Clearwater Christian College closing
Message from the Board of Directors: Clearwater Christian College closing
“In order to address the challenges of declining enrollment, increased debt, and lack of significant endowments or other revenue sources, the board and administration of Clearwater Christian College thoroughly investigated a variety of short term and long term viability options. Unfortunately the related due diligence process did not yield a resourced solution to the operational stress points of the college which could ensure completion of another academic school year.”
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This news saddens me. There was a time that I thought that CCC had “sold out” when they started allowing their students the freedom young adults deserve. I was wrong.
I think that they’ve experienced what a lot of small private colleges are experiencing. It’s hard to survive with tuition as a primary source of income. The following article is worth reading:
I don’t think BJU has any “cash cow”. BJU Press isn’t nearly as large as BEKA. In addition, the Christian School market is shrinking and home schoolers have a wide assortment of good sources from which to choose.
Finally, I’m wondering where the students of these Christian colleges that have closed are going. I’d assume Maranatha has benefited but BJU’s numbers continue to decline.
"Some things are of that nature as to make one's fancy chuckle, while his heart doth ache." John Bunyan
[Jim]T Howard wrote:
With all the CC closings who’s left behind?
Cedarville is now conservative evangelical. Summit University (formerly BBC Clark Summit) is doing okay. BJU seems to be weathering the latest scandal. PCC is still doing well. Of course, both BJU and PCC have a cash cow to keep them well funded.
What other legit, Christian education choices are there for the discerning Christian high school graduate?
Faith, Maranatha, The Masters College
Grove City College in Pennsylvania has a growing enrollment, awesome campus and $100 million endowment. It is regionally accredited and almost 150 years old. While it isn’t fundamentalist, it is Christian and is fairly conservative.
[Ron Bean]Finally, I’m wondering where the students of these Christian colleges that have closed are going. I’d assume Maranatha has benefited but BJU’s numbers continue to decline.
Many are going to local colleges. The last few churches I have been in, every single student went to an area college. Cheaper, stay at home and could stay involved in their local church.
Maybe they could gift it to SBTS.
Too soon?
1 Kings 8:60 - so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD is God and that there is no other.
[James K]Maybe they could gift it to SBTS.
Too soon?
LOL
It appears that CCC has reached an agreement with Cedarville.
"Some things are of that nature as to make one's fancy chuckle, while his heart doth ache." John Bunyan
Maybe this isn’t proof-positive, but it does seem to suggest to me that, things being what they are, even should Northland have not alienated their constituency, it would have only been a matter of time.
[T Howard]Depends on what you mean by legit? If you are only talking doctrinally, then Faith has to be included. Over the years, I have come to the conclusion that in this day and age a school must also have regional accreditation to be considered legit. Using both criteria, Maranatha would also make the list.With all the CC closings who’s left behind?
Cedarville is now conservative evangelical. Summit University (formerly BBC Clark Summit) is doing okay. BJU seems to be weathering the latest scandal. PCC is still doing well. Of course, both BJU and PCC have a cash cow to keep them well funded.
What other legit, Christian education choices are there for the discerning Christian high school graduate?
Why is it that my voice always seems to be loudest when I am saying the dumbest things?
BBC’s on campus enrollment has really fallen, a grad told me they have less on campus than Davis in Binghamton.
I’m only an hour away from CCC. There are a lot of reasons for the decline of Christian Colleges. The biggest one is materialism. Parents and students don’t realize how good it is for the spiritual life of a young person to go to a Christian college that is serious about discipleship. Most parents just want the education to prepare them for a good paying job. The parents aren’t dedicated Christians so they don’t see the need to push their kids that direction.
To “save” money that they will spend on temporal things they choose a local, often secular school. A study shows that students average only traveling 40 miles to college. The local community college gets most of them. Dual enrollment makes it possible for high schoolers to get college credit before a high school diploma. Since they are already connected to a local secular school they continue there.
Going to a local secular college and their home church does not disciple them nearly as well as going away to a Christian college environment can.
Going to a local secular college and their home church does not disciple them nearly as well as going away to a Christian college environment can.
Man, it’s a shame Jesus didn’t think of this. Think how much better off the world would be with 2000 of Christian college environments than with 2000 years of churches.
Additional reporting - multiple links / Some overlap in reporting but not identical:
Clearwater Christian College closes due to financial woes
Small liberal arts college in Clearwater closing
Clearwater Christian College closes
Clearwater Christian College closing after 50 years Jun 5, 2015, 5:06pm EDT
Cost Comparison, tuition, room and board:
Clearwater $26,430
TTU $17,990
BJU $21,180
Liberty $29,030
Maranatha $20,490
Summit $27,650
PCC $8,756
If I were BBC/Summit, I’d be afraid. Maybe if you’re big and accredited you can get away with total cost nearing 30k. How are BJU and Maranatha keeping their costs low? How can Liberty get away with charging so much? I know they offer more. Do they charge artificially high prices to turn around and give generous financial aid to those who need it?
[Ken Woodard]Going to a local secular college and their home church does not disciple them nearly as well as going away to a Christian college environment can.
This is one of the most biblically out of touch things I have ever read on this site. That is saying quite a bit.
1 Kings 8:60 - so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD is God and that there is no other.
James K, Thank you for your kind words. But I found it to be some of the most out of touch with reality things that I have ever seen on this site.
Church today is nothing like the first century church. The first church was meeting daily and in every house not just Sunday and Wednesday. Today people only see their pastor a couple of times a week so there is little interaction with spiritual leaders. Pastors have no idea what their people are involved in good or bad, so shepherding is sketchy at best.
But the Christian College environment has students in Bible classes, chapel services, and prayer groups multiple times a week in addition to what they get at church. There is spiritual oversight by personal contact constantly. Several Godly teachers see them multiple times a week and can interact with them about their personal lives. There are dorm supervisors, counselors, hall leaders, administrators, etc interacting with them all the time. Because the Bible classes are for a grade the students study, write papers and memorize Bible verses. Participation in the typical Sunday school. is not on par with that at all. I grew spiritually more during my college days than any time in my life.
I’m thinking the first century church was more like Bible college than todays church.
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