American Student Statistics

Dr. Steve Henderson, President of Christian Consulting for Colleges and Ministries, Inc., recently conducted a survey in order to assess the “religious commitment” in college students in the U.S.  The sample size was over 16,000 students, leaving very little margin for error.  And sadly, in these statistics, we see Christian values rapidly disappearing from the upcoming generation of leaders.  Some staggering pertinent findings are summarized as follows:

Each year 375,000 “Christian” students enter college as freshmen. Of that number, 15% (56,250 students) will choose to attend a Christian college and, after four years of receiving a Christian education, will report positive growth in their faith. However, the 85% (318,750 students) who choose to attend a secular institution will greatly decline in or completely lose their religious commitment. In fact, 52% (165,750 students) will no longer even claim to be “born again,” nor will they have attended any religious service for the last twelve months by the time they graduate from college. The single largest stated reason that so many students choose secular colleges over Christian institutions is “cost.”

For too many students, the decision about where to attend school is practically made for them because their (state-subsidized) in-state tuition is all they can afford.   And while they are attending those schools, 85% of their professors teach them relativism as opposed to Truth being embodied in Christ.  And, of course, humanism is simply a presupposition.

Furthermore, Dr. Henderson, after his in-depth studies, stated that most people’s lasting life philosophies which will affect their adult choices are shaped permanently in the institution of higher learning they attend.
So our committment is to make it possible for young people who are interested in a fully integrated college experience and in going about their education in a biblical way—first faith, then character, then knowledge—to be able to attend Ecclesia College, whether or not they have the means.   The EC Scholarship Committee speaks to parents, pastors and students to find deserving, grateful recipients of the scholarships available for a faith and character based education.
Scholarship recipients and amounts awarded are determined by the following criteria:

* The student’s FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) information
* The student’s pastor’s reference
* The student’s interview with the scholarship committee.

It takes $8,850 to fully scholarship the tuition of one student for one year. All donations designated for one of Ecclesia College’s scholarship funds will be used for students who might otherwise be forced to attend secular colleges for financial reasons.

We intentionally make each student aware that the bulk of his or her education is not “free,” but that their scholarship was earned and paid for by someone, so it will be properly valued by them.  In fact EC students enjoy writing personal notes of thanks to the EC Scholarship Committee, which are then confidentially forwarded, on their behalf, to scholarship fund donors.

For information about making a gift to the scholarship fund of Ecclesia College, or for information on establishing a scholarship fund in someone’s name, please contact Mike Novak at development@ecollege.edu or call the Advancement Office at (479) 248.7236.