Wagner College has welcomed more than 650 new undergraduate and graduate students while rising to the top of the collegiate theatre world.
As of Thursday, the college’s total enrollment was the second-largest in more than a decade, reflecting Wagner’s attractiveness to students from Staten Island and around the globe. Wagner’s latest first-year cohort is the second-largest in more than a decade, eclipsed only by the 2024 incoming class.
"In an increasingly competitive higher education landscape, Wagner continues to attract the best and brightest to Grymes Hill,” said President Jeffrey Doggett. “Our academic program combined with our intense and purposeful focus on building a community of care and a focus on success resonates with scholars and their families.”
The academic year began as The Princeton Review named Wagner’s theatre program No. 1 in the country and put the school on its “Colleges That Create Futures” list, which recognizes schools that “empower students to discover practical applications for their talents and interests through experiences that complement their classes and coursework.”
Wagner was also honored by the Phi Theta Kappa Society, which named the College to its 2025 Transfer Honor Roll, recognizing “excellence in developing and supporting dynamic, innovative pathways for community college transfer students.”
Classes began on Aug. 25, days after the campus welcomed its new students on Move-In Day.
From early morning through late afternoon, Harborview Hall, the traditional first-year residence hall, buzzed with energy as cars pulled up, families unloaded, and new Seahawks got their first glimpse of campus life. Dozens of Wagner students volunteered to pitch in and help make the day memorable. They hauled boxes, answered questions, and directed traffic on and off the hill.
Move-In Day marked just the beginning of a weekend with orientation activities designed to help students connect and feel at home in their new campus. The celebration continued with excursions across Staten Island and into Manhattan. Highlights included a Staten Island FerryHawks baseball game and Broadway show trips, giving students a taste of the unique opportunities that come with living in New York City.
“Our program is a reflection of the student experience at Wagner,” said Thomas Tressler-Gelok, dean of campus life. “We ground our program in showing how deeply we care for our students. It is our hope that our orientation will give them the tools for success academically, personally, and socially at the College.”
