Retention Rates

Student enrollment and retention at Tri-State Bible College was dramatically impacted during the pandemic of 2021, continuing through Spring Semester of 2023. Total enrollment at the college has been at ≤ 30 for-credit students since Fall Semester 2021, with the first major increase in new enrollments occurring in Fall 2025 — for which retention data is not yet available.

The majority of students enrolling at TSBC are typically part-time, non-traditional students — pastors and ministry workers who are more than likely to be bi-vocational (employed outside their church). For our purposes, part-time students are included in the data presented.

Therefore, retention data is calculated using enrollments per college calendar year (Fall Semester + Spring Semester + Summer Semester) and includes both part-time and fulltime students. By presenting the data in this manner, extremes in percentages from enrollment can be reduced, and therefore more accurate to overall student numbers and retention.