Hobart and William Smith Colleges

25 August 2026 The Next Chapter Begins

Record-setting interest and a more than 20 percent increase in first-year enrollment bring a vibrant new class to campus.

This fall, Hobart and William Smith welcomes 552 first-year students and 28 transfer students, capping a record-setting year of interest. With the incoming class, HWS’ total enrollment is now more than 2,000 students — a significant milestone in HWS’ effort to strengthen and sustainably grow enrollment.

The Class of 2030 was selected from the largest inquiry and applicant pool in HWS history. HWS received 18,989 inquiries, nearly 30 percent more than the previous year, while applications climbed to 6,699, a 15.7 percent increase. The growth comes as national demographics contribute to a decline in the number of college-age students.

“This class brings tremendous energy, ambition and a remarkable breadth of interests to HWS,” says President Mark D. Gearan, who along with Mary Herlihy Gearan, will formally welcome each student and their families during Orientation. “They are engaged, curious students who will strengthen our community and help shape the next chapter of Hobart and William Smith.”

The new class includes students from 35 states and countries ranging from Bangladesh and Poland to the United Kingdom and El Salvador. They arrive with diverse academic and cocurricular interests, from scientific research and entrepreneurship to the arts and community engagement.

Academically, the class enters HWS with an average GPA of 3.64, and 62 percent of students are graduates of public high schools. Thirty-six percent will compete as varsity athletes on one of HWS’ 31 teams, joining a community where students are encouraged to pursue ambitious athletic goals alongside their academic priorities.

Among the incoming students are the inaugural cohort of 20 Melly Scholars. Established in 2026 through a $70 million gift from Trustee Chair Emeritus L. Thomas Melly ’52, L.H.D. ’02 and Judith Hershey Melly, L.H.D. ’16, the Melly Scholarship is the most prestigious in HWS history, recognizing exceptional achievement in academics, leadership, innovation and service. The scholars were selected from more than 500 applicants — an acceptance rate of less than 4 percent.

The Class of 2030 includes Geneva High School’s top two graduates, Madeline Askin ’30 and Alexander Dorrington ’30, who graduated first and second in their class, respectively. Both chose HWS to pursue their academic, athletic and leadership goals close to home.

Orientation will run Aug. 26-30 and is designed to be an intentional introduction to academic and campus life. Students attend the first meeting of their First-Year Seminar, connect with their faculty adviser and get to know campus resources that will support their success. Along the way, they’ll get to know their classmates and new community through Orientation groups, SPARK! projects and activities across campus and Geneva. The experience culminates with Convocation, when the Class of 2030 joins the greater HWS community to formally open the academic year.

In the above photograph, President Mark D. Gearan and Mary Herlihy Gearan host the Orientation Mentors and Community Assistants at their home.