Great Minds. Greater Purpose. Welcome to the Class of 2030.

Seton Hall University is welcoming approximately 1,560 first-year students to campus, representing 42 states and 17 countries. The Class of 2030 was selected from a pool of 28,070 applicants, approximately 2,300 more than the year prior, another sign of growing interest in a Seton Hall education.

That growth has been accompanied by increased selectivity. The University’s admission rate has fallen from 79 percent in 2023 to 67.5 percent in 2026, a decline of nearly 12 percentage points in three years. At the same time, the academic profile of incoming students remains strong, continuing a broader trend of gains over the past decade.

“Seton Hall is proud to welcome the Class of 2030, an accomplished and diverse group of students who bring tremendous talent, ambition and greater purpose to our community,” said Kathleen (Katie) McCarthy, M.B.A. ’17, vice president for enrollment management. “We look forward to seeing all they will accomplish in the years ahead.”

Among the 33 percent of incoming students who submitted standardized test scores, the average SAT score was 1323 and the average ACT score was 29. The average high school GPA for the incoming class is 3.68, up from 3.55 in 2016.

A University of Opportunity

The Class of 2030 also reflects Seton Hall's longstanding role as a University of opportunity, bringing together students from a broad range of backgrounds and experiences. More than 40 percent of incoming freshmen are the first in their families to attend college and 41 percent are Pell Grant-eligible.

The class reflects the inclusion of the communities Seton Hall serves, with 62 percent of incoming students identifying as students of color and 61 percent identifying as female. These varied perspectives and experiences strengthen classroom discussions, campus life and the University community.

Founded in 1856, Seton Hall remains grounded in its Catholic mission and its commitment to being a home for the mind, heart and spirit. Guided by the Catholic Intellectual Tradition and our patroness and intercessor, Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, the University welcomes students of all faiths and backgrounds into a community that encourages intellectual growth, service to others and the pursuit of greater purpose.

Meet Some of the Newest Pirates

Whether they flew internationally or traveled up the Garden State Parkway, members of Seton Hall’s Class of 2030 have arrived: intelligent, hopeful and inspiring students who are proud to now call our University home.

Nianen “Andrea” Chen is from Kaohsiung, Taiwan, and is majoring in psychology on the pre-health track. An international student, Chen learned about the University as a college basketball fan and is excited by Seton Hall's proximity to New York City. "I'm excited about meeting new friends, meeting professors, and going to New York City and around New Jersey because I've never been on the East Coast," she said. Chen chose Seton Hall for its sense of community on campus, the focus on servant leadership and to cheer on the basketball teams.

"I really like volunteering, so growing up, my grandpa has always put a really big emphasis on service," said Chen, who is eager to join the Division of Volunteer Efforts (DOVE) while at Seton Hall. "I just wanted to continue that practice throughout college, and then hopefully get admitted into medical school and continue my studies."

Daniel Gallagher is an incoming freshman from Montclair, New Jersey, and is eager to pursue a degree in sports management from the Stillman School of Business. "I look forward to meeting new friends," said Gallagher, who plans to join clubs and play on the club ice hockey team. His love for hockey drove him to major in sports management. Gallagher is excited by the prospect of working as a General Manager or coach—ideally for his favorite team, the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Nimrod Koncz is an international student from Targu Mures, Romania. "I'm a swimmer and I wanted to pursue my athletic career at the highest level," said Koncz, who was intrigued by Seton Hall after meeting with Derek Sapp, the head coach of the Pirates' swimming and diving teams. "He gave me the opportunity to be here, and I like that the business school here is very strong," added Koncz, who is drawn to global policy and finance, and eager to balance his academics with athletics.

"I won't stop this education here in Seton Hall," said the swimmer, who excels in the Butterfly and Backstroke. "I want to pursue my athletic career and a career in business and finance."

Jordan Morton from Hightstown, New Jersey, is a sport management major with dreams of working for the NBA – a goal he is confident he can achieve once he completes his studies at Seton Hall. "I like the internship opportunities that Seton Hall has to offer, along with the community that Seton Hall has," noted Morton. "In four years, I see myself with a good job thanks to Seton Hall, thanks to internship opportunities and my degree."

Like St. Louis, the incoming freshman also intends to combine his passions for sports with his dream career. "I plan on joining clubs like the Marketing Club, and I'm also looking forward to the basketball games and all the other sporting events you all have to offer."

Jelani St. Louis from Union, New Jersey, is also pursuing a career in healthcare. "The program here is really nice," said the 3+3 biology and physical therapy (D.P.T.) student, who plans to pursue a career in physical therapy. "Compared to other schools, I feel like this one was the best for me."

Seton Hall provides a natural landing point for St. Louis’ academic, career and personal endeavors. "This is my first time living away from home…and I definitely see myself doing different things, playing different sports, and meeting new people," he said. In addition to playing sports, St. Louis is inspired to make his passion a lifelong career. "Being able to help people recover, whether it be from an injury or from an accident or whatever the case is, is something I’ve just felt drawn to," said St. Louis.

Alyssa Thornton from Bloomingdale, New Jersey, is majoring in Sports Management and Finance as part of the 3+2 B.S./M.B.A dual degree program. While she's excited about the University's proximity to New York City, especially for business opportunities, what drew her most to Seton Hall was the Catholic mission. "Seton Hall was very interesting to me because of their strong faith and their community," said Thornton, who is eager to get involved in Campus Ministry. 

"During my first year I want to branch out, join a lot of clubs, meet a lot of new people, and expand my horizons to things I wouldn't normally try at home," she said. Thornton is eager to consider joining academic sororities, the Filipino League at Seton Hall (F.L.A.S.H.) and business clubs that can help hone her skills as she pursues her two degrees.

Riley Zinck and Nicole Hamp are both from New Jersey and are rooming together after meeting online and bonding over their shared studies in the College of Nursing.

Zinck, who is from Stockholm, chose Seton Hall because of the smaller campus and the smaller class sizes. "I chose nursing because I want to help people," said Zinck, who aspires to work as a labor and delivery nurse after graduation. 

Hamp chose Seton Hall for its proximity to Stanhope, where she calls home, plus the success of its nursing program. "Being diagnosed with celiac disease inspired me to go into nursing," Hamp reflected.

Both young women are looking forward to meeting new people, and Hamp is particularly excited about attending sporting events both on-campus and at the Prudential Center.

Tiffany Melendez and Sienna Renny are both softball student-athletes from Long Island, New York, and the childhood friends are excited to room together at Seton Hall. "We're both really excited to be a part of the softball team," said Melendez, who is a nursing major, adding that "I'm also excited to be on the team, make new friends and just be a part of the community."

Renny echoed her teammate's excitement about playing for the softball team and shared her inspiration behind pursuing a degree in elementary education at Seton Hall. "I see myself working in an elementary school," said Remy, who shared that she was inspired by her mom's stories as a teacher.

Melendez's academic path was also impacted by her family.  "I've always been interested in [nursing] and I have a couple of nurses in my family, so they've influenced me to become a nurse," she reflected, noting that she hopes to work in a hospital setting after graduation.

Sydney Kaczorowski is an out-of-state student from Excel, Pennsylvania, who is studying Sports Management. "I chose Seton Hall because of the opportunities they have and the community," she said. While she does not have her sights set on any particular extracurriculars, Kaczorowski is eager to attend the Involvement Fair and learn more about Seton Hall's 130+ clubs and organizations. "I'm excited to meet a lot of new people and get acclimated with the campus," she said, adding that she "can’t wait to make lots of amazing memories."

Jenny Borowick and Yoland Rafaeil are roommates who connected on social media prior to moving in and are already looking forward to spending the year together.

Borowick, a legacy Pirate from South Brunswick, New Jersey, is studying public relations. "I'm really excited to meet new people," she said, noting that she "wants to study abroad, hopefully in the Rome Connection program."

"I'm really excited to study abroad, and I'm just excited to meet new people and make new friends," added Rafaeil, who is from Middletown, New York. "I'm a chemical engineering major, and I'm interested in joining the Orthodox fellowship club and women in STEM."

Evan Eriksson from Portsmouth, New Hampshire, is excited by Seton Hall's proximity to New York, and said that he's most excited to meet new people and explore the City. A biology major in the 3+3 Physician's Assistant Program, Eriksson said that "the dual degree track was very appealing to me as I could get my master's degree in six years."

Outside of academics, Eriksson is eager to get involved on campus. "The main thing I want to do is continue sports in college, either through club or intramural, whether that's basketball, soccer or even joining some running clubs," he said. "I also do plan on volunteering in the community as that was a big thing I did back at home."

Categories: Campus Life