Concordia University System enrollment hits new record high
Faith-based institutions offer quality, Christian education
ST. LOUIS—December 9, 2011—The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod’s Concordia University System fall enrollment at its 10 colleges and universities nationwide hit a new record high.
Fall enrollment at the colleges and universities this year is 28,421 -- an increase of 967 graduate and undergraduate students, or 3.5 percent, over last year. This marks the 19th consecutive year that Concordia University System (CUS) enrollment has grown.
The total number of graduate students grew by 3 percent -- from 12,565 last year to 12,909 this year, an increase of 344 students. Undergraduate enrollment also climbed -- from 14,889 to 15,512, a gain of 623 students, or 4 percent.
“This is a clear indication of the value people place on a faith-based education,” said the Rev. Dr. William Meyer, director of development for CUS. “CUS schools offer a Christian, Lutheran, high-quality education that is widely respected. As the gap in tuition between public and private universities is closing – owing to decreased government funding for public universities – more and more students are choosing a faith-based institution over a secular one because they know they're going to get a quality education with an ethical, spiritual bonus.”
Eight of the 10 CUS schools saw increases in enrollment. Leading the pack is Concordia University in Portland, Ore., with a gain of 395 students, or 19 percent, for a total student body of 2,509.
This fall's enrollments -- including both graduate and undergraduate students -- at individual CUS schools are as follows:
- Concordia University, Ann Arbor, Mich. -- 711 (an increase of 43 students, or 6 percent, over fall 2010).
- Concordia University Texas, Austin, Texas -- 2,658 (up 85, or 3 percent).
- Concordia College, Bronxville, N.Y. -- 825 (up 48, or 6 percent).
- Concordia University, Irvine, Calif. -- 3,251 (up 282, or 9 percent).
- Concordia University Wisconsin, Mequon, Wis. -- 7,618 (up 133, or 2 percent).
- Concordia University, Portland, Ore. -- 2,509 (up 395, or 19 percent).
- Concordia University Chicago, River Forest, Ill. -- 5,134 (down 89, or 2 percent).
- Concordia College, Selma, Ala. -- 719 (up 62, or 9 percent).
- Concordia University, St. Paul, Minn. -- 2,800 (down 42, or 1 percent).
- Concordia University Nebraska, Seward, Neb. -- 2,196 (up 50, or 2 percent).
For more information about LCMS colleges and universities, visit www.lcms.org/cus.
About The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS), is a mission-oriented, Bible-based, confessional Christian denomination headquartered in St. Louis, Mo. Founded in 1847, the LCMS has more than 2.3 million baptized members in some 6,200 congregations and more than 9,000 pastors. Two seminaries and 10 colleges and universities operate under the auspices of the LCMS, and its congregations operate the largest Protestant parochial school system in America. The church broadcasts the saving message of Jesus Christ over KFUO Radio, and it has relationships and active mission work in 89 countries around the world. In the last five years, the LCMS has awarded more than $35 million through more than 900 domestic and international grants for emergency response and disaster relief. Today, the LCMS is in full doctrinal fellowship with 33 other confessional Lutheran church bodies worldwide and is a founding partner of Lutheran Services in America, a social ministry organization serving one in every 50 Americans. For more information, visit www.lcms.org.
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