2023-24
COLORADO CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY Dear Community,
This past year at CCU has been a season of profound growth and abundant blessing. As we reflect on my first full year as president, I am deeply humbled by God’s guidance and provision for this remarkable institution. Together, we are advancing CCU’s mission of providing Christ-centered higher education and striving to embody the Great Nine principles that define what it means to be a truly great Christian university.
The Apostle Paul’s words in 1 Thessalonians 1:2-3 capture the gratitude we feel: “We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ” (ESV).
It is with this same spirit of gratitude that we reflect on the extraordinary ways your faithful prayers and support have allowed CCU to flourish. Your generosity has strengthened our programs, expanded our reach, and equipped our students to become competent, convictional, and courageous leaders for Christ. Truly, we give thanks to God always for all of you!
A Year of Milestones and Transformation
Because of your faithfulness, CCU has continued to grow in impact and influence. This past May, we celebrated over 1,400 graduates — the largest class in University history — who are now stepping boldly into careers and leadership roles. The 2023-24 academic year began with record enrollment for the 14th consecutive year, reflecting the growing demand for CCU’s biblically sound and academically rigorous programs. Recognition by The Wall Street Journal and The Chronicle of Higher Education as one of the nation’s fastest-growing universities
affirms God’s blessings on our mission. Your support has also elevated the quality of the CCU experience. This year, we rose in U.S. News & World Report rankings of top colleges and earned distinctions for “Most Innovative Schools” and “Best Colleges for Veterans.” Additionally, CCU remains one of just 22 institutions nationwide to receive an “A” grade for core curriculum excellence from the American Council of Trustees and Alumni (ACTA).
Soli Deo Gloria,
Eric K. Hogue, M.Th. President of Colorado Christian University
FACTS & STATS
In 1914, what began as a one-room school with two students and a single instructor is now a fully accredited university with over 10,000 students. Today, Colorado Christian University is the only evangelical Christian institution of higher learning in the Rocky Mountain region, with a residential campus near Denver for traditional undergraduate students, online adult learners in all 50 states and several countries, and thousands of accomplished alumni worldwide.
CCU continues to increase academic standards, enrollment, and community life while becoming financially strong and well-prepared for future growth and opportunities.
1,446
Degrees Awarded
STUDENT DEMOGRAPHICS
ETHNICITY
Letter from the VP of
FINANCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Building on the Solid Rock of Christ
With God’s abundant provision and grace, Colorado Christian University made significant strides in strengthening its financial stability during the fiscal year 2023-2024. While the year was not without challenges — both external and internal — the Cabinet is confident that the University is wellpositioned for continued growth and impact.
As we navigate a rapidly changing cultural and educational landscape, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed by the uncertainty we see around us. However, history reminds us that times of change bring both challenges and opportunities. At CCU, we are resolute in our commitment to place our trust not in worldly systems but in Jesus Christ. “Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation on the rock.” Luke 6:47-48 (ESV) This University is built on the firm foundation of Christ, our Creator and Savior, and that foundation guides both our mission and our stewardship.
Financial Stewardship and Growth
During the past year, we continued to grow the CCU Foundation, building a vision for significant future expansion in both performance and asset size. This growth is central to our goal of ensuring longterm financial sustainability for the University. Concurrently, we implemented operational changes to ensure each division is self-sustaining and equipped to thrive independently while contributing to CCU’s collective mission.
Through God’s grace, CCU Online exceeded enrollment and performance expectations, reflecting the
growing demand for our Christ-centered approach to higher education. Similarly, the CCU Academy experienced record enrollment in its high school dual credit and online programs, enabling younger students to experience the transformative power of a Christian education.
Our College of Undergraduate Studies faced challenges that prompted an important review and restructuring process, resulting in a stronger operational foundation for future success. Additionally, the campus itself underwent a remarkable transformation with the completion of the Armstrong Center. This beautiful, purpose-built facility houses the School of Music, the McDonald Performance Hall, the Armstrong Center Library, and the Terry Considine Chapel, among other multi-use rooms, enhancing both the aesthetic and functional dimensions of our campus. Through the generosity of donors and prudent financial management, the Armstrong Center was fully funded without requiring additional external financing, allowing us to maintain our long-term debt at approximately 20% of total assets.
A Foundation for the Future
The financial accomplishments of 2023–2024 have laid a firm foundation for a stronger and more stable University. As we continue to face the complexities of the modern world, we remain steadfast in our mission to provide a Christ-centered, conservative, Christian higher education that equips students to impact the world with grace and truth.
We are deeply grateful for God’s faithfulness and the support of our donors, faculty, staff, and students who share in this mission. Together, we stand ready to meet the future with confidence, knowing that our trust is placed firmly in Him.
VP Finance and Technology Colorado Christian University
BY CATEGORY
Total $112,663,483
UNIVERSITY PARTNERS,
Thank you for your commitment to Colorado Christian University and for accepting the visionary and passionate charge of President Eric Hogue to be the nation’s best-performing and most trusted, respected, and recognized Christ-centered, biblically sound, evangelical, conservative university.
Achieving this vision will only be possible with an expanding community of partners who continue to prayerfully invest their trust, time, talents, treasures, ties, and testimony. So again, thank you for joining God’s work to accomplish His good purposes through CCU. The generosity of our many partners provided $12.1M in total contributions this fiscal year, enabling record-level scholarship assistance and continuing a decade of campus transformation.
As CCU’s fiscal year ended in June 2024, invitations were going out for the fall dedication of the cornerstone of our capital campaigns – the Armstrong Center. This new facility will house our School of Music, a 500-seat performance hall, a state-of-the-art library, and the University’s first dedicated Chapel space. Even with the pending dedication of the Armstrong Center, your generosity has propelled efforts forward for two additional critical capital projects:
The Science and Engineering Center, a desperately needed second academic building, critical to training a generation of scientists, engineers, and health professionals who see their careers as ministry fields.
The Athletic Facilities Capital Campaign, which received a tremendous boost with two alumni providing a $2M incentive match to advance fundraising efforts.
In total, $5.6M was contributed toward capital campaign efforts focused on continued campus development.
A significant indicator of our partners’ trust in CCU’s leadership was the $2.4M given for the University’s most strategic needs, empowering President Hogue and his Cabinet to allocate resources where they were most needed to advance the mission.
Another $2M was given by individual donors and foundations to fund scholarships, enrich student experiences, and support faculty and student leaders engaged in their academic disciplines. Recognizing the importance of securing CCU’s future as a thriving Christ-centered institution, our partners contributed $1.5M this past year to the CCU Endowment Foundation (CCUEF), allowing it to surpass $10M in total funds. The CCUEF now supports more than 75 student scholarships, faculty awards, and academic programs and is guided by a dedicated volunteer Board of Directors composed of CCU trustees, investment professionals, and endowment experts.
Additionally, $600K in contributions strengthened CCU’s Athletics program and the Centennial Institute, two vital areas through which CCU is engaging the culture with grace and truth.
The tremendous prayers and support of our University Partners – including you – position Colorado Christian University for another decade of growth and a greater influence for Christ-centered higher education. Together, we are becoming a brighter light across the nation and the world, reflecting grace and truth in all that we do.
All Glory to God Alone,
Daniel A. LaBry Vice President of University Advancement and President of the CCU Endowment Foundation
A Year of Impact:
Each year at Colorado Christian University is filled with countless highlights, but for me, the adrenaline of my job has always come from being around the students. This year was particularly significant as I had the opportunity to step back into the classroom after many years of mainly administrative work, teaching my first full course at CCU—C. S. Lewis’ Life and Writings. What a joy it was to engage with students in meaningful discussions about Lewis’ work and the big issues of our day. Additionally, welcoming students into our home throughout the year made the experience even more rewarding.
Bringing learning to life in other ways, another major highlight, was leading a “friend-raising study tour” with Dr. Kotter on the journeys of the Apostle Paul through Greece, Turkey, and Rome, Italy. What a privilege to take a large group to experience these places and walk in the footsteps of faith, teaching God’s Word on location!
Still another key ongoing highlight of my role is amplifying CCU’s values and Strategic Priorities, as well as promoting a presence of Christ-centered higher education in the media. This year, I participated in numerous radio, television, and print interviews with NPR, CPR, Salem Radio, The Chronicle of Higher Education, various Denver newspapers, and broadcast stations around the country. These opportunities inevitably serve as a platform to share CCU’s mission with a broader audience. Additionally, I have published multiple opinion editorials this year, including six with Fox News, four with The Washington Times, six with The Christian Post, along with others in Newsmax, Townhall, The Epoch Times, The Federalist, The Washington Examiner, The Jerusalem Post, The Intermountain Jewish News, and both The Denver and Colorado Springs Gazette.
One of the most sobering yet important moments this year that I certainly can’t forget was the opportunity we had to stand with our Jewish friends and the nation of Israel in the wake of the barbaric October 7, 2023 attacks. CCU was one of the few universities to speak out clearly and immediately following the tragic attacks. In response, we hosted a Night for Israel, raising over $1,000,000 dollars for the Israeli relief agency United Hatzalah. These events also brought many opportunities to speak nationally about the breakdown of higher education and the ideological captivity of too many universities, as well as the critical need for sound, principled higher education—the kind we are committed to offering at CCU.
This year as chancellor, I undertook and oversaw numerous responsibilities, including preaching and lecturing across the country, representing CCU in academic, theological, educational, and political forums, and meeting with many dear faithful friends who support our University with their generous gifts. I also built and strengthened relationships with pastors, collaborated with the University counsel, Thomas Scheffel, regularly to monitor religious liberty threats that affected CCU, and oversaw the editing of the CCU Review. Additionally, I interviewed prospective faculty, planned our Strategic Priority Workshops, co-chaired the Western Conservative Summit, planned the Chancellor Lecture Series, and assisted the president in any ways that I could.
