The campus welcomed 392 freshmen and transfer students, the largest incoming class Wayland has seen since 2016. That incoming group grew 28.9% compared to last year's 304 freshmen and transfer students, according to a university news release.
Wayland president Dr. Donna Hedgepath credited the growth to students eager to attend and staff committed to serving them. She said the university is grateful for the increase and excited about what comes next for students and the school.
For a private Baptist university, a jump like this matters. More students on the Plainview campus means more tuition revenue, more activity in classrooms and dorms, and a stronger applicant pool for future years. Wayland has campuses and students tied to the South Plains region, so growth at the flagship Plainview site can ripple into how the broader university system plans staffing and resources.