Mission Statement

Heritage Christian University exists for the advancement of Churches of Christ by equipping servants for real-world ministry with a focus on evangelism and a commitment to scripture.

Vision Statement

Thriving ministers and healthy churches participating in God’s mission.

Core Values

  • Faithfulness: We are faithful to the sovereignty of God, lordship of Christ, authority of Scripture, and centrality of evangelism.
  • Integrity: We are honest, authentic, and trustworthy.
  • Growth: We continuously improve through accountability, eagerness to listen, and hunger for information.
  • Community: We build loving, collaborative, transformative relationships.

Institutional Goals

To ensure a preeminent biblical education, Heritage Christian University will:

  1. Provide general studies courses.
  2. Provide degree offerings in biblical studies to give students the skills necessary to meet the needs of the church.
  3. Offer a quality library to assist students, faculty, and alumni in research, ministry, and personal development.
  4. Assist students in achieving their educational goals by making available student and educational support services.
  5. Operate with a systematic, broad-based research, planning, and evaluation process for the ongoing pursuit of institutional effectiveness and continuous improvement.
  6. Utilize a qualified, competent faculty, staff, and administration dedicated to carrying out the role, scope, and mission of the institution as adopted by the Board of Directors.
  7. Operate with adequate physical, financial, and relational resources to accomplish the role, scope, and mission of the institution.

Distinctiveness

Heritage Christian University exists to help Christians answer God’s call to ministry. We offer a balanced, comprehensive, practical education that impacts the whole person. We aim to:

  • Challenge students academically.
  • Enhance their passion for ministry.
  • Strengthen their skills for service.

Within our rigorous academic program under the direction of experienced Christian leaders, HCU students engage in the study of Scripture, explore the roots of the faith, receive training in ministerial service, identify patterns for character formation, articulate goals, and practice knowledge in a variety of contexts within God’s world. Our distinctive focus maintains real-world ministry and occurs as an outpouring from God’s transformation of the person: heart, mind, whole being.

Undergraduate Program Student Learning Outcomes

All of the following results are from the 2024-2025 graduating class.

General Education

Field Education

Biblical and Theological Studies and Professional Studies

 

Graduate School of Theology Student Learning Outcomes

All of the following results are from the 2024-2025 assessment.

Master of Arts in Christian Scripture

Master of Ministry

Master of Divinity

Retention Rates

This retention rate measures the number of degree-seeking students from Semester A who returned as degree-seeking students in Semester B compared to the number of all such students who could have returned, excluding those who completed all academic requirements for their degree prior to Semester B.

Example: Suppose Peter, Andrew, James, and John were all enrolled in Spring 2023. Peter graduated in May. Andrew and James re-enrolled in Fall 2023, but John didn’t. In this example, Spring 2023 Retention would be 67%.

Undergraduate Program

Graduate School of Theology

Graduation Rates

This graduation rate measures the percentage of students who graduated within 200% of the normal time for full-time students to complete all requirements of their respective program of study. So, this is the four-year graduation rate for AA, MA, and MMin students, the six-year graduation rate for MDiv students, and the eight-year graduation rate for BA students.

Placement Outcomes for Graduates

The chart below indicates the number of graduates from each degree in the past five years, and the percentage of graduates that fell within the following categories as of the time of graduation (as indicated by the student on the graduating student survey):

Paid ministry: The graduate sought their degree in preparation for paid ministry work and was in such a position.

Volunteer ministry: The graduate sought their degree in preparation for volunteer ministry work and was in such a position.

Personal enrichment: The graduate received a degree sought for personal enrichment rather than for vocational reasons.

Pursuing further study: The graduate was not placed, but was pursuing additional education at some level.

Seeking ministry placement: The graduate was neither placed nor pursuing additional education, but was actively seeking appropriate placement.

Other: The graduate did not fall within any of the above categories.