As the sun shone bright on a the morning of a late August day, hundreds of students packed the Summerhouse Lawn to take part in a new tradition, a class photo (image pictured above). The photo marked a new beginning not just for the Class of 2029 but for Chestnut Hill College, which is welcoming its largest group of new students in over five years. Overall, new student enrollment is up 30% from last year, an encouraging sign that life on the Hill continues to be strong, vibrant, and full of positive energy.
“This remarkable growth reflects the confidence students and families have in Chestnut Hill College’s commitment to academic excellence and personalized education,” says new College President, Brian McCloskey, DM, Ed.D. “We’re thrilled to welcome our largest incoming class since the pandemic and to launch our groundbreaking nursing program.”
Welcoming the First Class of Nursing Griffins
The launch of the highly-anticipated nursing program, much like the rest of the semester, began in earnest in late August as students were among the first to see the brand new Nursing Clinical Arts Center housed at the College’s SugarLoaf campus. Thanks to over $4.5 million in funding and grants from donors and state officials, the former conference center has been transformed into a stunning new state-of-the-art nursing facility with a new basic skills lab, teaching and office spaces, and a health assessment lab and simulation lab.
This class is etched in history as the new Center for Nursing welcomed its first full cohort of 52 students, including 19 students in the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program and 33 students in the traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program.
The nursing program represents a significant expansion into the health sciences field for the College, addressing the growing need for qualified healthcare professionals in the region. The College’s nursing program aims to educate students on these specific needs and the health and pathology unique to senior citizens. Also setting Chestnut Hill College’s nursing program apart from its contemporaries is a dedicated and intentional focus on self-care.
The program, which is fully registered by the PA Board of Nursing, has already established clinical partnerships with several area health institutions including Main Line Health, Cooper University Health System, Chestnut Hill Hospital, Guadenzia, and Foundations Behavioral Health.
“We are excited to have our Chestnut Hill nursing Griffins experience our new Nursing Clinical Arts Center,” says Susan Apold, Ph.D., RN, ANP–BC, A/GNP, C, FAAN, FAANP, dean of nursing at Chestnut Hill College. “They will be learning in a space with technology and equipment that reflects health care facilities. Our nursing students are experiencing a transformative holistic nursing curriculum to become healthcare leaders, fearsome warriors for patient advocacy, and guardians of health.”
The comprehensive renovation includes specialized instructional facilities designed to provide hands-on learning experiences that mirror real-world healthcare environments.
Growth at All Levels
The Fall 2025 enrollment surge reflects particularly strong growth in both adult and graduate programs, with graduate enrollment increasing 24% year-over-year. Chestnut Hill College’s Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology (PsyD) and master’s program in Clinical Counseling Psychology continue to excel alongside its well-established education program. Additionally, CHC’s new MBA in Strategic Management is thriving as a fully online, asynchronous offering, allowing students to complete their degree in one year or less.
“This success represents a campus-wide initiative—it truly takes a village to recruit, retain, and graduate these students,” said Ryan Burton-Romero, M.Ed., Vice President, Enrollment Management & Communications.
For the now 101-year-old CHC, this is just the beginning as initiatives are underway to continue to expand the College’s academic offerings with a focus toward the future. As McCloskey’s calling card goes, “it’s a great time to be a Griffin.”