In Essex County: Local Universities Graduate Unusually Large Classes for 2015

Is the Essex County area producing more college graduates, or is 2015 simply a statistical anomaly?

Two local universities reported unusually large graduating classes for this year.

CALDWELL UNIVERSITY

Caldwell University celebrated its 73rd annual commencement Sunday, May 17, in the George R. Newman Center on campus.

According to a release, for the first time in the university’s history and due to growth, the school held two ceremonies, a graduate ceremony and an undergraduate ceremony, awarding approximately 380 students with undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees.

ESSEX COUNTY COLLEGE

Essex County College celebrated its 46th annual commencement on Friday, May 15, by awarding 1,505 graduates associates’ degrees in a variety of disciplines… the largest class in school history.

Graduates hailed from 17 different nations and ranged from 17 to 68-years-old, according to a release.

A record number of graduates – 42 percent – received their degrees in the STEM fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, and Nursing/Allied Health.

Photo courtesy of Caldwell University

Photo Caption: Caldwell University graduates attend a ceremony on May 17.

Send news tips and press releases to eric.kiefer@patch.com