From 28,000 Applicants to 1,625 Pirates: Welcome to the Class of 2029

Hailing from 38 states and 18 countries, approximately 1,625 freshmen are slated to begin their Seton Hall journey as the Class of 2029. More than 28,000 students applied to be Pirates this year, an increase of 2,300 compared to last year.

Seton Hall continues its tradition of academic excellence over the past decade, with our academic profile and selectivity continuing to rise year after year. This fifth year of test-optional admissions allows for more student choice in sharing academic records and achievements. The University's admission rate has dropped by nearly 10 percentage points in the last two years, from 79 percent in 2023 to 69 percent in 2025, showing increased selectivity.

“Seton Hall continues its tradition of academic excellence with the Class of 2029. It is truly a pleasure to welcome such talented students from across the country to Seton Hall,” noted Alyssa McCloud, Ph.D., Executive Vice President for Enrollment Management and Recruitment.

The average SAT score was 1323 and the average ACT score was 29.53, among the 28 percent of incoming students who submitted test scores. The average GPA, which is reported by all applicants, continues to remain strong at 3.6, having risen over the past decade from 3.45 in 2014.

Great Minds. Greater Purpose.

While sustaining academic excellence in its incoming class, Seton Hall has held firm to its commitment to inclusion in all forms, as well as its commitment to the community and its students as a university of opportunity. The University strives to foster a community of unique perspectives and backgrounds to drive academic achievement and global discussion.

More than 39 percent of this fall’s incoming class is made up of first-generation students (first in their family to attend college), while 38 percent are Pell Grant-eligible. More than 59 percent of students in the class of 2029 identify as students of color and 58 percent are female.

Seton Hall remains dedicated to its Catholic values as a diocesan university, committed to active hospitality toward people of all faiths, creeds and colors. Guided since 1856 by the Catholic Intellectual Tradition, Seton Hall remains committed to integrating faith and reason while welcoming people of all faiths and backgrounds.

Meet Some of the Newest Pirates

Whether they flew in from across the country or traveled up the Garden State Parkway, members of Seton Hall’s Class of 2029 have arrived – including intelligent, hopeful and inspiring students who are proud to now call our campus home. Among this group of freshmen is an international student from Lima, Peru, looking to make FinTech her career; an out-of-state Pre-Law student who plans to pursue an extracurricular role with the WSOU radio station; and a Trenton nursing major who fell in love with the campus the moment she set foot on it.

Samantha Broncano is an international student from Lima, Peru, enrolled in the Stillman School of Business accelerated five-year B.S/M.S. STEM-designated Financial Technology and Analytics program, which provides an interdisciplinary experience across finance, data analytics and data sciences in response to a growing demand for financial-analytic skills blended with technology. “Last year, I came here to visit my uncles and I found out that my cousin studies here,” noted Broncano, who was impressed by Seton Hall’s strong finance program. “I wanted to pursue finance since I was 14, 15 years old,” she said, adding “I was really impressed because in my country they don’t have a lot.” Another selling point for Broncano was Seton Hall’s proximity to New York City, which she dubbed “the finance hub of the world,” since she’s considering pursuing a career in the stock market or wealth management. Ultimately, though Broncano wants to get the most out of her Seton Hall experience, and hopes to play volleyball, serve with the Division of Volunteer Efforts (DOVE), and participate in the Finance Club on campus. “I love doing everything and helping in every way I can,” said the Peru native, who recognized that “In any place, there's always something you can bring to help.”

Robbie Fullen from Little Rock, Arkansas, was drawn especially to Seton Hall because of its location on the East Coast and proximity to New York City. “I’m excited to be in a new environment, that's completely different from where I grew up,” said Fullen, who travelled 18 hours by car to move in. In addition to a change-up from the South, Fullen acknowledged a generous scholarship and ultimately chose Seton Hall after speaking with family friends and alumni who had a great experience. Regarding his own Seton Hall experience, Fullen is excited to pursue extracurriculars in media – including writing for The Setonian and ideally working for WSOU, which was recently ranked the No. 1 College Radio Station by The Princeton Review. “I’m excited to make new friends and meet new people,” he said. “I’m just happy to be here.”

Sarea Leonard-Jenkins is from Trenton, New Jersey. A nursing major, she fell in love with the campus the moment she arrived. “The community was very inviting,” said Leonard-Jenkins, who is “most excited to make new connections with students and teachers.” She hopes to spend the next four years expanding her knowledge of healthcare, while also exploring outside her comfort zone.  Her mother, Phillippa Taylor-Jenkins, shared that Sarea’s attendance at Seton Hall is a major milestone for their family. “Sarea is our first child to go off to college, so that is a very big accomplishment for her,” said Taylor-Jenkins. “It means new beginnings, great opportunities to come her way to develop socially, academically and professionally. It’s great, beautiful.”

Hannah Pronk is an international student athlete from Western Germany, near Düsseldorf. A student in the Stillman School of Business and incoming member of the Women’s Swim Team, Pronk is known for her 200-meter butterfly race. “I’m studying business, but I’m still undecided,” said Pronk, who is excited to begin classes in America, embrace the student-athlete life and explore her interests within the field of business. “I really like the location, and I also really like the community,” she said, noting that she was impressed especially by the swim team and how kind the Pirate community has been. “Seton Hall is the best choice for me.” 

Ishaan Tangirala is a Biology major from Piscataway, New Jersey, and a student in Seton Hall’s Joint Bachelor’s/M.D. Program. When asked why he chose Seton Hall, Tangirala said he was impressed by the location and the value of the school. “The return on my investment definitely seems worth it.” While he is drawn to the sciences and academic programs that Seton Hall offers, Tangirala is also eager to get to know people and explore the many organizations and clubs available for students. “It’s not even my first day, and I'm excited to learn a lot more and figure out what it is that I'm really into around campus.” Ultimately, Tangirala wants to participate in an organization and make an impact on “Something that I can be proud of putting my name towards. That's really my main hope, that I can do something that I can be proud of years later.”   

Erin Valdes from South Plainfield, New Jersey, is an honors student enrolled in the 3+3 dual degree B.S. in Diplomacy and International Relations and Juris Doctorate in Law Program. “There's always so much going on in the world, and the program at Seton Hall is really good – it has a real-world connection and offers hands-on learning,” said Valdes, who was inspired to follow in the footsteps of two of her cousins and attend Seton Hall. In addition to the location and academic draw, Valdes said that Seton Hall “just felt very homey.” She noted, “I'm Catholic and it's a Catholic school, so it felt like just all the puzzle pieces were falling into place for it.” She hopes to Rush for Greek Life, try out for the cheerleading team and participate in Campus Ministry. “I feel like this is a great place for her to be,” added her mom, Alexis.  

Seton Hall looks forward to celebrating the Class of 2029 throughout Weeks of Welcome. Use #SetonHall2029 to share your Pirate pride, connect with your classmates, and you may see your post featured on Seton Hall’s official channels.

Categories: Campus Life