City Vision University

History

The original curriculum for the college was developed in 1990 as a joint Urban Ministry degree program offered by Grace University in Omaha, NE and the Association of Gospel Rescue Missions. The AGRM, founded in 1913, is an association based in Colorado Springs, CO of over 300 ministries that each year serve nearly 42 million meals, provide more than 15 million nights of lodging, bandage the emotional wounds of thousands of abuse victims, and graduate 18,000-plus individuals from addiction recovery programs. In 1998, the AGRM established its own distance learning program using these courses and called it Rescue College. In the years that followed, the curriculum was further expanded to create the degree completion program: a Bachelor of Arts in Missions with an urban ministry emphasis.

The college was accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission in 2005. In January 2008, AGRM transferred ownership of the college to TechMission, and its name was changed to City Vision College.

In October 2008, City Vision College launched an Addiction Studies program, using material developed by the NET Institute, which can be taken in either a degree completion format to earn a Bachelor of Science or as a certificate program.

In June 2009, TechMission began an internship/scholarship program by partnering with urban ministries throughout North America. The tuition-paid program frequently includes housing provided by the hosting organization for the intern's year of service on-site.

A BS in Nonprofit Management became available in January 2010. In 2014, the college launched a Master's program in Technology & Ministry. In 2015, changed its name to City Vision University and added an Associate's and Bachelor's in Business Administration

Academic Programs

Students may enroll year round in the college's individual courses, certificates or degree programs. Degrees offered include:

Associate of Science in Business Administration: Trains students to manage businesses with concentrations.

Bachelor of Science in Addiction Studies: Trains students to be certified addiction counselors following NAADAC standards, including the Twelve Core Functions of the substance abuse counselor, that are aligned with most state licensing standards for the field.

Bachelor of Arts in Missions: Trains students to work in urban missions to serve as an urban ministry worker or rescue mission chaplain.

Bachelor of Science in Nonprofit Management: Trains students to manage nonprofits with particular focus on fundraising, accounting and general management.

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration: Trains students to manage businesses with concentrations in General Management, Technology & Entrepreneurship, Nonprofit Management and Operations and Accounting.

Master of Science in Technology and Ministry: Provides a Christian social entrepreneurship degree with a technology focus through courses like Theology of Technology, Emerging Media Ministry, Social Entrepreneurship, and Technology and the Poor.

Accreditation and Affiliations

City Vision University is accredited by the Distance Education Accreditation Commission. The DEAC is a national accrediting agency that is recognized by the US Department of Education and the Council on Higher Education Accreditation for distance learning schools.

City Vision University is an affiliate member of the Association for Biblical Higher Education.

Several courses can be used to fulfill the initial educational requirements of the Certified Fund Raising Executive credential for fund raising professionals and its on-going continuing education requirements. Full participation in these courses is applicable for forty-five (45) points in Category 1.B – Education of the CFRE International application for initial certification and/or recertification.

For its Addiction Studies Program, City Vision University is an Approved Education Provider for NAADAC, the professional association for drug and alcohol counselors.

Graduates who complete the Nonprofit Management track in the Missions program are granted 20 points toward the 100 points required for the Certified Stewardship Professional certification offered by the Christian Leadership Alliance.

Enrollment Profile

In 2014, City Vision University had 129 enrolled students. The student population is 60% female and 40% male. The average student age is 40 years old, with 85% of students being over 24 years old. Racially/ethnically, the population is 59% White, 29% Black, 6% Hispanic, 2% Native American, and 1% Asian population. Of students who apply for financial aid, typically 79% receive Pell grants, which are only given to those with the greatest financial need.

Student Outcomes

City Vision University reports that 91% of graduates are either placed in a job or continued their education (with 74.6% working in a training-related field and 12.7% have pursued further education). Graduate typically want to work in the nonprofit sector, counseling, government or ministry.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Undergraduate tuition is only $200 per credit hour ($300 grad) or $6,000 per year. Qualifying students can get their tuition fully covered by Pell grants or use Federal loans or GI Bill benefits. City Vision University provides a 25% discount to military/veterans and staff at Rescue Missions/Salvation Army sites and a 40% discount to ministry interns. City Vision University is the 16th most affordable four-year Christian college in the country, and 59th among all private non-profit four-year institutions, according to the Department of Education.

Admissions and Transfer Credits

City Vision University is an open admissions school accepting any student with a high school diploma, GED or equivalent. The college accepts transfer of up to 90 credits from any accredited college. Students can use our prior learning assessment program to apply for up to 30 credits for unaccredited ministry training and experience or bring in credit by examination from ACE, CLEP, DANTES, Excelsior and NCCR. Students only need to complete their last 30 credits (out of 120 credits) with City Vision University to receive a degree.

City Vision Internships

City Vision Internships intends to be a Christian counterpart to AmeriCorps providing free tuition to students interning 30 hours/week in one of over 70 ministry sites. The goal is to replicate campus-based work-study programs to help students pay for school, but having students serve in the community rather than on campus.