Oakland, CA - According to officials at Mills College (Oakland, CA), the largest entering class in the College’s 153-year history will enroll this month. Approximately 606 new undergraduate and graduate students are expected to attend the private liberal arts institution for a total enrollment of 1,340.

Julie Richardson, vice president of enrollment management, reports that applications for the first-year class of 2009 increased 80 percent from last year. Two hundred and three first-year women are expected to enroll this month. An additional 158 students are expected to enroll at Mills from other colleges, for a total of 361 new undergraduates.

The College reports the following profile for undergraduates in fall 2005:

• Seventy-two percent of all first-year women graduated in the top 25 percent of their high school class
  
• Thirty percent of first-year students are from out of state; outside California, the largest numbers of students are coming from Washington, Minnesota, Massachusetts, Oregon, Hawaii, and New York
  
• Nearly one-third of first-year undergraduates are students of color, and 16 percent are biracial
  
• Forty percent of Mills’ new students are transferring from other institutions, nearly half of whom are 23 years of age or older
  
• Nearly 20 percent of both first-year and transfer students are the first generation in their families to attend college

The surge in admissions represents a 32 percent increase in new students from last year. This increase follows the unprecedented success of the College’s recently completed Sesquicentennial Campaign, which raised $131.8 million -more than 30 percent beyond the original goal - for initiatives supporting student scholarships, faculty development, endowment, and new and renovated facilities.

The College’s graduate student enrollment is estimated to reach 485 students this year, with 245 new students and 240 returning students. The largest increases are in the 4+1 MBA program, which received 31% more applications than last year, and the graduate English program, with applications up by 25%. Graduate program enrollment is continuing to meet the pace of growth recommended by Mills’ Strategic Plan, and has increased 73 percent in the past ten years.

“This record-breaking enrollment at Mills reflects the attractiveness of our innovative academic programs providing students with an exceptional liberal arts foundation and opportunities for leadership,” said Janet L. Holmgren, Mills President. “Our new students will benefit from Mills’ small classes, outstanding leadership experiences, and faculty members who love to teach.”

Richardson added, “Our research opportunities for undergraduates are comparable to those at graduate institutions, giving women a head start on their careers.”

This year, the College will award more than $8 million in scholarships and grants to undergraduate students, making a Mills education affordable. The average family income of a Mills student is comparable to that of students attending University of California and California State University campuses.

Mills College is a nationally renowned, independent liberal arts college offering innovative degree programs for undergraduate women, and graduate degree and certificate programs for women and men. Consistently ranked among the top 75 liberal arts colleges in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, Mills is also recognized as one of the country’s top 20 liberal arts colleges for diversity in the student body. The Princeton Review selected Mills as one of 11 colleges for first-time inclusion in its Best 361 Colleges - 2005.

Nestled in the foothills of Oakland, California on 135 lush acres, Mills provides a dynamic liberal arts education fostering women’s leadership, social responsibility, and creativity.

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