Press Kit

INTRODUCTION

• At High Point University, every student receives an extraordinary education in an inspiring environment with caring people.
• Founded in 1924, HPU is a 96-year-old liberal arts institution located in the Piedmont Triad region of North Carolina.
• “America’s Best Colleges” 2020 Edition, published in the U.S. News & World Report, ranks HPU No. 1 among all regional colleges in the South (the eighth consecutive year at No. 1). It also ranks HPU for the fifth consecutive year as the No. 1 Most Innovative Regional College in the South for innovative improvements in terms of curriculum, faculty, students, campus life, technology or facilities. In addition, HPU is ranked No. 1 for Best Undergraduate Teaching in the South. HPU was also recognized by U.S. News & World Report for Best First-Year Experiences and Best Value.

UNIVERSITY GROWTH

	2005	2019	Growth
Undergraduate Enrollment (Traditional Students)	1,450	4,600	217%
Fulltime Faculty	108	330	206%
Campus Size (acres)	91	500	449%
Square Footage	650,000	3.5 million	438%
Buildings on Campus (new and acquired)	28	122	336%
Total Positions	385	1,765	359%
Economic Impact	$160.3 million	$765 million	377%
Operating and Capital Budget	$41 million	$260 million	534%
United Way Giving	$28,000	$251,700	799%
Study Abroad Programs	5	81	1,520%

• HPU was selected as a “Colleges of Distinction” for the ninth consecutive year. It was selected due to distinction in four major categories: engaged students, great teaching, vibrant communities and successful outcomes. HPU also earned Fields of Study distinctions for Career Development, the Philips School of Business and the Stout School of Education. These acknowledgements are available to schools with first-rate programs and recognized professional accreditations.
• High Point University has been named one of the nation’s top institutions for undergraduate education by The Princeton Review. HPU is recognized in “The Best 386 Colleges: 2021 Edition” for its academic programming, as well as positive survey responses and feedback from students, parents, and higher education leaders across the country.
• In addition to including HPU in the “The Best 386 Colleges,” the Princeton Review rankings also name HPU as No. 1 Best Dorms in the Nation, Best Southeastern Colleges “2021 Best Colleges: Region by Region” list. HPU was recognized as a Great School for Business Majors and a Great School for Communication Majors. HPU was also recognized for Best College Dorms (No. 1), Most Beautiful Campus (No. 9), Best Career Services (No. 19) and Most Active Student Government (No. 19).
• Along with the impressive academic and career development rankings, the HPU campus has received many rankings. Niche.com ranks HPU’s residence halls as the No. 1 Best College Dorms in the nation, while Affordable Schools ranks HPU’s residence halls No. 1 in “30 Most Inviting Yet Affordable College Dorms in America” and No. 22 among the “30 Most Attractive Yet Affordable College Campuses.” College Consensus ranks HPU No. 15 in the nation for Best Campus Recreation Centers and No. 22 in the nation for Best College Dorms.
• For the third year in a row, Niche.com has ranked HPU’s dorms the best in the nation.
• Since 2005, HPU has invested a total of $2.1 billion in transforming the campus and culture. In addition to new technology and facilities, this includes dozens upon dozens of study abroad opportunities, service learning programs, academic development, student life and experiential learning and programs.
• In fall 2019, HPU President Nido Qubein announced another $1 billion growth plan to take place over the next decade. The growth plan includes another 10-year commitment from Qubein to serve as HPU president, $700 million investment in scholarships and $300 million investment in construction, including a new library, academic building and admissions center.
• Since 2005, HPU has grown from three academic schools to nine academic schools – the David Hayworth College of Arts and Sciences; the Phillips School of Business; the Nido R. Qubein School of Communication; the Stout School of Education; the School of Art and Design; the Wanek School of Natural Sciences; the Fred Wilson School of Pharmacy; the Congdon School of Health Sciences; and the Webb School of Engineering.
• HPU has 60 undergraduate majors, 63 undergraduate minors and 14 graduate degree programs.
• HPU has a total of 5,600 students – the largest total enrollment in HPU’s history. 96% of the traditional undergraduate students live on campus.
• Each year, HPU provides an annual $40 million in scholarships and financial assistance to students.
• The Caine Conservatory opened in the spring of 2020 to support botanical research and the growth of HPU’s arboretum and gardens. The facility also includes HPU’s newest eatery, the Butterfly Café.
• The $120 million Nido and Mariana Qubein Arena and Conference Center, and the adjoining Jana and Ken Kahn Hotel, is currently under construction. The facilities will be home to the men’s and women’s basketball programs, major events and support a proposed hospitality management program.
• In fall 2019, the $65 million, four-story, 128-000-square-foot Wanek School of Natural Sciences opened as the new home for students studying chemistry, biology, physics, neuroscience and biochemistry. This state-of-the-art facility houses a variety of innovative spaces including labs, collaborative areas, an insectary, cadaver lab, the Culp Planetarium and a makerspace. The Wanek School of Natural Sciences is named in honor of Todd Wanek, the CEO of Ashley Furniture, and Karen Wanek, the president of Superior Fresh.
• HPU’s Innovation Corridor came to fruition in 2019 and represents a $250 million investment in STEM majors and programs. The corridor is anchored by the Wanek School of Natural Sciences and is also home to the Webb School of Engineering, the Caine Conservatory, and Congdon Hall, which houses the Congdon School of Health Sciences and the Fred Wilson School of Pharmacy. Inside these incredible facilities is a wealth of faculty conducting grant-funded research on stars, stem cells and antibiotic resistant bacteria. They guide students who will one day fill a variety of health care provider or research roles — doctors, dentists, veterinarians and more. The corridor is also lined with sculptures of history’s greatest inventors, including Albert Einstein, Maya Angelou, Marie Skłodowska Curie, Sir Isaac Newton and Sally Ride.
• Couch Hall, named in honor of David Couch, underwent a total renovation in 2019 to serve as the home of the Webb School of Engineering. The Webb School of Engineering is named in honor of HPU parents Mark (a 1983 HPU alumnus) and Jerri Webb of Charlotte. It houses HPU’s existing computer science major and newly established majors in computer engineering and electrical engineering. A concentration in cybersecurity is also available.
• HPU began its first-ever doctoral degree program in 2012 after receiving approval from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) for the Educational Leadership (Ed.D.) program. The first Ed.D. class graduated in 2016. The university has since launched doctoral programs in physician assistant studies, which graduated its first class in 2017, in addition to pharmacy and physical therapy, which awarded the first degrees to graduates in 2020.
• HPU’s Fred Wilson School of Pharmacy became the only pharmacy school in the Piedmont Triad Region in fall 2016 when the inaugural class of doctoral students were welcomed to campus.
• The Congdon School of Health Sciences launched a new physician assistant program in 2015 and a new physical therapy doctoral program in 2017. It also houses undergraduate and graduate programs in exercise science and athletic training.
• In fall 2017, HPU opened the new Congdon Hall, a four-story, 224,000-square-foot complex to house the Congdon School of Health Sciences and the Fred Wilson School of Pharmacy. The facility offers advanced research facilities and lab space that rival the best in the nation, including a human biomechanics and physiology lab, biomedical research facilities, a gross anatomy lab, standardized client space, medical simulation labs and more.
• HPU has hired 222 new, full-time faculty members since 2005 and now has 330 faculty members total.
• Without a formal campaign, High Point University has raised more than $400 million since 2005.
• Parents of HPU students committed $22 million to finance the cost of Cottrell Hall, home of the Flanagan Center for Student Success, which opened in fall 2015. The two-story, 43,000-square-foot, LEED-certified building is a central hub of activity for students preparing for job interviews, seeking career and graduate school opportunities and looking for ways to diversify their career skills. The facility houses the Dwyer Office of Career and Professional Development, the Norelli Office of Global Education, the Harris Sales Center, the Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Works, the Success Coach Program and the Belk Entrepreneurship Center, all in one central location.
• HPU students, faculty and staff contribute 110,000 volunteer hours each year. Those hours translate into an impact of $2.4 million in the community, according to the United Way’s calculations.
• During the COVID-19 pandemic, HPU supported the local community in numerous ways. While the university donated $251,700 to the annual 2019 United Way of Greater High Point campaign, HPU also made an additional, one-time, $50,000 donation to the United Way’s Emergency Fund. HPU donated personal protective equipment to emergency workers, including more than 14,000 masks, isolation gowns, shoe covers, surgical scrub brushes, alcohol prep and 49,000 nonsterile gloves. And, through the HPU Cares Fund, the university also donated 14,000 bottles of water, 5,000 ponchos and 4,000 meals to local organizations.
• The university attracts 100,000 visitors to the city each year through prospective student tours, family and alumni weekends, athletic events, cultural enrichment productions in art, dance, theatre, music and presentations from world-renowned speakers.
• HPU is a member of NCAA Division I athletics and has 16 varsity sports – eight men’s and eight women’s.
• HPU has been designated as a Tree Campus USA by the North Carolina Division of Forest Resources for 11 consecutive years. The designation is given to college campuses for promoting healthy urban forest management and engaging the campus community in environmental stewardship. HPU is one of four in the state to have been honored by the Arbor Day Foundation for 10 or more years.
• HPU’s 2019 United Way Commitment reached $251,700 a 799% increase since 2005. The university has received the Spirit of North Carolina award from the United Way for these efforts eight times. HPU remains one of the top five contributors to the annual UW campaign.
• Through HPU’s Access to Innovators Series, students discover the art of the possible by learning from global leaders. No longer is Steve Wozniak, who serves as HPU’s Innovator in Residence, the genius behind Apple Computer. He’s also a mentor and friend to students. No longer is Marc Randolph, who serves as HPU’s Entrepreneur in Residence, one of the masterminds behind Netflix. He also helps students who want to launch their own business. Students learn from these leaders and others that they, too, can accomplish great things. To see a full list of HPU’s In-Residence faculty, visit highpoint.edu/innovators
• Mentorship matters at High Point University. Students are paired with success coaches, career advisors and faculty mentors to collaborate on impactful research. They also learn from top industry leaders in their classrooms, such as Joe Michaels, who directed the TODAY show for 22 years before joining HPU’s faculty.