Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC) has welcomed nearly 3,000 new students as part of its Class of 2029. The incoming freshmen participated in the First-Year Convocation ceremony on campus, where they received a medallion to keep until graduation. As part of tradition, each freshman touched the statue of the college’s mascot, General, for good luck during their time at GGC.
Kimberly Jordan, interim vice president of enrollment management services and executive director of Financial Aid, commented on the arrival of the new class: “It’s rewarding for all of us at GGC to see the students we’ve recruited here on campus, excited and ready to start their educational journey. What will be interesting to watch is how the Class of 2029 develops over time.”
The college continues to attract a diverse student body. For 11 years in a row, U.S. News & World Report has recognized GGC as the most ethnically diverse Southern regional college. This year’s freshman class includes students from 54 countries, almost every county in Georgia, and 22 other states.
Students have expressed various reasons for choosing GGC. Julian Montgomery from Philadelphia decided to attend after hearing about it from a friend who is an alumnus: “She preached that the school is amazing, the film program is excellent, and the tuition rates were one of the lowest if not lowest in the state of Georgia,” he said. “GGC is a great institution to learn and live an amazing college life. Getting involved always helps to ease that life as well and make things fun and unforgettable.”
Bella Demaline from Buford chose GGC because it was close enough to home for her to care for her family: “It’s such a welcoming environment and it was also close enough to home to allow me to take care of my family,” she said. She added advice for prospective students: “I can guarantee that you will belong here more than you can imagine.”
Enrollment data shows that 27 percent of new students are enrolled in the School of Science and Technology; other popular schools include Liberal Arts (21 percent), Business (19 percent), Health Sciences (18 percent), Education (5 percent), with another 10 percent pursuing Integrative Studies—a program allowing students flexibility across disciplines.
GGC’s overall enrollment has increased for ten consecutive semesters and now exceeds 12,700 students.
