If you consume any form of media, whether social or traditional, you have likely seen headlines about turmoil on the campuses of some of America’s universities. The troubling images of protests have led to even more negative stories that question the value of higher education, pointing to students burdened with debt and academic programs that appear increasingly disconnected from the real world.

You may have also seen reports that small private colleges are struggling. Best Colleges reported on Sept. 18 of this year that at least 83 public or nonprofit colleges have closed, merged, or announced such changes since March 2020, nearly 20 of them faith-based institutions.

In a December 2024 report, the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia—which conducts national economic research, including studies on the financial health of higher education institutions—found that financial challenges and an enrollment cliff caused by a sharp decline in the number of traditional college-age students were the strongest predictors of a college’s closure.

It is natural to wonder how IWU is navigating the same challenges facing higher education today. Nearly 50 years of innovation and a steadfast commitment to Christ-centered education have positioned the university to flourish even in difficult times. God’s faithfulness has not changed, and our calling as a Christ-centered university is more vital now than ever.

IWU’s success is built on a legacy of innovation and faith-driven leadership. That spirit took shape in the 1980s when the university launched an adult degree completion program that allowed working adults to take evening classes at churches, hotels, and eventually regional learning centers. The program, then known as LEAP, became immediately popular and expanded rapidly in the late 1990’s as IWU moved to online learning, opening access to students around the world.

Now known as IWU National and Global (N&G), the program has reached a record-breaking enrollment of 12,146 students from 51 countries, with plans to grow to 20,000. In addition to providing a dynamic pathway to degrees for students of all ages, revenue from the program has strengthened financial stability at our Marion campus, which is home to 2,140 undergraduate students. The success of the online program has also fueled reinvestment in student-centered growth initiatives, including IWU’s academics and nationally ranked athletics.