It’s a challenging time for many universities and colleges. With enrolments declining nationwide, institutions are finding it increasingly difficult to increase the size of their student cohorts.
A number of faith-based colleges are bucking the trend - experiencing a spike in student growth and defying the data. This commitment to faith-based educational values at universities such as Rockhurst University Online provides opportunities for students to access faith-based learning while providing students with another educational pathway that suits their needs.
Let’s explore the data—why university enrolments are on the decline more broadly, why some faith-based institutions are experiencing growth, and why faith-based education is becoming an increasingly appealing option for students across America.
A New Enrolment Challenge
Higher education has faced substantial challenges in the last fifteen years - none more critical than a changing demographic. It’s important to recognize that most typical college students follow a fairly standard pathway - complete their senior year of high school, be admitted into college, and start higher education as they turn eighteen.
However, the last two decades have seen a drop in the birth rate - resulting in fewer babies and, therefore, fewer children in society. This has the effect of a demographic avalanche - a world with fewer students than before, and a wide range of college experiences on offer.
In recent years, data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) notes that from 2010 to 2021, there has been a fifteen percent decline in student enrolments across the United States. This means that there will be far fewer students than ever searching for educational opportunities in the years to come.
This presents a unique opportunity for students to choose where they want to study. As some would describe it, it’s a buyer’s market - where students who wish to pursue an education can review and pick a college that meets their unique needs and requirements.
Bucking The Trend
While many colleges have struggled to remain open, many faith-based colleges continue to enjoy increasing enrollments and, in some cases, are almost at capacity.
A recent report by The Cardinal Newman Society highlighted more than a dozen colleges and universities that have experienced substantial increases in their student cohorts in recent years. This spike in enrolments has seen student cohorts reach record levels in some instances - defying broader demographic trends and cementing faith-based institutions as a destination of choice.
For example, Benedictine College, based in Atchison, Kansas, recently registered an undergraduate enrolment of 2,256 students - and their second-largest ever freshman class. With undergraduate enrolment growing by twenty percent in the last decade, this faith-based college is bucking the trend that many other higher education institutions are facing.
Other faith-based colleges that have experienced substantial growth in the past decade include Wyoming Catholic College, located in Lander, Wyoming (30 percent growth in ten years), Christendom College in Front Royal, Virginia (40 percent growth in ten years), and John Paul the Great Catholic University in Escondido, California (68 percent growth in the last decade).
This trend isn’t just based in the United States, either. Faith-based colleges as far abroad as Spain and Austria have reported increased demand for their programs - highlighting that faith is often shared across geopolitical borders and geographical landscapes.
While some faith-based institutions have struggled, The Cardinal Newman Society’s report paints an optimistic forecast for faith-based education in the U.S. With many faith-based colleges experiencing increased demand, the future looks bright in troubling times.
Why is Faith-Based Education Valued?
Further education can offer a wide range of benefits for those who undertake it. Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics demonstrates just how wide the income gap can be, with recent data revealing that graduates with university qualifications such as a Bachelor’s degree typically enjoy significantly higher earnings than those who do not finish high school.
Over time, this earnings gap can dramatically widen, with the typical graduate with university qualifications enjoying lifetime earnings that are hundreds of thousands of dollars more than those who are unable to access or complete their education.
Faith, of course, is not about remuneration. So why is faith-based education so valued - and why is it growing?
Faith-based education offers a number of advantages to traditional college and university environments. In a world where some institutions have become accused of creating environments similar to a factory, faith-based education presents an alternative to simply getting qualified. By offering a holistic learning experience, focussing on learning, and embedding the lessons and knowledge gained from faith, students can learn how applying key lessons from faith can help bring the most out of their qualifications.
For many students, having an education that helps them to practice their faith can be crucial. Different universities offer different ways to celebrate faith - whether through the presence of ministries, opportunities to participate in retreats, or spaces that allow for reflection and prayer.
With a recent Gallup poll finding that some forty-five percent of Americans feel that religion is very important in their life, the presence of faith-based education is another way for those who find religion important to stay connected, even when away from home. This link to faith can help them stay connected - even as their circumstances change.
Faith in Challenging Times
For many people, finding faith in challenging times can be difficult. The world is a troubling place sometimes - but it’s important to remember that with every challenge comes opportunity.
As can be seen in the case of modern higher education, the perils of a changing demographic present, in some instances, existential challenges. By leaning into what they do best, faith-based institutions are demonstrating the values of their faith to make the best of a challenging time.
What does the future hold for faith-based education? While recent enrolment spikes hold immense promise for the longevity of these institutions, ultimately, their dedication to demonstrating their faith and their values may just help them survive.
For the students of today and tomorrow, that means that the next generation will retain access to faith-based institutions and may even have a greater selection of choices as they begin their journey toward skilled qualifications.
