Rockhurst Celebrates Outstanding Retention Rate, Freshman GPA
As the 2026-27 academic year continues in full swing, data about both new students and those returning is proving the power of the Rockhurst education.
The freshman class hail from 19 different states and 16 different countries, with almost as many from them hailing from outside of Missouri as those from Rockhurst’s home state. One other distinguishing feature is that they are among the highest-achieving classes of new Rockhurst students on record, with an incredible incoming freshman GPA of 3.83, which includes both weighted and unweighted GPAs.
“I hope these students take pride in being part of such an academically high-achieving group,” said Mark Steinlage, vice president for enrollment management. “I am honored to welcome them to campus, and I think this it also shows that Rockhurst’s rigorous, transformative Jesuit education is attracting some of the best and brightest high school seniors in the country.”
There’s more good news, this time for those returning. The eighth day census showed a fall 2025 to fall 2026 freshman retention rate of 87%, meaning nearly 90% of freshman who entered in fall 2025 re-enrolled for this semester. It’s Rockhurst’s highest retention mark since 2019 and indicates more students are succeeding in the classroom and finding support where needed in adjusting to college life.
