Iona University Welcomes Standout Class of 2030 Amid Strong Financial Outlook, National Rankings
The Class of 2030 is one of Iona’s largest incoming classes in recent history.
NEW ROCHELLE & BRONXVILLE, N.Y. — As Iona University officially welcomed the Class of 2030 and launched into a busy fall semester, the momentum across its campuses continued to build.
One of Iona’s largest incoming classes in recent history, the University’s total enrollment stands above 4,000 students across its undergraduate and graduate programs. Yet the strength of the incoming class extends well beyond its size.
This year, roughly 200 freshmen will participate in the Honors Program, representing the largest Honors cohort in University history, while nearly 300 will join Iona’s Service cohort, carrying forward a tradition that sees Gaels contribute approximately 20,000 hours of service each year. The Class of 2030 also welcomes 52 siblings, including a staggering eight sets of twins. There are also 33 high school class presidents and 33 percent coming from Catholic high schools.
Among other cohorts, this year’s class welcomes 52 siblings, including a staggering eight sets of twins.
Iona's newest Gaels join a University that has undergone significant growth and transformation in recent years – expanding academic programs, investing in the student experience and creating new opportunities across New Rochelle, Bronxville and Iona’s global campus in County Mayo, Ireland.
“This is an extraordinary time to be at Iona because the momentum we are experiencing is rooted in something much deeper than growth alone,” said Kevin O’Sullivan, senior vice president for Enrollment and Student Affairs. “Students and families are responding to an education that is personal, ambitious and grounded in purpose. As we expand our programs, invest in our campuses and embrace new opportunities both inside and outside of the classroom, we remain focused on what has always distinguished Iona: developing students who can think for themselves, care for others and use their education to build meaningful lives. That mission is resonating, and it is exciting to see our community continue to grow.”
National Recognition
For 2027, Iona has been recognized by The Princeton Review, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, TIME and others as one of the nation’s best colleges.
Iona also continues to be nationally recognized for its strong student outcomes and financial strength.
Forbes recently awarded Iona an “A” rating for financial strength, placing the University among the top 16 percent of private institutions nationwide. This recognition comes at a pivotal moment for higher education, as colleges and universities across the country face increasing financial and operational pressures. According to The Hechinger Report, more than a quarter of private colleges are at risk of closure — a trend that can leave students facing rising costs, complications of maintaining degree progress in the transfer process and uncertainty around degree completion.
In addition, Iona has once again been named to prestigious national lists highlighting the success that students have both on campus and beyond. For 2027, Iona has been recognized by The Princeton Review, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, TIME and others as one of the nation’s best colleges. Additionally, Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Workforce (CEW) ranks an Iona degree in the top 6 percent nationally for long-term return on investment, while The Wall Street Journal ranked Iona the No. 5 Catholic college in the country for student experience.
The Momentum Continues
Iona’s growth inside and outside the classroom makes this an exciting time to become a Gael.
A Catholic institution founded by the Christian Brothers in 1940, Iona’s growth is visible both inside and outside of the classroom.
Iona offers small classes, engaged faculty and diverse programs across the School of Arts & Science, LaPenta School of Business and NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Nursing & Health Sciences. The Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation also provides interdisciplinary opportunities and degree programs for all students. Meanwhile, through the Gabelli Center for Teaching & Learning, Iona faculty are at the forefront of pedagogical innovation in the age of artificial intelligence.
From 26 NCAA Division I programs and 21 club sports to more than 100 clubs and a thriving performing arts program, Iona offers more ways than ever for students to get involved and thrive.
The University also continues to develop innovative academic offerings that are both responsive to changing workforce needs and the evolving AI landscape. Located just 20 miles north of Midtown Manhattan, Iona’s proximity to New York City also gives students access to top-tier internships and other career opportunities. The result is that students graduate career ready, with 91 percent employed or enrolled in graduate school within six months of completing their degree.
The student experience is also growing alongside Iona’s academics. The University now offers 26 NCAA Division I programs, including five new programs added over the past three years, as well as more than 100 clubs and student leadership organizations, 21 club sports and a robust performing arts program.
Across campus, investments in physical spaces such as the dining hall in the LaPenta Student Union, Kelly Center for Health Sciences, Bohm Hall, Murphy Green, Mehmel Green and other projects are reshaping how students learn, live and connect.
For the Class of 2030, it all adds up to an exciting moment to become a Gael – and the next chapter in a University that continues to move forward.
ABOUT IONA
Founded in 1940, Iona University is a master's-granting private, Catholic, coeducational institution of learning in the tradition of the Edmund Rice Christian Brothers. Iona's 45-acre New Rochelle campus and 28-acre Bronxville campus are just 20 miles north of Midtown Manhattan. With a total enrollment of over 4,000 students and an alumni base of 55,000 around the world, Iona is a diverse community of learners and scholars dedicated to academic excellence and the values of justice, peace and service. Iona is highly accredited, offering undergraduate degrees in liberal arts, science and business administration, as well as Master of Arts, Master of Science and Master of Business Administration degrees and numerous advanced certificate programs. Iona students enjoy small class sizes, engaged professors and a wide array of academic programs across the School of Arts & Science; LaPenta School of Business; NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Nursing & Health Sciences; and Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation. Iona also continues to be recognized in prestigious national rankings. Most recently for 2026, Iona has been named one of the nation’s best colleges by The Princeton Review, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes and others. Additionally, U.S. News & World Report recognized Iona as one of top for social mobility in the country, while Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Workforce (CEW) ranked an Iona degree in the top 6 percent nationally for long-term return on investment. Iona’s LaPenta School of Business, meanwhile, is also accredited by AACSB International, a recognition awarded to just 6 percent of business schools worldwide. In addition, The Princeton Review once again named Iona to its “Best Business Schools for 2025,” recognizing both its on-campus and online MBA programs. Connecting to its Irish heritage, Iona also opened a new campus in County Mayo, Ireland, located on the historic 400-acre Westport House Estate. A school on the rise, Iona officially changed its status from College to University on July 1, 2022, reflecting the growth of its academic programs and the prestige of an Iona education.