Enrollment increases at faith-based universities after COVID

By Cara Craton

Christian colleges across the country are experiencing higher enrollment numbers after the pandemic compared to their nonreligious counterparts.

According to statistics in Christianity Today, college enrollment overall has declined by about 15% since 2010. In contrast, religious schools have seen only a 3% decrease.

“From the time COVID started, I would say over a four-year period, the CCCU only closed two universities… And that’s a really important point, because what it tells us is that people really want Christian higher education,” said Amanda Staggenborg, vice president of communications for the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities.

Trevecca Nazarene University hit a record enrollment of 530 new students last fall, aligning with current trends among religious institutions.

According to the CCCU, a consortium of more than 170 schools including Trevecca, enrollment is up an average of 82% across member schools, compared to a 57% increase in public, nonreligious institutions.

Several universities faced enrollment challenges during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. But part of the rebound at Christian universities can be attributed to their emphasis on holistic education and service to others, said Staggenborg.

“One of the things about Trevecca that is so appealing to students is the fact that this is a genuine community that is focused on community and belonging. Students in this age group that we are recruiting are looking for a place to belong,” said Melinda Miller, Trevecca’s vice president of enrollment.

Publications such as the CCCU, Christianity Today, and Deseret News report that religious schools are attracting more new students than their public, nonreligious counterparts, not only due to community but also because many students are seeking moral and spiritual guidance.

Incoming freshman Paige Hunt said Trevecca met her criteria for degree options and safety, but what stood out most was the sense of community.

“I truly feel valued and seen, and I’m not even an official student yet,” said Hunt.

Trevecca’s value for its students isn’t only reflected in its

welcoming nature. The faculty also feels accessible — like you can grow with them instead of under them — said Lillian Black, an exercise science major.

Another factor that makes Trevecca appealing is the approach of the financial aid department, which works with each family to help cover the cost of college. Expenditure is a major concern for most families when selecting a school. Trevecca’s faculty has worked to make financial aid accessible to all students, increasing its attractiveness to prospective students, said Hunt.

“I originally thought Trevecca was not affordable but after looking at the prices of other schools that met my criteria I realized how affordable Trevecca was to me… They have also helped me so much by telling me about scholarships and grants that I am eligible for that I wasn’t even aware of. I’ve never talked to a financial aid staff that was so helpful and accessible,” said Hunt.

Staggenborg said these types of interactions are what make religious schools so appealing to post-COVID students.

“People are looking for a campus that does more than just the transactional, they’re looking for a value where their spirit is nourished and that their mind is nourished. And so again they’re looking for a holistic education,” said Staggenborg.