Wesleyan College sees largest enrollment since 2011

MACON, Ga. (WPGA) - Wesleyan College is seeing its largest incoming class since 2011, with the school’s first-time, full-time cohort growing 82% from last year.

The incoming class has about 175 students and a total enrollment of about 600.

The record enrollment comes alongside a record $23.56 million raised in a single year.

Wesleyan president Meaghan Blight believes the growth is the result of Wesleyan and Middle Georgia doing a better job of telling their story.

Wesleyan was the first college in the world to charter degrees to women.

“We have been graduating out women who have been leading in every industry across the globe. Unfortunately I don’t think we have done a good job of telling that story,” Blight said. “So focus on what happens when you graduate from Wesleyan: the network of women that you then graduate into that is going to help support you.”

Fundraising dollars are crucial for keeping the school running and spaces up to date, including construction at Porter Gym. The funds also provide opportunity for students regardless of their financial background.

“Around 63% of our students are first generation, so we want to make sure that every single student has the opportunity to study abroad, to go to conference, to do Model U.N, and a lot of times that only happens for students who come from affluent backgrounds,” Blight said.

Student growth is also happening at larger Middle Georgia institutions. Mercer University reported a 2026 record enrollment of more than 9,000 students. In 2025, Middle Georgia State University reported a record of nearly 9,000 students enrolled. Central Georgia Tech saw enrollment of more than 12,700 students, also in 2025.

“We’re all doing this incredible work on why Middle Georgia is an incredible to work to go to school and then stay here, as a community as a state, I think we are all really focused on that,” Blight said.