The school year has only begun for DePauw University and it is already a record school year for the Putnam County university, as the Class of 2026 is the largest incoming class in four years. 

According to school officials, 535 first-year students have called DePauw home.

In a press release, Mary Beth Petrie, vice president for enrollment management, said the new students hail from 31 states and 27 countries. All together, the students span a geographic area that ranges from Greencastle to the Philippines.

"The DePauw Class of 2026 is incredibly talented and bright and we are happy to welcome them to the Tiger family," Petrie said. 

A high number of students have expressed an interest in studying economics, computer science and psychology, and the average GPA of the Class of 2026 was a 3.97 with 45 percent of the students graduating in the top 10 percent of their high school class. 

The university's Bold &Gold 2027 Strategic Plan is also starting to take effect with prospective students, as one in five reported the university's future plans had a positive influence in their decision to enroll at DePauw, which will establish a School of Business and Leadership and a Creative School as part of its future plans. 

"They will be here for the inauguration of the two new schools and will be able to choose majors and minors that include six new programs that have been added since last spring," Petrie said.