Largest freshman class ever for Coastal Carolina University. Here’s why it matters

Coastal Carolina University just hit a record for the largest freshman class to date, since the opening of the campus nearly 68 years ago.

Amanda Craddock, the associate provost for enrollment management, said that the university received a 10% increase in first-year applications from the previous year. The number of freshmen has increased from about 2,500 last year to 2,700 this year.

One reason for this increase is word of mouth.

“Our students are telling us one of the top reasons why they applied to the university was connections they had with current students,” Craddock said.

However, this year’s influx of freshman students has left Coastal Carolina in a housing deficit.

The university has a contract with a Myrtle Beach hotel and a Conway apartment complex to accommodate senior students temporarily, according to Craddock. Freshmen are required to live on campus during their first year of college.

One agreement is with The Pier in Conway, located off of S.C. Highway 544, which is primarily for off campus student housing. The other is with a Sheraton hotel in Myrtle Beach.

Both locations will be shuttling students to and from the campus so they can get to their classes.

“We really wanted our first-year students to have the on-campus experience,” Craddock said.

The last time Coastal Carolina University has utilized temporary housing was in 2010, according to Craddock.

Coastal Carolina University is located in Conway, South Carolina and is close to Myrtle Beach, a major tourist destination with one of the fastest-growing resident populations in the country.

Ultimately, Conway officials say that growth is positive and directly correlates to the business community.

Devin Parks, director of development for Conway Chamber of Commerce, said the growth was pretty evident, pointing out that a new Chipotle, two hotels, and a new Marco’s Pizza have opened in the area in recent months.

“That’s always a plus, anytime we can spur any kind of commerce. I would say it’s overall a positive impact,” Devin Parks, director of development for the Conway Chamber of Commerce.

However, a growing population of students could present challenges for the local community. Morning traffic, housing prices and commercial space could all be affected by a record number of students moving into the area.

“It presents some opportunities to really take a closer look at our infrastructure and plan accordingly moving forward,” Parks said.