Aug. 20, 2025
MILWAUKEE — Marquette University welcomed more than 1,930 members of its Class of 2029 on first-year student move-in day, Wednesday, Aug. 20. Marquette’s first-year, first time undergraduate class is about 1,933 students as of move-in day, representing 39 states, two U.S. territories and 19 countries.
Andy Schneider, dean of admissions, says the impressive number met the office’s projections, which can be attributed to his team’s mission-based, personalized approach when welcoming interested and admitted students and families to the Marquette community.
“Now more than ever, admitted students and their families are interested in visiting our campus and learning about the Marquette experience,” Schneider says. “It’s the connections they make on those visits and at our events — with our faculty, staff, current students and alumni — that I believe makes Marquette truly special and leads to so many of those students choosing to enroll here. I’m so proud of our admissions team for helping to foster these connections through the college search process for our incoming students. We can’t wait to welcome them at move-in and orientation this week!”
The 2024-25 admissions cycle saw record numbers for registration and attendance at dozens of on- and off-campus events, helping lead to over 20,000 applications from prospective students.
Among their many outreach efforts, Schneider and his team hosted over 800 students at two Admitted Student Days in early April. An impressive 71% of those students chose to attend Marquette, an 8% increase from the previous year. Overall, of the thousands who made an official campus visit — including a campus tour — one in three decided to attend Marquette.
Diversity of student body improves
Based on the current numbers, Marquette welcomes its most diverse class in recorded history, with 33% identifying as students of color. True to the university’s Catholic, Jesuit mission and heritage, first-generation students make up 22% of the incoming class. Marquette also remains a popular destination for graduates of Jesuit high schools, welcoming 130 students, accounting for nearly 7% of the class.
Higher GPAs, test scores emphasize academic excellence
Notably, Marquette furthered its commitment to academic excellence. The incoming class boasts an average GPA of 3.60 and standardized test scores for those who submitted them improved. The class’s average SAT score was 1294 and their average ACT score was 27.93, both increases from the previous class.
Additionally, nearly 13% of the class was accepted and committed to the highly competitive Honors Program.
Wisconsin reigns among commitments
For just the second time in recent memory, Marquette received its largest contingent from Wisconsin. More than 38% of Dairy State residents chose to stay in-state, a 3% increase from the previous incoming class. Wisconsin narrowly bested its neighbor to the south this year, with over 37% hailing from Illinois.
Increased interest, activities nationwide
In addition to dozens of on-campus events throughout the year, the admissions team attended hundreds of high school visits and college fairs to encourage applications and campus visits. In the spring, the team hosted over 450 students and their families at more than 30 receptions and dinners for admitted students across the country. The Office of University Advancement — with help from Marquette alumni — in July and August hosted 15 regional Summer Send-Off events across the country to introduce incoming freshmen and their families before arriving on campus. Recruitment for future Marquette classes is already underway with nationwide travel planning and on-campus events, including the upcoming Discovery Day open houses on Sept. 7 and Oct. 5.
About Marquette University
Marquette University is a Catholic, Jesuit university located near the heart of downtown Milwaukee that offers a comprehensive range of majors in 11 nationally and internationally recognized colleges and schools. Through the formation of hearts and minds, Marquette prepares our 11,100 undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and professional students to lead, excel and serve as agents of positive change. And, we deliver results. Ranked in the top 20% of national universities, Marquette is recognized for its undergraduate teaching, innovation and career preparation as the sixth-best university in the country for job placement. Our focus on student success and immersive, personalized learning experiences encourages students to think critically and engage with the world around them. When students graduate with a Marquette degree, they are truly prepared and called to Be The Difference.
Kevin is the associate director for university communication in the Office of Marketing and Communication. Contact Kevin at (414) 288-4745 or kevin.m.conway@marquette.edu.
Privacy Policy Legal Disclaimer Non-Discrimination Policy Accessible Technology
© 2025 Marquette University