CBU ranked among nation’s fastest-growing colleges in new report

Riverside, Calif. (Oct. 22, 2021) – California Baptist University ranked No. 7 among the fastest-growing colleges in the United States in a list published by a leading higher education news organization.

CBU’s top-10 ranking appears in “Almanac 2021-22” published by the Chronicle of Higher Education and reflects the institution’s 10-year enrollment growth from 2009 through 2019.

In 2009, CBU enrollment totaled 4,103 students. A decade later, in 2019, enrollment at CBU was 11,045 students, an increase of 169%.

Dr. Ronald L. Ellis, president of California Baptist University, said the ranking is a significant indicator about the institution’s growth.

“The Chronicle Almanac ranking reflects CBU’s continuing focus on developing and offering educational programs that students are looking for,” Ellis said. “It is an affirmation that our efforts are producing positive results."

The No. 7 ranking compared CBU with other private nonprofit institutions classified as “Master’s Colleges & Universities” in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Among the 347 institutions in that classification, enrollment growth averaged 14.2 percent over the same 10-year period.

In preparing its report, the Chronicle of Higher Education analyzed U.S. Department of Education data “based on a fall head count of full- and part-time undergraduate and graduate students at public and private nonprofit degree-granting institutions with at least 500 students in 2009.”

CBU enrollment has continued to grow. In 2021, fall enrollment at CBU totaled 11,491 students.