August 22, 2025

Wheeling University Sees Increased Enrollment to Start New Academic Year 

WHEELING, W.Va. Aug. 22 – Wheeling University welcomed the second largest class in the past decade to campus on Friday, August 22. The class includes more than 300 new students. 

The University begins the 2025-2026 academic year with a nearly 10 percent jump in total enrollment. The new students have come to Wheeling from 30 states or U.S. territories, as well as 40 countries around the world. 

Jennifer Board, Vice President of Enrollment, believes working with faculty, coaches, and administration has been the key to the admissions team’s success this year. 

“The growth of the University can be directly tied to our energetic president and Board of Trustees, as well as our dedicated faculty, staff, and coaches,” Board said.

Wheeling’s incoming class once again includes a large number of international students. Board noted that this year 58 students have made their way to the University from the following countries: Argentina, the Bahamas, Belgium, Bermuda, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Columbia, the Congo, Denmark, Dominican Republic, England, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hungary, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Luxembourg, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal, New Zealand, Norway, Northern Ireland, Panama, Poland, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, Venezuela, Wales, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Wheeling University President, Dianna M. Vargo, Ed.D., offered her gratitude to the faculty, staff, and administration for their hard work in recruiting our new class.

“We can attribute the growth in enrollment to our dedicated faculty, coaches, staff, and administration who worked with the Office of Enrollment,” Vargo said. “We are excited to welcome our new students on the beautiful campus of Wheeling University.” 

During Friday evening’s New Student Convocation, faculty and administration will formally accept the class into the University’s learning community. The convocation marks the start of the Wheeling University academic year. 

On Saturday, all new students will participate in the University’s annual Make a Difference Day, where the new students undertake service projects around the campus and throughout the city of Wheeling. The students will be working at the various locations around Wheeling and on Wheeling’s campus.

“Make a Difference Day introduces our new students to the University’s mission to be men and women in service to others. This annual tradition helps them understand the impact that serving others can make in the lives of others in our community,” said Michael Geibel, Dean of Student Affairs.

Additionally, this year, faculty and staff participated in service projects on campus and throughout Wheeling.

Vargo said, “On Wednesday, our faculty and staff embodied the spirit of the mission of Wheeling University, the spirit built on service to others, in honor of Father James O’Brien, S.J.  We will carry forth this spirit of service to our students throughout the academic year.”

Students and faculty will notice upgrades including a new state-of-the-art computer lab and other classrooms as well.

The University begins classes on Monday, August 25, 2025.