Alverno College Boosts Enrollment Through New Athletics
The Milwaukee institution grows its incoming class by 5 percent after a strategic pivot to sports recruitment.
Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in College Applications
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Alverno College in Milwaukee successfully increased its new student enrollment by 5 percent in 2026. This growth follows a targeted strategy to revitalize the campus by expanding athletic programs to attract new students.
Why it matters
The institution pursued this aggressive recruitment strategy to combat declining overall student numbers and ensure long-term financial stability. These efforts represent a significant shift for the college following a period of fiscal volatility.
The college saw a 60 percent increase in new undergraduate enrollment and a 75 percent rise in student athlete enrollment this year. These gains follow a restructuring that reduced the number of undergraduate majors from 43 to 29.
The players
Alverno College
This private, Catholic liberal arts college is located in Milwaukee and has recently undergone significant restructuring.
Christy Brown
She currently serves as the president of Alverno College and has overseen the institution's recent strategic changes.
Sendi Garcia
She was hired in July 2025 to lead the soccer program as part of the college's broader enrollment recruitment strategy.
Higher Learning Commission
This regional accreditation agency monitors the academic and financial health of post-secondary institutions.
The details
To facilitate this recovery, the college eliminated nearly 40 full and part-time faculty positions and hired a new soccer coach in July 2025 to lead recruitment efforts. The strategy specifically targeted student athletes to address the enrollment deficit.
Timeline
Overall enrollment peaked at 1,785 students in 2021.
Christy Brown began her tenure as president in July 2023.
The Higher Learning Commission designated the college in financial distress in June 2024.
The college had the financial distress designation removed in December 2024.
Sendi Garcia was hired as the soccer coach in July 2025.
Culture Shift
The college's recovery follows the removal of the Higher Learning Commission financial distress designation. This shift highlights a broader trend among small private colleges attempting to revitalize their student body through expanded extracurricular offerings.
Prospective students in the area may notice a wider range of athletic opportunities and shifts in available academic major options at the college. Families should verify current program offerings against the reduced list of 29 undergraduate majors before applying.
The takeaway
Institutions facing fiscal pressure often pivot their recruitment strategies toward high-engagement areas like collegiate sports. Students looking at such colleges should carefully research how recent faculty and major cuts align with their specific degree requirements.
Further reading
For more on local education trends, see College Applications in Milwaukee.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Urban Milwaukee.
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