Ohio Christian University 
The information on this page was last updated 3/22/2023. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
We are committed to offering a complete education that develops students intellectually, professionally, and spiritually. We achieve this by providing accredited degree programs for residential undergraduate students, graduate students, adult, and online students. In addition, our Trailblazer Academy allows high school students to complete college classes. All of our programs are designed to equip students to become leaders in their careers, communities, families, and the world.
Contact information
Mailing address:
Ohio Christian University
1476 Lancaster Pike
Circleville, OH 43113
Website: ohiochristian.edu
Phone: 1-877-762-8669
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 310971599
CEO/President: Dr. Ronald E. Smith
Chairman:
Board size: 11
Founder:
Ruling year: 1979
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 06/30
Member of ECFA: No
Member of ECFA since:
Purpose
Preparing world-impacting Christian servant leaders.
Mission statement
Ohio Christian University prepares students to serve effectively in the church and society by providing a holistic, Christ-centered, biblically integrated education in the Wesleyan tradition.
Statement of faith
We believe in one God, self-existent in three Persons, co-equal and co-eternal; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We believe in the Bible, God's infallible Word, fully inspired by the Holy Spirit, the supreme authority for faith and practice.
We believe in the deity of Jesus Christ, who became man, being conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin. He lived a sinless life and died a substitutionary death as a complete sacrifice for the sins of all mankind. He arose bodily from the dead and ascended to the right hand of the Father where He is now our interceding High Priest.
We believe that the Holy Spirit is a Divine Person who reveals Christ, both in a ministry to the world by restraining evil and by convicting of sin, and in a ministry to the Church by indwelling, empowering, guiding, and teaching all Christians.
We believe that man was made in the image and likeness of God and by transgression incurred guilt before God, depravity of soul, and spiritual death. We believe in the universal atonement Christ provided for all mankind and that they who do repent and believe on Him are justified and regenerated from the guilt and practice of sin.
We believe in entire sanctification as a definite crisis experience subsequent to regeneration. It is wrought on the basis of faith and consecration through the infilling of the Holy Spirit by which the believer is cleansed from all sin and to which the Spirit testifies. We believe in the progressive growth in grace toward Christian maturity through a consistent Christian life of good works which springs from faith in God and obedience to His Word. This growth we believe to be a necessary complement to the above mentioned crisis experience.
We believe in the true universal Church as the Body of Christ and Temple of the Holy Spirit. It is composed of all true believers in Christ. It was created by Him for worship and fellowship and is commissioned by Him to publish the Gospel to all the world.
We believe in the personal return of Christ who shall come with power and great glory to gather the Church to Himself, to establish His millennial kingdom, and to judge the quick and the dead. We believe in the resurrection of the just, who shall enter into an actual eternal heaven, and the resurrection of the unjust, who shall go away into an actual and eternal hell.
Donor confidence score
Transparency grade
C
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Colleges/Universities
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 511 of 1118 | 63 of 130 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 556 of 1119 | 68 of 130 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 420 of 1119 | 47 of 130 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 619 of 1118 | 84 of 130 |
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 13% | 13% | 12% | 6% | 27% | 35% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 2% | 2% | 2% | 1% | 2% | 2% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 18% | 15% | 18% | 24% | 6% | 5% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 2% | 2% | 2% | 1% | 2% | 1% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 82% | 85% | 82% | 76% | 94% | 95% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 84% | 86% | 85% | 77% | 87% | 91% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 98% | 104% | 99% | 102% | 99% | 109% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 81% | 90% | 84% | 79% | 86% | 99% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 2% | -4% | 1% | -2% | 1% | -9% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 1% | -3% | 1% | -2% | 1% | -8% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 13% | 12% | 13% | 21% | 11% | 7% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 0.51 | 0.48 | 0.48 | 0.55 | 0.55 | 0.79 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 2.61 | 5.55 | 3.97 | 4.05 | 4.36 | 6.16 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 1.41 | 2.69 | 1.89 | 2.21 | 2.39 | 4.85 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 7.92 | 19.81 | 19.98 | 19.14 | 9.49 | 4.78 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.13 | 0.05 | 0.05 | 0.05 | 0.11 | 0.21 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 7.43 | 4.24 | 6.02 | 5.14 | 4.49 | 1.96 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 24% | 20% | 25% | 26% | 25% | 27% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 11% | 17% | 21% | 22% | 19% | 19% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 148% | 166% | 158% | 135% | 137% | 93% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Cash | $6,211,892 | $8,865,985 | $10,334,141 | $8,051,709 | $3,771,033 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $1,469,205 | $2,790,289 | $1,570,745 | $2,671,726 | $3,810,503 |
| Short-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $7,681,097 | $11,656,274 | $11,904,886 | $10,723,435 | $7,581,536 |
| Long-term investments | $6,395,689 | $6,579,751 | $7,304,937 | $5,931,729 | $5,274,830 |
| Fixed assets | $27,486,142 | $27,078,282 | $27,843,742 | $28,893,249 | $32,654,998 |
| Other long-term assets | $1,065,445 | $981,249 | $1,105,838 | $1,160,997 | $1,213,200 |
| Total long-term assets | $34,947,276 | $34,639,282 | $36,254,517 | $35,985,975 | $39,143,028 |
| Total assets | $42,628,373 | $46,295,556 | $48,159,403 | $46,709,410 | $46,724,564 |
| Liabilities | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $357,975 | $549,995 | $607,866 | $793,278 | $877,471 |
| Other current liabilities | $29,765 | $33,436 | $14,089 | $337,164 | $708,419 |
| Total current liabilities | $387,740 | $583,431 | $621,955 | $1,130,442 | $1,585,890 |
| Debt | $7,141,612 | $9,901,115 | $10,835,754 | $8,945,037 | $9,073,763 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $869,303 | $920,622 | $1,096,110 | $1,524,267 | $1,733,626 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $8,010,915 | $10,821,737 | $11,931,864 | $10,469,304 | $10,807,389 |
| Total liabilities | $8,398,655 | $11,405,168 | $12,553,819 | $11,599,746 | $12,393,279 |
| Net assets | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Without donor restrictions | $27,561,218 | $28,011,355 | $27,538,076 | $27,492,473 | $27,752,215 |
| With donor restrictions | $6,668,500 | $6,879,033 | $8,067,508 | $7,617,191 | $6,579,070 |
| Net assets | $34,229,718 | $34,890,388 | $35,605,584 | $35,109,664 | $34,331,285 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Total contributions | $2,914,007 | $3,983,848 | $6,190,715 | $1,615,714 | $1,541,766 |
| Program service revenue | $16,139,769 | $17,946,550 | $19,148,231 | $24,559,219 | $32,073,572 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $553,134 | $350,679 | $305,759 | ($153,144) | $243,756 |
| Other revenue | $146,251 | $46,750 | $68,960 | $0 | $33,480 |
| Total other revenue | $16,839,154 | $18,343,979 | $19,522,950 | $24,406,075 | $32,350,808 |
| Total revenue | $19,753,161 | $22,327,827 | $25,713,665 | $26,021,789 | $33,892,574 |
| Expenses | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Program services | $17,732,559 | $18,669,779 | $20,369,490 | $22,314,452 | $33,612,343 |
| Management and general | $2,533,128 | $2,932,327 | $5,573,961 | $2,889,136 | $2,628,505 |
| Fundraising | $376,287 | $474,927 | $380,120 | $432,526 | $536,013 |
| Total expenses | $20,641,974 | $22,077,033 | $26,323,571 | $25,636,114 | $36,776,861 |
| Change in net assets | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Surplus (deficit) | ($888,813) | $250,794 | ($609,906) | $385,675 | ($2,884,287) |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | ($888,813) | $250,794 | ($609,906) | $385,675 | ($2,884,287) |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Dr Jon Kulaga | President | $234,414 |
| Ronald E Smith | Interim President | $137,361 |
| Ted W Perry | Vice-President | $125,204 |
Compensation data as of: 6/30/2023
Response from ministry
No response has been provided by this ministry.
The information below was provided to MinistryWatch by the ministry itself. It was last updated 3/22/2023. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
More than seventy years ago the Council of the Churches of Christ in Christian Union determined to establish a Christian college. After months of preparation, in September 1948, what we now know as Ohio Christian University (OCU) was opened as Circleville Bible College at 469 East Ohio Street in Circleville, Ohio. As the college grew it was becoming increasingly clear that the Ohio Street location would no longer be adequate, so more than forty acres was purchased just three (3) miles east of Circleville on US Route 22.
OCU was founded in 1948 as Circleville Bible College for the purpose of educating clergy for the Churches of Christ in Christian Union. While remaining true to its founders' vision, Ohio Christian University has expanded its outreach by becoming accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, by being affiliated with the Association for Biblical Higher Education and the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, and by adding certificate, associate, bachelor, and master's degree programs in multiple disciplines. Choose between all of our campus programs, or programs offered entirely online.
Program accomplishments
ohiochristian.edu/awards