Research
Overview
The CCCU maintains a unified collection of data to provide an overview of our institutions. This data will continue to grow in scope and distinction with the yearly addition of data and reports from the Collaborative Assessment Project (CAP).Â
Additional research is housed by the CCCU’s U.K. subsidiary Scholarship & Christianity in Oxford (SCIO) and available here.
Research and Reports on CCCU Institutions & Christian Higher Education
2022: State of Humanities at CCCU Institutions: Brief Summary
2021: Report on Supporting Diversity in STEM Faculty Hiring and Retention at CCCU Institutions
2021: State of STEM at CCCU Institutions: Brief Summary
2021: State of STEM at CCCU Institutions: Full Report
2021: Campus Diversity Statistics
2021: Campus Responses to COVID-19
2021: Economic Impact of Private, Nonprofit Higher Education (NAICU)
2020: The Case for Christian Higher Education
2019: Alumni Survey
2018: Economic Impact of Christian Higher EducationÂ
2018: The Case for Christian Higher Education
2018: Student Satisfaction
2017: Student Engagement
2016:Â Student Satisfaction
2016: Faculty Salary Trends
Annual Research Surveys
The CCCU conducts annual comprehensive surveys of both faculty and administration salary and benefits to give governing member institutions benchmarks for their institutional strategic planning.
All CCCU governing members and collaborative partner institutions are invited each July to participate. Both regional and national results are sent to presidents by the end of December. This service is provided free of charge for North American campuses. Due to the confidential nature of this survey, results are only available to participating presidents. The most recent survey was completed for 2020-21.
There are circumstances when mean data is made available. Please contact Jeff Clawson to request such data.
If you have any questions regarding the forms or reports, please contact Jeff Clawson at jclawson@cccu.org.
This is an annual survey of financial aid directors at CCCU institutions. Results of the survey are shared with participants in order to improve understanding of trends and best practices in the administration of financial aid at Christian colleges. The survey has been conducted annually since 1999 by personnel at Bethel University.
Questions? Please contact dc-nelson@bethel.edu.
Collaborative Assessment Project (CAP)
The Collaborative Assessment Project (CAP) orients CCCU members around a common set of campus assessments that help us provide empirical evidence that Christian higher education is indeed a significant and valuable enterprise.
As part of our commitment to advancing academic excellence, the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities assists our institutions in collecting and interpreting data for institutional improvement. Since 2000, therefore, we have operated the Collaborative Assessment Project (CAP), a research initiative led by the CCCU’s Christian Higher Education Research Council. Institutions that participate in CAP implement survey instruments as a cohort and are able to compare their results with national private college benchmarks as well as CCCU institutional benchmarks.
For the 2026–27 academic year, CAP will utilize the Thriving Project under the direction of CCCU Senior Fellow Dr. Laurie Schreiner.
Participation in the Collaborative Assessment Project provides CCCU institutions with a shared framework for gathering meaningful data, benchmarking results, and applying findings to institutional improvement.
Some of the benefits that come from participating in CAP include:
- A regular assessment cycle CCCU members can count on
- Benchmarking to national norms as well as CCCU members and affiliates
- Disaggregated comparative data by race/ethnicity
- Predictive models, action plans, and free webinars on how to use your results
2025 Market Research Study
The CCCU and NACCAP commissioned a market research study of the value and perception of Christian higher education in 2025. Conducted by JM Partner Solutions, the executive summary is now available for full review here.
Additional information about receiving full access to the 500-page report, as well as additional resources and events taking place throughout the remainder of 2026, can be found on the NACCAP website.
Faculty Sabbatical Opportunity with the Lanier Theological Library
A new partnership between the CCCU Research and Scholarship team and the Lanier Libraries (Houston, TX, and Oxford, UK) has been established to offer faculty from CCCU member institutions substantial opportunities to utilize their research space and collections with housing offered at a 50% discount from normal market rates in Oxford and free housing in Houston. To ensure you receive the CCCU discount, please apply via our CCCU application link below.
Campus faculty can enjoy the chance to spend anywhere from two weeks to a few months of their sabbatical studying and staying at either the Lanier Theological Library in Houston, TX or Yarnton Manor, near Oxford, UK.
This opportunity is primarily intended for full-time faculty on long-term (or annually renewing) contracts, though applications from part-time faculty will also be considered. It is also intended primarily for faculty producing publishable research with preference given to those whose research project will advance the field. Preference will be given to faculty in Bible and theology, but faculty from other academic disciplines may also apply.
Learn More About Lanier Foundation Start an Application
Information about Yarnton Manor (Oxford, UK) Information about Lanier Theological Library (Houston, TX)
Journal Access
Christian Higher Education Journal
Christian Higher Education is a peer-reviewed archival journal that features articles on developments being created and tested by those engaged in the study and practice of Christian higher education. Journal access is provided to CCCU institutions as a member benefit (free of charge). To access, please log in using your MyCCCU account.
Journal Login Article Submissions Dissertation List
Christian Scholar’s Review
Christian Scholar’s Review is a medium for communication among Christians called to the academic vocation. Its objective is the publication of peer-reviewed scholarship and research, within and across the disciplines, that advances the integration of faith and learning.
