Record Growth in CCU Online Pushes Enrollments in College of Adult and Graduate Studies Past 7,000
Colorado Christian University’s College of Adult and Graduate Studies surpassed 7,000 enrollments for the first time in its history. The milestone comes on the heels of three years of explosive growth, highlighted by a 77 percent surge in graduate students since 2015.
“God’s blessings and provision are evident across Colorado Christian University as we seek to advance His kingdom through Christian higher education,” said Allison Sievers, vice president of enrollment for the College of Adult and Graduate Studies. “The comprehensive integration of faith, flexibility in scheduling, generous transfer credit policy, University reputation, robust online community, and academic excellence are vital to CCU’s online program and enrollment growth.”
The University, through CCU Online, offers more than 80 academic program options designed for adult learners that can be completed 100 percent online.
In 2018, more than 95 percent of students in the College of Adult and Graduate Studies took at least one class online, and more than 88 percent of students took classes exclusively online through CCU Online. The total number of students enrolled in online classes exceeded more than 6,700 as of August 2018, an increase of 57 percent since 2015.
“Through the exceptional work of our faculty and staff, CCU Online is meeting the educational needs of students not only from Colorado, but from around the nation and internationally,” Sievers said.
Students come from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and several foreign nations. Out-of-state and international students now make up nearly 55 percent of all enrollees.
“The ongoing expansion of academic programs tailored for adult students has helped fuel our substantial enrollment growth,” said Dr. Sarah Scherling, vice president of academic affairs for the College of Adult and Graduate Studies. “Each year, we introduce new academic programs to meet current job market demands, most recently in healthcare and computer science.”
While graduate program enrollment has seen the greatest percentage growth, undergraduate enrollment remains the largest segment of the College of Adult and Graduate Studies. The last three years have seen more than 38 percent growth in undergraduate enrollment, increasing from 4,118 students in 2015 to 5,690 students in 2018. The most popular programs are Nursing, Psychology, and Biblical Studies for undergraduate students and the Master in Arts in Counseling for graduate students.
Currently, more than 65 percent of students in CCU’s College of Adult and Graduate Studies students are between 25-45 years old.
“Adult students are often juggling their school work along with several other life responsibilities, such as full-time work, serving our nation in the military, raising families and actively participating in ministry work in their communities,” Sievers said. “Our enrollment counselors often hear from prospective students that they chose to attend CCU because they wanted to invest in a faith-based education that aligns with their professional goals and personal values.”