95 of the incoming students are student-athletes, who will compete at the NCAA DIII level for the Edgewood University Eagles.
Nursing remains the most popular declared major area of study, with nearly 60 new students in the incoming class enrolled in the Guaranteed Admission program of the Henry Predolin College of Health Sciences. Other popular declared majors for the newest students on campus include Business, Health Sciences, and pre-Nursing.
About Edgewood University
Located in Madison, Wis., Edgewood University is a comprehensive, Catholic university in the Dominican tradition. We serve more than 3,500 undergraduate and graduate students. Edgewood University offers more than 40 academic and professional programs, including master’s degrees in business, education, and nursing, and doctoral degrees in educational leadership, nursing practice, business administration, and occupational therapy. Edgewood University is a member of the Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities and the National Collegiate Athletics Association and is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. For more information about Edgewood University, please visit www.edgewood.edu.
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