CCU Enrollment Surpasses 8,000; Records Set in Both Colleges
Colorado Christian University's total student enrollment reached 8,156 students this year — a record-breaking milestone in enrollment for the University. This includes 1,343 traditional undergraduate students in the College of Undergraduate Studies, as well as 5,599 adult undergraduate students and 1,214 graduate students in the College of Adult and Graduate Studies. This is also the first year that CCU's graduate program enrollment has surpassed 1,000 students.
These figures continue an eight-year trend in setting new enrollment records each fall semester, and reflect a 69% overall growth rate in University enrollment over the last five years.
This surge in student enrollment hasn't gone unnoticed by outside sources. In August of this year, The Chronicle of Higher Education ranked CCU as the seventh fastest-growing private nonprofit master's institution in the nation; these results were published in The Almanac of Higher Education 2017-2018 - an annual publication printed by The Chronicle of Higher Education.
Simultaneously, the University's academic programs have climbed the national ranks, with CCU's core curriculum ranked in the top two percent of colleges nationwide for six years in a row by the American Council of Trustees and Alumni (ACTA).
According to Jim McCormick, vice president for student life and enrollment in the College of Undergraduate Studies, retention is the key factor for overall enrollment. "This year our retention rate for freshmen and sophomore students was 78%, compared to the national average of 75%," said McCormick. "Students are choosing to stay at CCU because they don't want to be just a number in college; they want a Christian community that's real and authentic. The community is ultimately what keeps them here."
"Growth at CCU means more students are volunteering in the community, more students are participating in local ministries and mission trips around the world, and more students are impacting their spheres of influence." He continued, "As a result, CCU's outreach has grown exponentially, in the workplace, at churches, and in the community."
Additionally, CCU's College of Adult and Graduate Studies offers degree programs that are tailored to the unique needs of adult learners. Flexibility is the main reason why the College of Adult and Graduate Studies offers online education. Thousands of adult students have earned accredited degrees from CCU without ever setting foot on campus by completing one of the 50 degree programs that are offered 100% online.
Allison Sievers, the vice president of enrollment in CCU's College of Adult and Graduate Studies, believes that CCU's distinct mission is driving the enrollment growth among adult students by more than 80% in the last five years. "First and foremost, God is blessing the University. It is clear that in our effort to be student-centric and kingdom-minded, the true integration of faith in everything we do - not just in our curriculum, but in our identity as a university - has attracted students across the nation," shared Sievers.
"Our mission is to share Christian education with adults around the world. We want to reach students where they are at in life," said Sievers. "Our students are raising families, working full time, and even actively serving in our armed forces. The flexibility in our programs allows them to do something they might not have otherwise been able to do - finish their degree."
The sustained growth across the University continues to be the driving force behind CCU's campus redevelopment campaign, which began in 2012. After the completion of Leprino Hall (the first new academic building), Yetter Hall (the first new residential building), and the Anschutz Student Center, several additional construction projects are in the planning stages. These will provide immediate support in both academic and residential space to accommodate our continued enrollment growth.
For more information about CCU's campus redevelopment campaign, visit the campaign website.