I know Lynn University pretty well, after visiting twice and interviewing Stefano Papaleo, executive director of admission, in March 2025. This March, I met with Levi Bowen, senior assistant director of admission, and learned what’s new on campus.

A growing campus

Lynn welcomed 1,250 into its largest freshman class this year, bringing the total undergraduate population to over 3,550—a 14 percent increase since 2018.

New places to live

To accommodate this growth, Lynn has two recent additions to on-campus housing. Banyan Residence Hall for sophomores opened this year, and Capstone Apartments for upperclassmen and graduate students opened in 2022, adding nearly 630 beds to campus. Banyan has two-bedroom suites with two bathrooms, a kitchenette, and a living area, and similar four-bedroom suites with two bathrooms. Capstone has two- and four-bedroom apartments. Both buildings feature communal living spaces, a classroom, and outdoor areas. Lynn is also building a new stadium for baseball and softball.

Dining that ranks

Unlimited meal plans must be purchased unless you’re living in Capstone, which features in-apartment kitchens. Niche recently ranked Lynn’s dining service as number two in Florida and number 22 in the nation. Unlimited meal plans mean you don’t have to worry about counting swipes or dining dollars.

From iPads to MacBooks

An Apple Distinguished School, Lynn has given students an iPad and pencil to use and keep throughout your four years and beyond. (You have to return it if you leave before graduating.) Next year, instead of iPads, Lynn will give each student a MacBook laptop. They believe (rightly so) that the MacBook may be easier to use than the iPads. (I have an iPad that I never use; I always take my MacBook Air with me to colleges and conferences.)

Block scheduling

Lynn went to block scheduling during covid and with the students’ input, decided to keep it. With block scheduling, students take one course for four weeks, four classes in a 16-week semester. It’s possible to double up on a block if you want to have five courses in a semester. I covered Lynn’s block scheduling last year. You can read about it here.

Areas of study

Lynn offers programs in aeronautics, arts and sciences, business and management, communication and design, conservatory of music, and education. Most programs can be accelerated to earn a bachelor’s and a master’s in four years. See the full list of majors and minors at lynn.edu/academics/areas-of-study.

Some programs that might surprise you:

• Drama B.F.A.
• Computer Animation B.F.A.
• Aviation Management B.S.
• Cybersecurity B.S.
• International Business Management B.S.
• Sports Management B.S.
• Wealth Management B.S.
• Multimedia Journalism B.A.
• Hospitality Management B.S.

New and updated programs

Lynn now offers a data analytics major. All the business courses incorporate ethical and effective use of AI into the curriculum. (Don’t use AI for your application essay. It’s easy to spot.) Businesses expect you to know how to use AI. As Levi Bowen told me, “AI won’t take over your job, but people who know how to use AI will.”

Marine biology is now available as a minor. That’s a natural for a campus that’s literally between the Atlantic Ocean (3 miles away) and the Everglades. The fashion merchandising major has been reworked, so now you major in fashion merchandising and design, taking classes in both the College of Business and Management and the College of Communication and Design.

A competitive pilot program

Over 800 applications came in for only 45 spots in the professional pilot program, a testament to its reputation and the draw of Lynn’s aeronautics offerings.

The music conservatory

Students must audition for the music conservatory, and only a few elite musicians will be selected. But if you are selected, your tuition is covered by generous donors. Bowen told me that one of the conservatory professors taught the professors at Juilliard.

Blueprint Rewards: getting paid to grow

To encourage students to build career-ready skills, Lynn established the Blueprint Rewards program. Lots of colleges give badges for earning certifications, but Lynn pays you to earn them. Lynn has six categories of participation skills that employers look for: leadership, accountability, problem-solving, growth mindset, collaboration, and adaptability. Each certification earns a $500 scholarship, which can be used toward the campus bookstore or study abroad. You can earn $1,000 a year, up to $6,750 total, that can help offset your expenses at Lynn.

Lynn is an innovative university committed to developing students who are ready to tackle the world.