Excellence perseveres.

Last month, we welcomed nearly 5,000 new students — an incredible accomplishment by our university staff and faculty in the face of the ongoing pandemic. TU remains an in-demand institution, with more than 13,000 students applying for fewer than 2,500 freshman slots.

The first-year students are impressive, carrying an average weighted GPA of 3.71.

More than 16 percent of incoming freshmen are first-generation college students, and nearly 49 percent of incoming freshmen identify as racial or ethnic minorities.

They join a university focused on the continued growth of its diverse and inclusive community.

The diversity of backgrounds, viewpoints and perspectives among our students strengthens their academic experience and better prepares them to lead in a rapidly changing world.

At TU, they'll learn from a world-renowned faculty. Our professors have worked tirelessly to provide the same rigorous education in a remote and hybrid format as they do in a face-to-face environment. And they're doing so much of it through synchronous instruction — providing live engagement with our students in a time when so many people yearn for connection.

This fall will be different, yes. But, what makes TU great remains.

Excellence perseveres.

I'm proud to say that the momentum at Towson University continues to grow. For the second straight year, TU was ranked as a Top National University among the elite research universities in the nation in U.S. News & World Report's America's Best Colleges guide for 2021.

And affirmation for our impact on students continues to grow.

TU is a top performer in social mobility, as recognized by a variety of rankings — we climbed 25 places in this year's ranking by U.S. News & World Report, and Washington Monthly recognized TU as No. 31 in the nation for the social mobility subcategory.

Furthermore, TU is one of just nine institutions in the nation with a student voter registration rate higher than 85 percent.

Simply put, Towson University's ability to create opportunities for students is a differentiator.

There's much to be proud of at Towson University, and there are truly great things ahead!

Kim Schatzel, Ph.D.

President