Christian Universities See Record Enrollment

Three universities associated with the Christian Reformed Church have reported record numbers of enrollment for this school year. Below is a summary of the stories shared on the school’s websites.

Calvin University (Grand Rapids, Mich.)

Calvin University, the official university of the Christian Reformed Church in North America, has welcomed its largest incoming class in the past decade. The 1,200 students who began their studies at Calvin earlier this month hail from hundreds of high schools, dozens of U.S. states, and almost every continent.

For two years in a row, Calvin has experienced double-digit percentage growth. And for next year the university’s total enrollment is projected to rise significantly to about 3,600. 
 
“To see the growth over these past couple of years during a time when there are fewer high school graduates in our region is proof that what Calvin has to offer is in high demand,” said Lauren Jensen, vice president for enrollment strategy. “Students from around the corner and across the globe want a Christ-centered, academically excellent educational experience where they are known by their professors and peers. When students visit, they discover Calvin is just that place.” 

Calvin is also a place that continues to make improvements to benefit its students. The school recently opened up new community gathering spaces, new athletic facilities, and new campus pathways aimed toward enriching the student experience. 

Calvin’s incoming class also includes students at the Handlon Correctional Facility through the Calvin Prison Initiative program, online learners, students in the university’s Life and Career Studies program, and a growing graduate student and certificate-seeking population. In fact, the university’s graduate-level programming has quadrupled over the past six years and now offers 12 graduate programs either in-person or online and a number of certificate programs. 

Some noteworthy statistics: 

• largest first-year student group in seven years 
• second-largest transfer cohort over the past nine years 
• nearly 20 percent of first-year students are from outside the U.S. 
• nearly 20 percent are first-generation students
• number of students from Michigan and numerous states across the U.S. is growing 

Dordt University (Sioux Center, Iowa)

Dordt University was founded by Christian Reformed churches and has a close connection to congregations especially in the midwestern United States. Dordt reports that it has once again achieved record enrollment.

The institution’s overall enrollment for the fall 2024 semester is 1,943 – the largest in Dordt’s history, exceeding the fall 2023 record of 1,911.

This year’s enrollment broke other institutional records as well:

• total degree-seeking undergraduate enrollment of 1,581
• 460 first-time degree-seeking students

More than 1,600 full-time students enrolled this semester, and for the fourth year in a row Dordt has seen an increase in headcount and full-time equivalent (FTE) enrollment.

“Dordt’s record enrollment reflects the value students find in both the education and the community here,” said Greg Van Dyke, director of admissions. “It speaks to the meaningful connections they build with professors and peers, creating a supportive environment where academic rigor and personal growth go hand in hand.”

Registrar Jim Bos said that achieving record enrollment shows that Dordt “works hard to find students who fit the mission of the institution and who want a Christian education from a Reformed perspective.”

This is evidenced, said Bos, in Dordt’s freshman-to-sophomore retention rate of 84.7 percent this year, one of the best retention rates in Dordt’s history. This shows, he said, that Dordt recruits students “who fit. They feel comfortable and enjoy their Dordt experience enough to come back. This is very encouraging.”

Van Dyke added that students and families continue to connect with Dordt’s commitment to the institutional mission as a Christian college: “They seek a truly Christian environment where they are both challenged and encouraged in their faith, and I think they find that here at Dordt.”

Dordt’s six-year graduation rate is 72.4 percent, one of the institution’s highest-ever graduation rates.

 “We have academic programs that interest them, and we have a vibrant campus community that encourages them. And most graduate on time and then go out to serve God’s kingdom,” said Bos.

One interesting finding is that only 36 percent of Dordt students come from Iowa.

“While many Midwest private colleges primarily draw students from within a one- to two-hour radius, Dordt is different,” said Van Dyke. “This creates a truly residential campus where students stay on the weekends, and I believe that is a key reason why the sense of community at Dordt is so strong.”

Dordt alumni and students carry a joyful purpose in their lives because they reflect the love of Christ each day, explained Brandon Huisman, vice president for enrollment and marketing.

“As people see the good news of the gospel lived out, they’re drawn to the work the Lord is doing to shape students at Dordt University through our faculty and staff,” he said. “We are blessed to serve a record number of students again this year, and we embrace the responsibility of preparing them to be effective kingdom citizens.”

Some noteworthy statistics:

• 64 percent of Dordt students are not from Iowa
• of Dordt’s 185 international students, 104 are Canadian
• the top pre-professional programs at Dordt are pre-physical therapy, pre-medicine, and pre-veterinary.

Redeemer University (Ancaster, Ont.)

Redeemer University was founded by Christian Reformed churches and members in southern Ontario. This academic year, Redeemer is celebrating new records in total enrollment, incoming class size, full-time students, and students living on campus.

This year 1,094 students have enrolled, and 97 percent are full-time students. This is a 37 percent increase from the school’s enrollment five years ago. Redeemer has also welcomed 366 new students to campus, and this number includes both first-year students and transfer students.

Students from every Canadian province are attending Redeemer, along with 12 new international students. This year, in total, Redeemer has 40 international students from 33 countries including the United States, Nigeria, and Brazil. In addition, the university continues to welcome students from a wide variety of church backgrounds, including 46 denominations. Reformed churches continue to be the most common denominational affiliation, with nondenominational and Baptist churches having significant representation as well. 

Redeemer’s residence program saw incremental growth, with 556 students living on campus this year—adding slightly to last year’s record. Both first-year students and upper-year students benefit from living in Christian community in a variety of residence options.

More students are choosing to study within Redeemer’s unique Reformed Christian mission in response to expanded program offerings, tuition affordability, and strategic recruitment efforts, according to administrative staff. Last fall, Redeemer had its largest visit day ever, which concluded with a concert by internationally known worship band Rend Collective.

“It’s exciting to see the hallways, classrooms, and living spaces buzzing with students and energy,” said David Zietsma, Redeemer’s president. “Setting new records in total enrollment and new students reflects the desire for many families and young people to find purpose and meaning through their academic journey. We remain committed to discipling the next generation of students to share the love of Jesus Christ wherever he calls them.”

Christian Reformed churches also helped to start and support Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights, Ill., and The King’s University in Edmonton, Alta. News stories about enrollment at these schools is not presently available, however Nikolas Vander Kooy, the director of marketing for The King’s University said, “We're also very excited about our enrollment picture this year. It's our largest fall headcount since the start of the pandemic and we expect these numbers to grow even further by the winter semester.”

And Angie Fratto, director of marketing and communications at Trinity shared a link to this story for those who want to know what the beginning of this year has been like on campus.