Villa Maria College began the fall 2024 semester with an incoming class of 280 and a student body of more than 615, a record-high for the private institution. Administrators credit ongoing initiatives that make higher education more affordable and accessible, as well as expanded academic offerings, with attracting new students.
“We've been upward trajectory the last two years, which is pretty remarkable for any school, especially schools in Western New York,” says Brian Emerson, executive vice president at Villa Maria. “There are a lot of challenges colleges face—areas of declining population, challenges with financial aid applications this year—but we were really fortunate to overcome that through our efforts in supporting students and providing the access they're seeking.”
Starting this semester, Villa Maria has a new degree program for a Bachelor of Business Administration in sport management. “It's a business degree at its heart,” explains Emerson. “Its students have a lot of transferable skills in the business area, but specializing in sports management.”
The college is also offering certificates in e-sport management and sport communication, and students pursuing other majors can also receive a stand-alone sport management certificate. The program was developed with Dr. Richard Jacob, who previously served as director of Medaille University’s sport management program and its athletic department.
Another recent addition is the criminal justice major. Crime and Society, Juvenile Justice, Policing in a Multicultural Community and other classes in the four-year program are intended to give students valuable knowledge as they pursue careers in law enforcement, victim services, homeland security, advocacy, corrections and related fields.
College leaders are proud of the small class sizes offered across more than 20 academic programs at Villa Maria.
“So many of our students want a face-to-face experience, and they thrive on the support that we provide,” Emerson explains, noting the 8:1 ratio of students to faculty members.
Academic support offerings include assistive technology and personalized accommodations for students with learning differences. “We have tutors in every subject area and embed tutors in the classroom,” says Emerson.
Financial assistance takes many forms, and a large majority of students receive scholarships. For several years, students’ textbooks and class supplies have been included with tuition. The Viking Ride program provides students with monthly credits on the ride-sharing app Lyft that can be used for traveling to and from campus.
“No matter what the size, we're going to remain committed to who we are and providing a tight-knit, supportive environment where students thrive,” Emerson says. He sees that exemplified in the development of the Scott Bieler Center for Academic Excellence, a 20,000-square-foot learning and enrichment facility slated to open later this academic year. “Even though we’re growing, we’re able to invest even more and in what makes Villa such a special place.”
