Thomas More University enrolled more than 2,400 students when its 2026-2027 academic year opened Aug. 17, the highest headcount in the Crestview Hills school's history.

The milestone marks a third straight year of enrollment growth for the university at 333 Thomas More Parkway. Total enrollment rose 6% over the prior year, when the school served more than 2,300 students, according to a university announcement published Tuesday, Sept. 8.

Graduate programs drove much of the surge. Full-time graduate enrollment jumped 44% year over year, with gains concentrated in the MBA, Master of Public Health and Master of Education programs. The growth reflects an expansion of graduate offerings under President Joseph L. Chillo, who has led the university since June 2019 and oversaw the construction of a new academic center during his tenure.

The incoming first-year undergraduate class also grew 6%. New students hail from 20 states and nine countries, with an average GPA of 3.75, the highest on record for an entering class at Thomas More.

The class includes 241 student-athletes, 58 graduates from Diocese of Covington and Archdiocese of Cincinnati high schools, and 32 Bishop Foys Ministry and Service Scholars.

"Record enrollment is more than a number … it is a powerful affirmation that students and families recognize the value of a Thomas More education," Chillo said in the announcement.

The university also said it was named the top college in Kentucky for salaries in the 2026 Wall Street Journal/College Pulse Best Colleges rankings, published Sept. 29, 2025.

Thomas More announced a new strategic plan called "Characteristics of a Saint," built on four pillars: Hospitality, Humility, Service and Stewardship. The framework will shape operations across the university's three colleges starting this academic year.