Brimming With Accomplishments and Promise, Stevens’ Incoming Class of 2024 Is Ready to Make its Mark

Face coverings, social distancing, handwashing and testing? 

There is no template for starting undergraduate life in the middle of a global pandemic. 

But admissions data (as of September 3, 2020) for Stevens Institute of Technology’s Class of 2024 offers promising signs for how this new group will cope with and rise to the challenges presented during these unprecedented times.

Already apparent is the community service bent of this year’s incoming class.

At a time when a heightened awareness of community well-being is called for, members of the new undergraduate class have already made an impact on the lives of others in a variety of ways. 

They have dedicated their time and talents during their high school years to assist in nursing homes, organize school supply drives for students in need, volunteer as a local firefighter, develop a website to provide mental health resources for peers, coach sports teams for children with special needs, and participate in projects that help rebuild homes.

The incoming class of 920 freshman and 44 transfer students represent 26 states and Washington, D.C., and 13 countries (Brazil, Canada, China, El Salvador, India, Israel, Italy, Kazakhstan, Mexico, the Philippines, South Korea, Spain and Turkmenistan).  

For the second year in a row, the incoming class was selected from a pool of more than 10,000 applications, demonstrating that demand for a Stevens education, across all four of Stevens’ schools, continues to be robust.

Within the Schaefer School of Engineering and Science, Computer Science and Mechanical Engineering were the most popular majors for first year applicants. In the School of Business, most students applied to the Quantitative Finance and Business and Technology programs while most students applying to the College of Arts and Letters were attracted to its Music and Technology program. The most popular program that students applied to within the School of Systems and Enterprises was Software Engineering. 

Being both academically talented and well-rounded is a hallmark of the Stevens student. 

This year’s class embodies that ethos in spades.

More than 100 scholar athletes were recruited to join one of Stevens’ 25 varsity sports teams.

And thanks to donor support, more than 100 of the most promising college applicants in the country chose Stevens for the chance to take part in the additional travel, study and research opportunities provided through the Lawrence T. Babbio '66 Pinnacle Scholars Program.

Notably, ten members of the incoming class were selected through iSTEM@Stevens, an admissions pathway for individuals who excel at project-driven, hands-on learning. Designed to transform budding talent into future leaders and game changers, iSTEM@Stevens is a four-year coaching program focused on nurturing innovation and entrepreneurship, the bedrock of a Stevens education.  

The university continues to advance its strategic goal of improving diversity on campus, as outlined in its strategic plan, The Future. Ours to Create. 

Stevens’ ability to draw impressive numbers of outstanding women remains steady. The enrollment of women, at 30%, is slightly higher from last year.

And the number of enrolled underrepresented minority students, at 17%, reflects the university’s progress toward a more diverse student body.

The university’s march toward becoming a destination for talented students from diverse backgrounds owes much to programs like the A. James Clark Scholars Program, Stevens ACES (Accessing Careers in Engineering and Science) and STEP (Stevens Technical Enrichment Program).

The incoming class includes 10 Clark Scholars, recipients of scholarships from the largest endowment investment in Stevens’ history. The A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation provides significant scholarship support and enhanced learning opportunities for exceptional engineering, computer science and cybersecurity students with financial need. 

Additionally, 55 students have scholarships from donors to Stevens ACES, which recently received the 2020 Diversity and Inclusion Award from the New Jersey Business and Industry Association (NJBIA). The award is given to an organization that encourages and rewards diversity and inclusion initiatives, and implements programs that remove barriers and improve the climate, culture, experience and engagement levels for minority groups.

And for 52 members of the incoming class, a head start to undergraduate life began in July when they participated in the Summer Bridge Program, a six-week program administered through STEP. For more than five decades, STEP has served as the university’s cornerstone program in increasing the pool of underrepresented and underserved students within the STEM fields.

“I am thrilled to welcome this incredibly talented class to Stevens. They bring diverse experiences, perspectives and passions to our community. They hold so much promise for their college years and beyond. The world needs their contributions and I look forward to seeing all they will accomplish,” said Marybeth Murphy, vice president for enrollment management and student affairs at Stevens.