FLORIDA, MAN: New College reports record enrollment after conservative takeover.

New College of Florida welcomed its largest student body in the school’s history last week, three years after a conservative overhaul of the institution’s governing board.

This week, the Tallahassee Democrat reported that the public college surpassed its 1,000 enrollment goal for the 2026-2027 academic year.

Classes began Aug. 17 with 1,015 students – although “final official headcount won’t be determined until after a drop and add period for class registrations” in about two weeks, according to the report.

“New College is operating with exceptional momentum,” the college said in a statement to the newspaper. “Ultimately, this growth creates a more vibrant campus and positions New College students as a robust pipeline meeting both higher education and immediate workforce needs of the Sarasota community.”

A public liberal arts institution, New College never was a large school. However, those now leading the board have made enrollment expansion a goal.

Well done — and good luck going forward.