Widener University’s plan to increase its student population is working.  The university saw its highest first-year student enrollment on record this past week at 900 students.

The Chester university also reported a record high first-year enrollment last year, writes Ryan Mulligan for Philadelphia Business Journal.

First-year classes have jumped nearly 70 percent since 2022.

Widener has also increased its undergraduate student body 16 percent.

The university is actively recruiting more local students, with Philadelphia applications up 51 percent; and it is taking more out-of-state applications, with a 40 percent uptick in applications from Washington D.C., Maryland and Virginia.

Tying into recruitment has been a focus on the campus experience, something Widener President Stacey Robertson calls a “commitment to unreasonable hospitality.”

“It’s a focus of belonging, not just for our students, but also for our staff, faculty, alumni and anyone who’s on campus,” she said.

She believes a culture of belonging could set Widener apart from other higher education institutions.

The university’s success has now forced it to look creatively at how to use its space to best accommodate the influx of students, and it has meant a lower acceptance rate.

Read more about Widener’s enrollment success and what comes after in the Philadelphia Business Journal.