news at welch college   Welch College in Gallatin, Tennessee, has been the official college of the Free Will Baptist Denomination since 1942. To find out more information about the school, visit www.Welch.edu.

College Announces Fall 2024 Enrollment

Welch College enrolled 399 students for the fall 2024 semester, similar to last fall’s enrollment of 393, according to Matthew McAffee, provost.

“We are so delighted to welcome this promising group of new students to Welch College,” McAffee said. “We pray the Lord will grant His richest blessings upon them as they pursue their vocational preparation for life and ministry.”

College officials reported 142 dormitory students (ten graduate students), 33 commuter students, 39 non-residential graduate students, 60 Adult Studies/Online students, and 125 dual enrollment students. Full-time equivalency (FTE) was 251 students. Total enrollment statistics indicate students from 25 states, one territory, and ten other countries.

“It’s such a wonderful thing seeing students back on campus,” Welch President Matt Pinson said. “We have a great group of committed students this year. Only one other year, 25 years ago, did Welch have as many other countries represented in the student body. On-campus enrollment is not quite as high as it was last year, but we’re holding steady and gradually building up after our enrollment took a plunge in the wake of COVID.”

“Also, ministry enrollment is up, with a larger number of pastoral ministry students in the freshman class,” Pinson added. “In a few more years, we project we’ll be back up to the 40-year record enrollment the college experienced the year before COVID.”

Welch College Ranked Among Best Regional Colleges–South

Welch College has been ranked first in social mobility and tenth overall among “Best Regional Colleges–South” in the 2025 edition of U.S. News and World Report’s Best Colleges, according to President Matt Pinson.

The social mobility ranking measures the percentage of students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds who go on to graduate. The Regional Colleges–South category comprises 96 other colleges and universities in the South.

“We’re excited that Welch has climbed to tenth overall and first in social mobility,” President Pinson said. “This shows students, parents, and alumni our commitment to academic excellence and that Welch’s academic program is competitive and has recognition in the academic community.”

The Best Regional Colleges category includes institutions that focus on teaching undergraduate students. These schools offer a range of degree programs in the liberal arts and in professional fields.

“Colleges go up and down in these rankings each year,” Pinson said. “When we first entered the rankings 14 years ago, we were ranked 52. In the past six years we’ve consistently reached the top 20. Our ranking this year at tenth is exciting.”

“To put our ranking in perspective,” Pinson said, “the other top ten institutions in our category have an average enrollment more than five times higher than Welch and an average endowment more than thirty times higher than Welch. We’re striving to be good stewards of the resources God has given us.”

Out of the 97 institutions in the Best Regional Colleges–South category, Welch received especially high marks in five strategic areas, ranking as follows:

• 1st in social mobility
  

• 2nd in graduation rate
  

• 2nd in student-faculty ratio
  

• 4th in ACT/SAT scores
  

• 5th lowest among private colleges in student debt after graduation

Divinity School Completes Third Year

Welch Divinity School recently completed its third year. The program began with six students in the Accelerated B.A. to M.Div. program and two M.Div. students during the 2021-2022 academic year. Entering the 2024-2025 academic year, the program celebrates twenty students in the program. The number accounts for graduations, departures, and new students in the program. As of May 3, 2024, three M.Div. students have graduated.

At Welch College, we understand the importance of being well-prepared for pastoral ministry. We believe a quality biblical-theological education is essential in equipping students to serve Christ, His Church, and His world. The Accelerated B.A. to M.Div. program is designed for students pursuing God’s call to Christian ministry and can be completed in five to six years. (This makes completion at least two years sooner than traditional M.Div. programs.) Faculty and administration are intentional about mentoring students. The average student to faculty ratio is 10:1. Furthermore, faculty often spend one-on-one time with students.

The school and students rely on your prayer and support. Please pray for current students as they navigate personal lives, academics, and spiritual growth. Ask God to continue sending students to Welch College and to provide the means for them to come.

If you know a potential student who might benefit from the Accelerated B.A. to M.Div. program or M.Div. degree, contact Dr. Martin Sheldon at msheldon@welch.edu or M.Div. recruiter Jacob Johnson at jacob.johnson@welch.edu.

FORUM25 Announced

Welch College will host the annual Forum25 conference March 9-11, 2025. Speakers will include Dr. Carl Hargrove, associate professor of Pastoral Ministries at The Master’s Seminary; Eliza Huie, director of counseling at McLean Bible Church in Vienna, Virginia; Nicolas Serrano, senior pastor of Grace Family Church in Rosaria, Argentina; Josh Baer, pastor of Cramerton FWB Church in Cramerton, North Carolina; and Welch Provost Dr. Matthew McAffee. Registration is open at Welch.edu/Forum25 for this free conference.