SPRINGFIELD, Mo., August 14, 2026 – As another new academic year dawns, Drury University welcomes 459 new students to campus to kick off its 154th year. With Day School classes officially beginning on Tuesday, Aug. 18, this year’s incoming class is composed of 382 freshmen and 67 transfer students. The first-year student total includes 51 international students, with students hailing from 26 states and 29 different countries.
“I am so excited about this class,” Dr. Kevin Kropf, Executive Vice President of Enrollment Management & Drury GO, said. “They are smart, talented, diverse, and they are going to do great things. The Drury Springfield Promise continues to bring in some of the best local students. They are choosing Drury for the exceptional outcomes of our graduates and the engaging student experience.”
While the new student figure represents a slight decrease from last fall’s decade-best number of 484 new students, the 2026 first-year class is well ahead of Drury’s six-year (2020-25) rolling average of 438 new students.
As part of the incoming class, 170 students are entering Drury on the Drury Springfield Promise, which reinforces Drury’s commitment to the Greater Springfield region. Designed to make a Drury education more affordable for bright students regardless of their financial situation, the Drury Springfield Promise provides additional resources to students within the greater Springfield area.
Service Plunge, Pantherpalozza set for Monday
The fall semester commences with Drury’s annual Service Plunge on Monday, Aug. 17, from 8:30-11 a.m. The Student Activities Fair and Pantherpalooza take place that same evening on the Kellogg Green and Drury Lane, respectively.
Service Plunge locations:
Service Plunge not only provides a platform for students to give back but also encourages lasting relationships between the university and surrounding community organizations. Through hands-on volunteering experiences, students gain valuable insights, develop teamwork skills and create memories that last a lifetime.
Drury has been at the forefront of higher education for over a century-and-a-half, providing students with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed. Founded in 1873 as the first higher educational institute in Springfield, Drury has grown from a small school with just a handful of students to a thriving university with a dynamic student body and a broad range of academic programs.
Current enrollment numbers are tentative. Official numbers will be available in September once the university census is complete.
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Media Contact: Cris Belvin, Director of University Communications & Media Relations | (417) 873-7392 | gbelvin@drury.edu