class year

In numerical terms, a class year is the year someone expects to graduate based on when they enrolled as a first-year student. For example, most people who enroll as a first-year undergraduate student in 2026 would be categorized in the class of 2030 (based on the standard assumption that they would graduate in four years).

In text, when telling someone’s class year, use all four digits for the year, and do not capitalize the word “class”:

• I’m proud to be a member of the class of 2030.

The term “class year” can also refer to how far a student has advanced toward their undergraduate degree, by year: first-year student, sophomore, junior or senior. Per AP, the term “freshman” is acceptable to describe a student in the first year of their undergraduate studies, but “first-year student” is preferred.