In the early hours of a late August morning, the sun-soaked Hilltop was consumed by silence, eagerly anticipating a historic moment for Saint Anselm College - the arrival of the largest and most diverse incoming class in the College’s 136-year history. In addition to its historic scale, 30% of the incoming class is first-generation students and over 50 are commuters - both the most the College has ever seen. For the 654 members of the Class of 2029, Thursday, August 21st, 2025, was the beginning of a bold new chapter in their books of life.
For many students, college is the first glimpse of life away from home.
Inspired by the hospitality and openness of Benedictine monastic values, the Saint Anselm community came together to make this transition as comfortable, smooth, and welcoming as possible. As the Class of 2029 and their loved ones began to pour onto campus, they were met with the cheerful, smiling faces of resident assistants, orientation leaders, student athletes, mentors, faculty, staff, and of course – the monks. It was then that the once quiet hilltop was filled with a vibrant medley of laughter, nerves, emotion, and excitement.
"As we welcome our newest Anselmians and their families to campus, we are thrilled to celebrate the largest and most diverse class in the history of Saint Anselm College,” said Assistant Academic Dean Benjamin Horton ’12, Ph.D. “Saint Anselm is a place where students come to learn, grow, and become the best versions of themselves academically, socially, and spiritually.”
Knowing how difficult it can be to transition to college, Horton wanted the students to know Saint Anselm would make them feel right at home. “Remember that you are now and forever Anselmians,” he offered. “We can't wait to see how each of you enriches this place and the world beyond it in the months and years to come."
Class of 2029: By the Numbers
- 45 – Students’ average high school GPA
- 102 – Students joining the Honors Program
- 46 – Students have at least one parent who attended Saint Anselm College
- 21– States represented
- 3 – Countries represented
- 97 – Students identify as racially diverse
- 197 – First-generation students
- 33 – Transfer students
- 50+ – Commuter students
- 654 – Total students in the Class of 2029
Class of 2029: Most Popular Majors
- Biology
- Business Administration
- Criminal Justice
- Elementary Education
- Finance
- Health Sciences
- Nursing
- Politics
- Psychology
- Undeclared
Class of 2029: Most Popular Names
- Ava
- Emma
- Grace
- Matthew
- Nicholas
- Ryan
Class of 2029: Pre-Saint Anselm Achievements
The Class of 2029 is full of talent, comprised of students who have achieved excellence even before their time at Saint Anselm, such as…
- Owning a clothing business
- Publishing research of global warming
- Authoring a book on building an investment portfolio
- Completing two years of service experience with the Civil Air Patrol
- Saving lives while lifeguarding
- Performing in dance recitals and competitions
- Earning all-star statuses as a student athlete
- Winning state championships and titles in athletics
- Creating eloquent and innovative art
- Composing original music