incoming college freshmen hear stories about the freshman 15, gaining 15 pounds during one's freshman year of college. data from studies show that around 17% of college freshmen gain 15 pounds. a small liberal arts college touts that its healthy living initiatives result in a smaller proportion of its freshmen college students gaining 15 pounds. a sample of 200 college freshmen are taken, and 4% are found to have gained 15 pounds after their freshman year.