Butler University’s official Move-in Day will be especially busy this year, as 1,246 first-year students arrive on the Midtown Indianapolis campus. It is Butler’s largest incoming class since 2018 and the third largest in the University’s 170-year history. 

Enrollment is bolstered by Butler’s new Nursing program, which welcomes 46 students in its inaugural cohort. In addition to the 1,246 students joining Butler’s traditional undergraduate student body, 67 students are enrolled in Founder’s College, Butler’s new two-year degree program designed to allow students to earn an associate’s degree with little-to-no out-of-pocket cost or debt. 

This year’s students represent the broadest geographic reach in Butler history, with 22 countries included in the class—the most ever. Hoosiers make up 56 percent of the class, while the remainder hail from 33 states and every continent except Antarctica. Notable growth came from Florida, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Ohio. 

“Butler’s growing momentum is reflected in the strength and size of this class,” Butler University President James Danko said. “These students are drawn to Butler because of the quality of our academic programs, the value of our degrees, and the supportive community they’ll find here. With new programs like Nursing and Founder’s College, and bold innovations on the horizon, Butler continues to prepare students for successful and meaningful lives while positioning the University for long-term growth.” 

The incoming class is academically accomplished, with an average GPA of 3.90. Twenty-nine students graduated as valedictorians of their high schools, 33 are recipients of the prestigious Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship, and 99 are participants in Indiana’s 21st Century Scholars program, many of whom are first-generation college students. 

Health Sciences, Finance, Biology, Psychology, and Exploratory Business are the most popular majors in this year’s class. 

Earlier this month, Butler announced additional academic innovations, including the launch of an Engineering program in 2026 and a global immersion degree program in 2027 that will enable students to earn a bachelor’s degree in three years while studying in eight countries across six continents. 

“The challenges facing higher education are well documented, and enrollment is declining at many colleges and universities in the face of those challenges,” Lori Greene, Butler’s Vice President for Enrollment Management, said. “But Butler has made several strategic investments in recent years that have positioned us well for future growth. Butler is thriving, and with new programs launching in the next couple of years, there’s no reason we can’t sustain this momentum for many years to come.” 

Classes begin at Butler on Wednesday, August 27, 2025.