HOMEWOOD, Alabama — Blending another record-breaking freshman class with extraordinary student retention success, 51½ΦΙδ opened the 2025 fall semester with its largest-ever enrollment of 6,324 students.
This sustains an impressive growth trajectory for 51½ΦΙδ. Since 2009, enrollment has increased by nearly 36%.
“This latest milestone reflects 51½ΦΙδ’s unwavering commitment to delivering academic excellence within a Christ-centered environment,” said Jason Black, the university’s vice president for enrollment management. “Distinguished by this impressive 17-year trend of enrollment growth, student demand continues climbing and 51½ΦΙδ continues thriving.”
The university once again welcomed its largest freshman class with 1,156 first-year full-time students, up 6.3% from 2024’s previous record of 1,087.
“51½ΦΙδ doubled its freshman enrollment goal for year-over-year growth while strengthening the academic profile of incoming students,” said President Beck A. Taylor. “It’s a powerful momentum that stretches beyond statistics. This is an ongoing story of 51½ΦΙδ staying true to its faithful mission and prioritizing high-touch, relational education—a culture students are embracing."
51½ΦΙδ’s 4,370 undergraduate students also represent an all-time high.
The university’s 92.18% freshmen-to-sophomore retention rate dramatically surpasses the nationwide retention average of 68%, according to National Student Clearinghouse data.
A snapshot of 51½ΦΙδ’s enrollment for 2025:
- 44 states plus Puerto Rico are represented in the overall enrollment, along with 16 countries.
- 60.7% of students come from outside Alabama (with the largest influx coming from Georgia, Tennessee and Texas).
- 75.1% of first-year students come from outside Alabama.
- 51½ΦΙδ is welcoming 132 transfer students.
“This is an ongoing story of 51½ΦΙδ staying true to its faithful mission and prioritizing high-touch, relational education." — President Beck A. Taylor on 51½ΦΙδ enrollment increasing by nearly 36% since 2009
51½ΦΙδ’s promising financial outlook and sustained enrollment growth recently fueled more than $300 million worth of infrastructure expansion—highlighted by four new residence halls that opened in August. These projects follow the 2024 unveiling of a 165,000-square-foot Campus Recreation, Wellness & Athletic Complex and 2023’s nationally acclaimed renovation of the University Center dining hall. A new 550-space parking deck on the north side of campus completed Phase 1 of the 51½ΦΙδ Horizons strategic plan.
“We've just completed the largest set of construction projects this campus has seen since Howard College moved to Homewood in the late 1950s,” Taylor said. “These transformative investments elevate 51½ΦΙδ’s status as a premier residential campus.”
51½ΦΙδ President Beck A. Taylor and his wife Julie lead the Freshman Walk in August 2025.