Greetings from Concordia University, St. Paul (CSP), where we walk in the light of Jesus Christ as we live, learn, and serve together as a university of the Synod (1 John 1:7). As I returned to my alma mater and began my tenure as president of CSP in January 2020, I could not have envisioned the opportunities and challenges of the past six-plus years. However, I’ve experienced much joy in serving at this Christ-centered Lutheran university, working alongside talented faculty, staff, regents, and constituents to support our dynamic and diverse student population.
A. Introduction Established in 1893 as a high school to prepare young men for pastoral ministry, Concordia University, St. Paul, is now a university that serves more than 7,000 students annually and confers associates through doctoral degrees. The university offers more than 100 academic programs and students learn in face-to-face settings in St. Paul, Minn.; Portland, Ore.; and Denver, Colo., as well as online around the world. As we have over the past 130-plus years, CSP is committed to raising up workers for the Synod and offers the following church work tracks and certifications: pre-seminary, pre-deaconess, director of Christian education, director of Christian outreach, director of parish music, and Lutheran classroom teacher.
B. Goals CSP is guided by a comprehensive strategic plan titled Vision 2030. This plan contains the following elements: Mission: The mission of Concordia University, St. Paul, a university of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, is to prepare students for thoughtful and informed living, for dedicated service to God and humanity, and for enlightened care of God’s creation, all within the context of the Christian Gospel.
Vision: The vision of Concordia University, St. Paul, is to be a Christ-centered, nationally prominent Lutheran university known for excellence and innovation that fosters success for all students. Promise to students: Concordia University, St. Paul, empowers you to discover and engage your purpose for life, career, and service in a dynamic and multicultural environment where Christ is honored, all are welcome, and Lutheran convictions inform intellectual inquiry and academic pursuits. Strategic Goals: 1. Grow enrollment to 10,000 students. 2. Increase persistence to graduation. 3. Deliver career-connected curriculum. Concordia University, St. Paul, includes in Vision 2030 a focus on financial sustainability to ensure its strategic goals can be met and the university can remain vibrant into the future. At the center of the strategic plan is the fact that CSP is a Christ-centered, Lutheran university. May we remain faithful to God’s Word as we serve all students who choose Concordia St. Paul as their higher education institution.
C. Performance Analysis C.1. Grow Enrollment to 10,000 Students Over the last triennium, Concordia University, St. Paul, has continued to grow enrollment. As many of our peer institutions struggle with changing demographics, the economy, international student enrollment, and other challenges, we have seen a tremendous response to our efforts to provide a Lutheran, Christ-centered, high-quality, and career-focused higher education. • Total student enrollment during the 2024–25 academic year was 7,614 students.
- Fall semester enrollment decreased slightly from 5,819 in fall 2023 to 5,797 in fall 2025, driven primarily by a decline in international student enrollment (due to fewer visas). Still, it was the third largest in the university’s history.
- Traditional undergraduate enrollment increased from 1,725 students in the fall of 2023 to 2,102 students in the fall of 2025, marking the largest traditional undergraduate enrollment ever.
- Doctoral enrollment increased from 393 students in fall 2023 to 520 students in fall 2025.
- Traditional church work enrollment increased from 82 in the fall of 2023 to 92 in the fall of 2025.
- In 2025, CSP acquired Platt College, a for-profit nursing school in Denver, Colo., and now serves over 100 students at that location.
- In January 2027, CSP plans to launch a physician assistant program, pending accredit or’s approval.
C.2. Increase Persistence to Graduation Concordia University, St. Paul, staff and faculty work diligently to ensure students can continue their studies until they complete their chosen degrees. We celebrate the increase in the total number of graduates from 1,910 in the 2022–23 academic year to 2,242 in the 2024–25 academic year. We will continue to work hard to remove barriers and increase retention among new freshmen and transfer students. The primary obstacles to persistence are financial challenges, followed by a mismatch between the academic program and individual needs. Our retention of LCMS new freshmen and transfer students remains strong.
C.3. Maintain a Quality, Relevant Curriculum to Strengthen Transition to a Job or Graduate School As we continue to track the data on the success of our graduates, we celebrate their accomplishments in launching the next phase of their careers or education. Our most recent data is from the class of 2024, where 98 percent of graduates reported successful transitions to career or graduate school. We also see similar success with our church work population, where we have a 100 percent placement rate for geographically mobile graduates as well as a growing number of students matriculating to seminary following graduation. CSP consistently ranks in the top two of Minnesota institutions at promoting social mobility of its graduates, measuring our success at helping students advance their socioeconomic status.
C.4. Financial Sustainability From FY2022 to the end of FY2025, Concordia University, St. Paul’s net assets increased from ~$140 million (M) to ~$170M, or by 18 percent. Growth was achieved through positive operating results, a reduction in long-term debt, an increase in the value of invested assets and property, and growth in philanthropy. CSP publicly announced the seven-year, $55M Elevate the Promise campaign in March 2024, a comprehensive campaign intended to ensure student success with a focus on unrestricted gifts, scholarships, and endowment growth. All gifts between July 1, 2020, and June 30, 2027, are counted as part of this campaign. The initial $55M goal was reached as of December 31, 2025. CSP’s endowment has grown from $55M in fall 2023 to $76M in fall 2025.
C.5. A Christ-Centered, Lutheran University Accomplishments during the triennium to promote and enhance CSP’s Lutheran identity include the following: • Receiving a $10M gift from the Rev. Jim and Karen Laatsch to endow the Department of Theology and Ministry, including two endowed faculty chairs in Old and New Testament.
- Expanding the Church Work Tuition Guarantee so that, beginning in fall 2026, all students in church work programs pay $0 in tuition. Congregational, district, Synod, or other outside financial aid can be applied toward room and board costs.
- Offering the Solus Christus Fellows program for undergraduate students, which fosters reflection on the connections between the Christian faith, academic learning, and life together.
- Cultivating an understanding of Christian vocation and mission amongst CSP students through the CUS-wide Beautiful
Feet Mission Conference and a CSP-specific winter vocation retreat. • •
Receiving the 2025 Formal Visitation Report from the CUS which “affirmed without concerns Concordia University, St. Paul, and each of its implemented church work programs.” Calling the Rev. Dr. Mark Koschmann to serve as CSP’s Chief Mission Officer and Vice President of Faith and Ministry.
- Calling Joshua Schumacher (LCMS commissioned teacher) as head football coach.
- Calling the Rev. Dr. Kendall Davis to serve as Assistant Professor of New Testament Studies.
- Calling DCE Shelly Schwalm as Assistant Professor of Christian Ministry and Director of Christian Education program director.
- Calling the Rev. Dr. Ryan Peterson to serve as Senior Development and Church Relations Officer, where he engages donors and the broader CSP community and leads CSP Sundays.
- •
Calling Dr. Paul von Kampen as Director of Choral Activities and Director of Church and School Engagement Through the Fine Arts, where he engages with the church through music. Holding events through the Center for Biblical Studies—under the direction of the Rev. Dr. Reed Lessing—to provide ongoing training and resources for clergy, commissioned workers, and laypeople. More than 850 unique individuals have attended these events since the center launched in 2021.
- Sponsoring participant Bibles for the 2025 LCMS Youth Gathering.
- Visiting LCMS congregations for CSP Sundays, where the Rev. Dr. Ryan Peterson or another faculty member preaches and leads Bible studies. CSP led 20 Concordia Sundays in the 2024–25 academic year and will lead another 20 or more by the end of the 2025–26 academic year.
- Offering the Lutheran Higher Education Seminar for new faculty and staff to explore the richness of Lutheran theology and how it shapes their vocations at CSP.
- Hosting the annual Gundermann Reformation Lecture and Confessio: A Retreat on the Lutheran Confessions.
- Partnering with LCMS organizations like the Association of Lutheran Secondary Schools, Lutheran Education Association, and National Association of Directors of Christian Education.
- Attending numerous district conventions and pastors’ conferences throughout the eight-district region that surrounds CSP.
D. Conclusion God has richly blessed Concordia University, St. Paul, throughout the past triennium as we continue to “prepare students … in the context of the Christian Gospel.” While we celebrate our successes, we also acknowledge the challenges that lie ahead. The following SWOT analysis summarizes our current position as we look forward to our next 133 years under God’s grace.
D.1. Strengths • Lutheran identity
- Enrollment growth
- Fiscal strength
- Global reach
- Breadth of academic programs and degree levels
- Expertise and experience in delivering higher education in multiple modalities (face-to-face, online, hybrid)
- Talented and faithful faculty and staff
- Strong board of regents and executive leadership team
D.2. Weaknesses • Persistence to graduation for traditional undergraduate students
- Heavy reliance on tuition revenue
- Historic lack of philanthropic support
- Small endowment in comparison to student-body size
- Landlocked campus in St. Paul
D.3. Opportunities • Demand for workers in healthcare, business, and technology
- Opportunities to add new academic programs in Denver and Portland
- Preparation of a new generation of church work students in the urban context
- Dynamic locations of physical campuses and real-world opportunities for students
- Ability to innovate and adapt quickly to changing market conditions and student needs
D.4. Threats • Cultural headwinds
- Public policy and legislation
- Reduction in State of Minnesota financial aid programs
- Economic conditions
- Increased higher education competition
Concordia University, St. Paul, thanks and praises God for all those who support us through their prayers, philanthropic gifts, time, and referral of students. As we walk together in our common mission and confession, may we continue to point to Jesus Christ, crucified and “risen indeed” to bring forgiveness, life, and salvation to all who believe.