Colorado Christian University

colorado-christian-university

Flexible CCU Degrees Online and in the Rockies

Colorado Christian University appears in our ranking of the Top 50 Online Christian Colleges for Future Missionaries.

Ranked the U.S. News & World Report’s 210th best online school, Colorado Christian University maintains an 11:1 learner-faculty ratio for 13 associate, 64 bachelor’s, 11 master’s, one doctoral, and 21 certificate programs, including 49 fully digital majors on Blackboard.

For example, the Elementary Education B.A. follows a 122-credit licensure track with an optional Reading Emphasis graded “A+” by the NCTQ and 850 hours of internships, such as Jeffco Public Schools. Directed by Dr. Jill McElheny, the 120-credit Nursing B.S. accepts up to 87 transfer credits for registered nurses to quickly finish five-week online blocks like Healthcare Informatics in one year with virtual patient simulations.

Starting Spring 2019, the Cyber Security M.S. develops a 30-credit, 15-month curriculum online with optional Cyber Policy or Cyber Defense specializations for CISSP certification.

Other opportunities include the Biblical Studies A.A., Applied Psychology B.S., Nonprofit Management B.S., Counseling M.A., and Criminal Justice M.S.

About Colorado Christian University

Colorado Christian University originated on September 1, 1914, when Baptist minister Clifton LeFevre Fowler welcomed an inaugural coed class of four to the Denver Bible Institute. In 1928, it relocated to a 34-acre Jefferson County campus 10 miles west. By 1945, the Colorado State Legislature officially chartered it as Denver Bible College for four-year B.A./B.S. degrees. Four years later, another name change to Rockmont College was approved. In 1970, it launched the Rockmont Evening School with for-credit adult education. Fully accredited in 1981, it merged with the Western Bible Institute in 1985 to form Colorado Christian College. In 1989, it earned university status with the first Master of Arts in Counseling. During the early 2000s, its College of Adult & Graduate Studies grew rapidly to seven centers from Englewood to Grand Junction and online. Since 2012, Colorado Christian University has landed in ACTA’s top 2 percent nationwide. Endowed for $3.9 million, CCU now serves 8,421 Cougars from 16 countries and 48 denominations online or on-site with 36 clubs like Westside Ministries.

Colorado Christian University Accreditation Details

On October 26, 2020, Colorado Christian University will host another in-depth evaluation visit from the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association (HLC-NCA) to ensure Level V accreditation standards compliance through 2030 under President Donald Sweeting, Ph.D., a Moody Bible Institute Alumnus of the Year Award recipient. Based 1,009 miles east via Interstate 80 in Chicago, this giant 19-state Great Plains Region accreditor is recognized by the U.S. Education Department and Colorado Department of Higher Education. The Academic Catalog also lists the following programmatic accreditations:

  • Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Education
  • National Association of Schools of Music
  • Association of Christian Schools International
  • Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
  • Project Management Institute Global Accreditation Center

Colorado Christian University Application Requirements

Getting into Colorado Christian University is classified “moderately difficult” by Peterson’s since only 1,199 of the 1,925 Fall 2017 applicants were triumphant for 62 percent acceptance. First-year Cougars must exemplify Christian values with a high school, homeschool, or GED diploma. Generally, maintaining a 2.8 GPA or better is required. Most freshmen rank in the upper half of their graduating classes. At minimum, students need a 1060 New SAT or 21 ACT score. Note the Industrial and Systems Engineering B.S. seeks at least 3.5 GPA, 1310 SAT, and 26 ACT marks. Online Nursing B.S. entrants must be licensed with associate GPAs above 2.5 and lower-division prerequisites like Applied Statistics. The College of Adult & Graduate Studies admits master’s cohorts with 120+ credits of bachelor’s education. GPAs of 2.0 to 2.49 are only considered on a conditional basis. The Organizational Leadership M.O.L. has one prerequisite for Business Math. The Counseling M.A. requires a clean background check via CastleBranch. Doctor of Nursing Practice students also need a CCNE- or ACEN-accredited master’s GPA above 3.0.

Colorado Christian University has priority undergrad deadlines of April 1st for Fall and November 1st for Spring. Preferred admission before December 1st qualifies for a $4,000 scholarship. Non-U.S. residents with an 80 TOEFL iBT or equivalent must apply by April 1st or October 21st respectively. The College of Adult & Graduate Studies has rolling admission year-round with zero dates specified. Accordingly, complete the $30 ($50 if graduate) application online via CCU accounts. The Office of Admissions accepts official transcripts at 8787 West Alameda Avenue in Lakewood, CO 80226. Testing submissions require SAT/GRE code 4659 or ACT code 0523. Other steps might include the spiritual recommendation, faith statement, teacher evaluation, personal interview, state identification card, purpose essay, and résumé or CV. Inquire further by contacting (303) 963-3000 or AdmissionsSupport@securemail.ccu.edu.

Tuition and Financial Aid

For 2018-19, Colorado Christian University has billed full-time undergrads $15,683 per semester or $31,366 annually. Traditional part-time study incurs $1,307 per credit. Overload credits cost $871 apiece. Bachelor’s majors pay the $85 SGA fee and $175 activities fee each term. Living at the Lakewood campus’ dorms like Harwood Hall adds $3,061 to $3,794 by semester. Unlimited meal plans for Cougar Den are $2,705 extra. CCU budgets $1,000 for texts and $1,600 for miscellaneous expenses. Annual undergrad attendance is $43,486 on-site and $32,970 at home. Online associate and bachelor’s tuition is $469 per credit. Military members have a discounted $250 per credit rate online. Graduate School pricing is typically $569 per credit. The Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education M.Ed. is cheaper at $533 per credit. Conversely, the DNP program bills more at $595 per credit.

According to the NCES College Navigator, the Office of Financial Aid in George Whitefield Center connects 66 percent of CCU Cougars to assistance averaging $8,663 each for $36.11 million overall. University funds include the Alpha Sigma Lambda Scholarship, Partners in Christian Education Scholarship, Dual Credit Public High School Scholarship, Legacy Scholarship, Beckman Scholarship, Multicultural Student Scholarship, Music Performance Scholarship, Scripture Memory Scholarship, Commendation Scholarship, and Athletics Scholarship. The World Changers Scholarship gifts full tuition of $31,366 for outstanding freshmen with minimum 3.5 GPAs. The Distinction Scholarship presents $11,000 annually for transfers maintaining GPAs above 3.3. Distinguished Achievement Scholarship recipients need at least 1410 SAT or 30 ACT scores for $19,000 each year. Federal resources, such as the Pell Grant, Teach Grant, Work-Study Program, and Stafford Loan, necessitate FAFSA forms coded 009401. Coloradoans pursue the College Opportunity Fund, Dependents Tuition Assistance, Responsibilities Grant, Graduate Grant, and Critical Career Graduate Grant too.

Search the College of Undergraduate Studies and College of Adult & Graduate Studies for 100+ accredited offerings at the Colorado Christian University website.

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