Entrepreneurs, beekeepers, artists — and a puppeteer. Those are just a few of the experiences the Class of 2028 brings to the University of Richmond campus this fall.  

About 840 traditional undergraduate students are beginning to arrive to campus this week ahead of the first day of classes on Aug. 26. 

“In a year where we saw a record high number of more than 16,000 applications, the undergraduate applicant pool had the strongest academic profile and was the most diverse in UR history,” said Stephanie Dupaul, vice president for Enrollment Management. “UR’s new enrolling students excel in and beyond the classroom, and their academic excellence, leadership, work experiences, and community service will be a valuable addition to our community.”

The Class of 2028 includes:

• Students from 44 states and 35 countries,
• 11% international students,
• 11% first-generation college students, and
• Students from 635 different high schools.

“In addition to exceptional academic records and strong research experiences, our incoming students often bring something more,” Dupaul said. “We have students who have run marathons or taken a polar plunge, bakers, gardeners, woodworkers, tutors and mentors, authors, and more.”

More than 300 additional students also will begin their journey at UR next week as a transfer, law, graduate business, or professional and continuing studies student.

New and returning students can also explore new academic offerings on campus this year, including a cognitive science interdisciplinary program. 

The program, offered through the School of Arts & Sciences, includes an advisory board of faculty from a variety of departments and disciplines whose scholarship intersects with this major. The field of cognitive science is focused on understanding the nature of the mind by drawing on perspectives from anthropology, computer science, linguistics, neuroscience, philosophy, and psychology. Previously, students could major in cognitive science through the psychology department.

Learn more about the Class of 2028 here.