For some, the journey to campus was a short trip across town. For others, it was a 15-hour international flight followed by a flight connection, and then a train ride.

But for the nearly 590 members of the Class of 2030 at Franklin & Marshall College, arriving on campus this week marked the beginning of a shared four-year journey.

“The Class of 2030 is an exceptionally talented and diverse group of students, and we’re thrilled to welcome them to F&M,” said Vice President for Enrollment Management Rodney Morrison. “These students come from a remarkable range of backgrounds and experiences, but they share a desire to challenge themselves and make the world a better place. We’re excited to see this class make its mark on F&M.”

The Class of 2030 is the largest to enroll at F&M in six years. Members of the class had an average high school GPA of 3.61 on an unweighted 4.0 scale, and a mean SAT score of 1387. Students come from 36 states, with the largest numbers coming from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and Maryland. 

Members of the Class of 2030 are all smiles during Move-In Day.

The class also reflects F&M’s global community, with students arriving from 41 countries — including China, Vietnam, Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, and Mongolia. More than two dozen students made the journey to F&M from Vietnam, making it the farthest-reaching enrollment represented in the class. On the other hand, 18 students are attending college in their home city of Lancaster.

The class was chosen from more than 9,300 applicants. This year, 43% of the incoming class enrolled via Early Decision.

The class also includes a few built-in connections: four sets of twins are beginning their F&M journeys together.

A New Generation of Leaders

The Class of 2030 also marks an important milestone for F&M with the arrival of the first cohort of  Leadership Fellows who will anchor the Mehlman Leadership and Performance Institute.

Selected for their leadership potential, the inaugural Leadership Fellows join the F&M community prepared to develop their skills, engage with campus and community partners, and make an impact during their time at the College. The fellows are divided into four programs: Chesapeake Watershed Leadership, Creative Writing & Cultural Leadership, Future Founders Leadership, and Public Service Leadership.

Their arrival represents a new chapter in F&M’s commitment to developing students not only as scholars, but also as thoughtful, engaged leaders prepared to make a difference beyond the classroom.