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Does it means he graduated or entered the College in 2001?

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The graduating class of 2001.

If it referred to the year he entered school (this can refer to US high schools as well as colleges), it would be "Entering class of 2001" or "Freshman class of 2001".

But nobody uses those forms for people who've graduated, or at all, really; unless they're trying to raise money.

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  • Didn't read this right the first time!
    – cornbread ninja 麵包忍者
    Commented May 19, 2012 at 22:29
  • Your answer is a bit confusing, nobody uses which forms? all above? including the graduating class?
    – Jader Dias
    Commented May 20, 2012 at 1:26
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    People don't usually refer to the incoming year as the Class of XYZ, only the graduating class. Sorry.
    – John Lawler
    Commented May 20, 2012 at 3:34
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    @Kris: I'm having trouble getting what you're saying, unless you're trying to make a joke, perhaps? The expression is widely used in the manner I indicated...
    – J.R.
    Commented May 20, 2012 at 19:42
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    @J.R. "But nobody uses those forms ... really; unless they're trying to raise money." (John Lawler, above). :-)
    – Kris
    Commented May 21, 2012 at 6:07
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No matter when your graduation is, in years ahead, now, or years ago, in the US, a member of the 'class of 2012' is someone who has, is now, or will graduate in the year 2012.

Americans born this year will likely graduate from a university in the 'class of 2034', the seniors graduating this weekend are in the 'class of 2012', and at 25 anniversary class reunion in a month is for 'the class of 1987', the year of their graduation. Incoming freshmen in the fall are 'class of 2016' (four year college).

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  • do you know what it is in the UK?
    – ODP
    Commented May 21, 2012 at 10:34
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I know that in Canada and the US it is the year of graduation. However, I think that in the UK it is the year one starts school.

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    No, in the UK, people don't normally say "class of" followed by a year. That seems to be just a North American thing.
    – Tristan r
    Commented Aug 11, 2014 at 19:24
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I believe there is room for additional meaning to the phrase.

Many people who came of age around 2001 can look at the world as pre-9/11 and post-9/11, referring of course to a pivotal moment in recent history.

From the 'Class of 2001' emerged many people awoken to an 'updated' worldview.

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