Bethlehem, Pa., September 29, 2014 –With the academic year off to a great start, the Admissions Office at Moravian College reported that it exceeded it enrollment goals and welcomed 516 new students who arrived for the fall 2014 semester—the highest number the history of the institution.

"The College was able to not only enroll a new student class that exceeded its budgeted goal by 13.4%, the indicators of academic and social readiness of these students improved over recent years which is a compliment to the talented secondary schools and community colleges with whom we collaborate," said Steven Soba, vice president for enrollment management.

Notable characteristics of the Class of 2018 include:

• 386 new freshmen and 130 transfers enrolled
• 24% came from the Lehigh Valley 
• 7% came from somewhere other than the United States
• 24% are the first in their family to go to college
• 25% are national honor society members 
• 25% were captains of a varsity sport
• 7% have a legacy with Moravian College 
• 55% female/45% male

"On behalf of everyone at Moravian College, our faculty, current students, alumni and staff are pleased to welcome our new students in the Class of 2018 which has set an all-time admission record," Soba noted. "I am thrilled with the talent, character and enthusiasm that defines this year's new 'Hounds'. Whether they are one of the many students joining us from our beloved Lehigh Valley, from different states across the U.S., or enriching our campus culture from countries such as Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the Czech Republic or Denmark, I feel they are all very capable to add to the growing legacy of the nation's 6th oldest college. I look forward to experiencing the story they will write."

Moravian College is a private coeducational liberal arts college, offering undergraduate and graduate degrees, located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Tracing its founding to 1742, Moravian is recognized as America's sixth-oldest college and the first to educate women. The College emphasizes the deliberate integration of a broad-based liberal arts curriculum with hands-on learning experiences to prepare its 1,600 students, not just for jobs, but for successful careers. Moravian College excels at transforming good students into highly competent graduates who are ready to enter the workplace with confidence or shine in graduate school. Visit the Web site at www.moravian.edu.