Starting College Experience: Freshmen from 37 states, the District of Columbia, and seven countries arrived on campus on August 28 to begin new student orientation activities. Fall quarter classes start on September 3.

The 20^th anniversary of coeducation at Rose-Hulman this fall is marked by a record number of female students in the 2015-16 freshman class, and an increase in the female population to an all-time high within the institute's student body.

Freshmen from 37 states, the District of Columbia, and seven countries arrived on campus on August 28 to begin new student orientation activities. Fall quarter classes start on September 3.

Rose-Hulman began admitting women in August of 1995, with 80 young women making up 17 percent of the 1995-96 freshman class.

This year's incoming class features 133 female students-constituting one-quarter of the class and increases the percentage of women in the student body to 23 percent, which is higher than the 19.9 percent national average of females earning engineering degrees in 2014, according to the American Society for Engineering Education.

"We continue to increase diversity within our student body, with 30 percent of the 2015-16 freshman class of 547 being non-Caucasian, non-American citizen," says James A. Goecker, vice president for enrollment management and strategic communications. "Rose-Hulman's outstanding student body continues to reflect the characteristics of a world-class institution, full of bright young men and women from across the nation and the globe."

Other highlights of the 2015-16 incoming class include:

• Median SAT (700 math/610 critical reading) and ACT (32 math/31 English) scores are among the highest in more than a decade, with one in 14 freshmen having a perfect SAT or ACT math score.

• Of the 277 freshmen coming from schools that academically rank in class, 21 percent ranked first, second, or third; the median class rank was in the top seven percentile.

• Nine states are represented by 10 or more students, with a record 28 from California, 15 from Texas, 14 from Missouri, 13 from Kentucky, 84 from Illinois, and 49 from Ohio. The percentage of Indiana students in the class is at 31 percent for the second straight year.

• International freshmen are coming from China, India, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, South Korea, Thailand, and Uganda.

• In addition to the freshman class, 13 Brazilian students will be attending classes at Rose-Hulman for one year through the South American country's Science Without Borders program. Also, 10 students from China, Japan, and Sweden also will be attending for one or two academic quarters as exchange students.

• 263 incoming students participated in one of more community service activities during high school. Other interests include National Honor Society, 264 students; varsity athletics, 218; instrumental music, 142; academic competition team, 120; tutoring, 94; student government, 82; Project Lead the Way, 76; and vocal music, 39. Rose-Hulman's vibrant cultural scene, leadership development, and athletics offerings will enable those students to continue balancing their academic pursuits with other activities and interests.