Anderson University

Private · Moderately Selective · IN

Photo: Emmmmh (CC BY-SA 4.0)

School data & stats

TypePrivate

LocationIN · Midwest

SettingUrban

Undergrads1,057

Student:faculty10:1

Outcomes

4-yr grad rate47.7%

6-yr grad rate53.8%

Drop-out rate40.1%

Study abroad—

Cost

In-state tuition$37k

Out-of-state tuition$37k

Application fee—

Community

Racial diversity28.6%

Gender diversity48.3%

International2.2%

IdentityChurch of God

Overview

Anderson University is a private university in Anderson, Indiana, a small city northeast of Indianapolis that also hosts the international headquarters of the Church of God (Anderson, Indiana), the Wesleyan-holiness denomination with which the university is affiliated. The campus combines a traditional residential college feel with a visible church-community identity, and chapel and campus ministry run alongside the standard academic calendar.

Academics

The School of Theology and Christian Ministry and a well-known music program in choral work, worship arts, and music education are signature strengths tied to the school's denominational roots, drawing students preparing for pastoral or worship-leadership careers as well as church musicians. Business and nursing are the largest professional programs outside that core, and class sizes stay small enough for regular one-on-one faculty contact.

Campus & student life

Campus life centers on chapel services, small-group ministry, and a close-knit residential community rather than a large social scene. Athletics (the Ravens, NCAA Division III) and music ensembles are major outlets for student involvement, and the modest size of Anderson as a city means campus-organized activities and day trips into Indianapolis fill much of student social life.

Getting in

Anderson reviews applicants holistically with attention to fit with its Christian mission. Many students arrive recommended through Church of God congregations or Wesleyan-tradition high schools, though the university enrolls students from a range of denominational backgrounds, and essays or personal statements carry real weight alongside academic record.

Worth knowing

Anderson is a strong fit for students specifically seeking a worship-arts or ministry-preparation track alongside a professional major, and for students who want denominational community life built directly into the college experience rather than kept separate from it.

anderson.edu ↗

Admissions

Acceptance rate79.3%

Enrolled mid-50%SAT 900–1150 · ACT 17–24

Test policyoptional

Rec letters—

Deadlines (2026–27 cycle)

Applying