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Hendrix Welcomes Class of 2027

New student class arrives on campus for the fall 2023 semester

Photo of the Hendrix College Class of 2027 sitting on the steps of the Brick Pit. Photo taken Tuesday, August 15, 2023, Move-in Day.

CONWAY, Ark (August 16, 2023) — Hendrix College welcomed 294 new students to campus on Move-in Day, Tuesday, August 15.

“We are thrilled to welcome the Class of 2027 to the Hendrix community,” said Hendrix College President Dr. Karen K. Petersen, who was named the College’s 13th president in January. She officially began her new role on June 1.

“It is a privilege to be part of our students’ journey,” said Petersen. “Over the next four years at Hendrix, they will create their own unique story, inspired by the professors and mentors who challenge and support them, the activities they commit their time and energy to, and the connections and friendships they forge with classmates, faculty, staff, and alumni.”

Members of the new class come from 19 states in the U.S. and one foreign country (Ethiopia).

Class of 2027 highlights

  • Academic profile includes an average GPA of 3.83 and an ACT average score of 28.
  • Of the 2,709 applications submitted, 294 enrolled (278 first-year students, 16 transfers).
  • Among these matriculants, 47 are first-generation college students, and 31% of first-year students come from underrepresented groups.
  • Twenty-nine new students have a parent, sibling, or other relative who previously attended Hendrix.
  • Domestically, the longest trip to campus was 1,741 miles, and the shortest was 0.4 miles.
  • Collectively, the class’s favorite color is blue; their favorite candies are M&Ms and Sour Patch Kids; Star Wars, Step Brothers, and The Batman are among their favorite movies.

New students will participate in a variety of orientation activities through this weekend, and classes for the fall 2023 semester begin Tuesday, August 22.

View the College’s Flickr albums of Move-in Day 2023 and New Student Convocation.

About Hendrix College

A private liberal arts college in Conway, Arkansas, Hendrix College consistently earns recognition as one of the country’s leading liberal arts institutions, and is featured in Colleges That Change Lives: 40 Schools That Will Change the Way You Think About Colleges. Its academic quality and rigor, innovation, and value have established Hendrix as a fixture in numerous college guides, lists, and rankings. Founded in 1876, Hendrix has been affiliated with the United Methodist Church since 1884. To learn more, visit www.hendrix.edu.