Dordt University has record enrollment for sixth year in a row

For the sixth year in a row, Dordt University is celebrating record enrollment, welcoming 2,159 total students for the fall 2026 semester. 

This includes a record number of 1,689 full-time undergraduates, 519 of whom are new to the university this fall. Dordt’s graduate programs increased in size by more than 17% this year, with 290 total graduate students enrolled this fall—another university record.

“A combination of a clear Christ-centered mission, academic excellence, and a genuinely caring community continues to resonate with students and their families,” says Greg Van Dyke, vice president of admissions at Dordt. “When I speak with them, I consistently hear an appreciation for Dordt’s mission and vision as a Christ-centered institution. They want an excellent education, but they’re also looking for a place that will help shape who they are becoming.”

“College is an incredibly important transition in a young person’s life,” adds Van Dyke. “There is something powerful about knowing there will be people at Dordt who will know students as individuals, care about them, challenge them, and walk alongside them.”

Dordt’s Christian atmosphere and strong sense of community are likely factors in why so many of last year’s freshmen returned to Dordt’s campus this fall. Dordt’s freshman-to-sophomore retention rate is 87.2%, which means that nearly nine out of 10 students continued to study at Dordt from their first year to their second. This is the eighth consecutive year Dordt’s freshman-to-sophomore retention rate has exceeded 80%.

“The mission of Dordt University continues to find resonance with students, as they seek to be equipped to work for Christ-centered renewal in every area of life,” says Dr. Erik Hoekstra, president of Dordt. “As we’ve grown, we’ve been able to do so in a fiscally responsible manner because of the generosity of our donors and the loyalty of our alumni. While there are more students again this year, may we never lose sight of the fact that each one is a unique image-bearer of Christ, with a unique role in which to serve—until Christ returns and all is made new!”

About Dordt University

As an institution of higher education committed to the Reformed Christian perspective, Dordt University equips students, alumni, and the broader community to work effectively toward Christ-centered renewal in all aspects of contemporary life.

Located in Sioux Center, Iowa, Dordt offers undergraduate and graduate programs that help students live their faith in every area of life. Through rigorous learning, meaningful relationships, and whole-person formation, students gain the practical wisdom to serve God and neighbor through their work and in their communities. Dordt has been named among the nation's leading Christian universities by U.S. News & World Report, Niche, and other national publications.