August 24, 2026
Dear Felician Community,
I would like to extend a warm and heartfelt welcome to everyone returning to Felician University and to those joining our community for the first time. As we begin a new academic year, I am filled with gratitude for all that we have accomplished together and excitement for the opportunities that lie ahead.
This past year was truly a year of transformation for Felician. Across our campuses, we launched new academic programs, strengthened partnerships, expanded opportunities for students, celebrated the success of our Summer Academy, and continued to grow our impact throughout the communities we serve. We are also preparing to welcome one of the largest incoming classes in our history, with strong enrollment growth and an increasingly vibrant residential campus experience. Our community continues to grow not only in numbers, but in energy, engagement, and purpose.
These achievements are a direct reflection of the dedication and hard work of our faculty, staff, administrators, supporters and students. As we enter the second year of our three-year strategic plan, we are building upon a strong foundation designed to drive enrollment, innovation, academic excellence, student success, and meaningful relationships. We remain committed to creating technology-driven and experiential learning opportunities for our students while ensuring that a Felician education remains affordable and accessible. One example is our new partnership with Cengage, which helps reduce the cost of course materials and provides students with easier access to the resources they need to succeed.
Transformation is rarely easy. Growth requires change and change often brings challenges. Yet time and again, the Felician community demonstrates resilience, creativity, collaboration, and perseverance. When obstacles arise, we innovate. When circumstances shift, we adapt. And through it all, we remain focused on our mission and the success of our students.
This year also marks an important milestone as we begin preparations for our Middle States reaffirmation process, culminating with our site visit in Fall 2027. More than a compliance exercise, this ten-year review offers a valuable opportunity for institutional reflection and self-assessment. It is a chance for our entire community to examine our strengths, identify opportunities for improvement, and a recommitment to the mission, values, and promises that define the Felician experience.
As we look to the future, we remain mindful of our Franciscan roots and the generations who helped build this institution. The world around us continues to evolve, and our country has experienced significant demographic, cultural, and social change. Throughout our history, Felician has remained responsive to the needs of the communities we serve, embracing diversity, expanding opportunity, and creating an environment where all students can thrive. That commitment remains as strong today as ever.
Thank you for all that you do to make Felician a place of belonging, discovery, and transformation. Together, we will continue to build on our momentum, embrace new opportunities, and create an even stronger future for our university and our students.
Welcome back, and best wishes for a successful and rewarding academic year.
Grace and peace,
Mildred Mihlon, PhD.
President
Felician University
Jun 17, 2026
Context on Forbes 2026 College Financial Grades
Dear Felician Community,
You may have seen that Forbes recently released its 2026 College Financial Grades, including Felician University’s rating. I want to provide some important context to help interpret these results.
While the ranking may raise questions, it is important to recognize that Forbes’ analysis does not fully reflect the overall strength or trajectory of our university. Notably, 27% of institutions included in the report received the same grade as Felician, which suggests limitations in the methodology used.
The Forbes framework relies heavily on traditional financial indicators, particularly accumulated wealth and endowment size. While these metrics offer one perspective, they present a narrow view of institutional health and do not adequately account for differences in mission, student population, or strategic priorities. This is especially relevant for universities like Felician that are deeply committed to access, affordability, and upward mobility.
Our model prioritizes reinvestment in our students—through financial aid, academic support, and career-focused programming—rather than the accumulation of wealth. That approach is delivering meaningful results: enrollment has increased by 22% over the past three years while maintaining the same student profile, and our graduates continue to demonstrate strong career outcomes.
This context underscores a broader reality in higher education: institutions serving high-need populations require sustained and intentional investment to drive success. Felician’s strategy reflects a values-driven commitment to student opportunity, long-term growth, and mission-centered impact.
We remain confident in our direction and in the measurable outcomes we are achieving together for our students.
Thank you for your continued dedication to our mission.
Mildred A. Mihlon, PhD
President, Felician University
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