Bethany College Reports 31% Year-Over-Year Increase in New Student Enrollment; Announces Graduate Degrees in Sport Management and AI-Driven Cybersecurity

Overall enrollment is up 8% over last year, with applications rising 40% in recent years as Bethany adds new undergraduate and graduate programs.

BETHANY, W.Va. (Sept. 4, 2025) — Bethany College today announced another strong year of enrollment momentum, with new student enrollment rising 31% over Fall 2024. The College is welcoming 313 new students this fall, representing its largest new student enrollment in 15 years. The growth follows a trend of heightened interest, as MSN recently recognized Bethany among the top 50 colleges nationally for increases in student demand, noting a 40% rise in undergraduate applications over the past several years.

This momentum reflects the College’s expansion of academic offerings to align with student interests and workforce needs. New undergraduate degrees include Nursing, Education, Game Development, Exercise Science, Criminal Justice, Healthcare Administration, and Digital Marketing.

Bethany is also expanding through Bethany Online, which offers the MBA, M.Ed., and AI certification programs, as well as professional credentials such as the Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator (CHFI) certificate, a nationally recognized program in digital forensics. Building on this momentum, the College recently announced two new graduate programs: Sport Management and AI-Driven Cybersecurity, the latter building on Bethany’s established undergraduate cybersecurity degree.

Bethany continues to invest in academics and campus life through soon-to-be state-of-the-art Nursing labs and a new Exercise Science classroom, the opening of the Georgiana N. ’71 and Robert F. Riley, Jr. ’67 Fitness Center, and new athletic and co-curricular opportunities. Recent additions include a women’s flag football team, a fly fishing club and competitive team, and new intramural and wellness offerings. To further support engagement, the College offers co-curricular scholarships that help students fund and develop new passions in the arts, including scholarships for band, chorus, and theatre.

“Bethany is in a season of growth and renewal,” said President Dr. Jamie Caridi. “Our student-centric focus combined with an intense focus on providing affordable, market-driven academic programs that develop the whole person, present a compelling case to today’s families and prospective students.”