UMES has largest admission rates in over 8 years

UMES, Md. – Since the COVID-19 pandemic, many college institutions of higher learning have struggled with increasing enrollment numbers, but that’s not the case for UMES.

Institution leaders say they’re proud of the number of students attending the school this year.

Director of Admissions and Recruitment Darryl Isom started to notice a downward trend in admissions and has changed that for the better, and since then, UMES has spent the last two years rebranding the University and reaching out to local public schools for recruitment. 

“We are setting the largest class we have set in the past 8 years and for the last two years, the enrollment has really resonated with the community,” Isom said. “We have reached out to the local community and reached out to a national recruitment strategy.”

“Meaning that we need to get out there and make everyone aware of what UMES is all about, new programs that we have, and we are a place where students can come and really obtain their degree and finding the support system that they are desiring to make that happen.”

Isom discussed many new programs offered this year to incoming students thanks to the flagship program. The program has opportunities for students to become licensed pilots and the ability to learn sequential arts in a fine arts class.

Incoming freshman Darrius Kelly is looking forward to starting his criminal justice degree thanks to flagship.

“I really enjoyed the forensics field. It was really interesting, so I thought majoring in criminal justice would be fun.”

Another incoming student, freshman Pamela Anderson is anxious to start, but thanks to UMES she feels supported and confident for her first day of classes.