Record Enrollment in Christian Universities in Indiana

Christian schools in Indiana continue to attract an increasing number of students, with record enrollment several years in a row.

Unlike the declines faced by several state schools this year, private universities such as Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU) and Anderson University continue to enjoy high enrollment. The 2005-2006 school year is the ninth year in a row in which Anderson University has had record institutional enrollment; for IWU, this is the 18th consecutive year.

Officials attribute the trend to the friendly environment and Christian-based education offered by the universities.

Anderson University’s Enrollment Management and Information Systems Vice President Dr. Michael Collette commented, “The University has developed a reputation for academic rigor, a learning-living environment which is founded in academic and Christian discovery, and an institutional image commensurate to the strength of academic programs for which it has received national and regional distinction.”

The university was recently named one of the top universities in the Midwest by the U.S. News and World Report. Established in 1917 by the Church of God, Anderson University enrolled about 2,800 undergraduate and graduate students this year.

Both Dr. Collette and Dr. James L. Edwards, President of Anderson University, agree that the school’s high-quality education and Christian faith perspective are what draws students and their families to the university.

“Managed growth continues to be our strategy as we strengthen quality and widen outreach,” said Dr. Edwards.

IWU’s main campus in Marion expects a record number of about 2,900 students when classes begin on Sept. 6. The university is also recently acquired property to open two more regional campuses, one in Merrillville, Indiana, and one in Lexington, Kentucky, adding to the 10 regional campuses already in place in Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky.