At a time when many institutions are watering down their distinctives, Cedarville University is doing the opposite. They’re deepening their strategy — rooting it even more firmly in Scripture — and the results speak for themselves.
- Cedarville welcomed its largest freshman class ever this fall — a 15.6% increase over last year
- Undergraduate enrollment is at an all-time high
- Dual enrollment is up 61%, now serving more than 1,700 high school students
- Graduate programs have reached record enrollment, with 590 students across 30 offerings
- Total enrollment has climbed to 6,384 — a 17% increase in one year
This isn’t accidental growth. It results from a clear, differentiated strategy centered on mission fidelity and academic excellence. For years, Cedarville has emphasized Scripture at the center of the student experience, from its required Bible minor to daily chapel to the intentional integration of biblical truth across academic disciplines.
And now, Cedarville is going even deeper.
This fall, the university launched a faculty development initiative designed to help faculty more fully integrate Scripture and theology into their academic disciplines by offering them a free Graduate Certificate in Biblical and Theological Studies, which includes five 3-credit courses:
- Old Testament Overview
- New Testament Overview
- Systematic Theology I
- Systematic Theology II
- Introduction to Biblical Theology
Each participating faculty member will complete four of the five courses to earn the certificate. The university is offering the program at no cost and investing in faculty further by paying them $1,000 for each completed course.
Twenty faculty members are in the first cohort, strengthening their theological foundations and sharpening their ability to disciple students both in and beyond the classroom. It’s a bold, strategic move that reinforces Cedarville’s brand as a distinctively biblical institution. And it sends a clear message: The Bible isn’t just an add-on at Cedarville. It’s the core of who they are and how they teach.
Remember, strategy is about making integrated choices that create distinction and drive performance. Cedarville is doing just that. They’re not just staying true to their mission — they’re building a competitive advantage around it.
At TG Three, we believe Christian colleges don’t thrive by mimicking secular universities. They flourish by clarifying their mission and aligning their people, programs, and priorities around it. Cedarville is showing the way.
If you want to sharpen your strategy and become the kind of institution your mission calls you to be, let’s talk.
–Rob Westervelt is the Founder and Partner at TG Three with over 26 years of experience. TG Three is a values-driven strategy company dedicated to serving Christian institutions to help get them from where they are to where they want to be.