Mission University president reports higher enrollment in competitive environment

North-side Springfield higher education institution Mission University had an enrollment increase to start the fall semester, despite a challenging environment identified by its president.

President Mark Milioni was Springfield Business Journal's interview subject for the People You Need to Know series. The live interview was held yesterday at The Backlot, Alamo Drafthouse Springfield's restaurant and bar.

Mission University, affiliated with Baptist Bible Fellowship International, was founded in 1950 under the name Baptist Bible College. Milioni joined its leadership team in 2012 at a dire time for the organization, he said, noting that working with creditors to keep the utilities on for the campus and financial stabilization were among his first duties not long after he came on board.

The organization rebranded itself as Mission University in 2024 as part of Milioni and his team’s turnaround efforts, according to past Springfield Business Journal coverage. 

Instead of drawing students from around the country as Baptist Bible College had done, the rebranded Mission University focused recruitment on students from southwest Missouri families keen to receive a conservative Christian college education without necessarily being members of any particular Christian denomination, Milioni said. Academic programs were rebalanced to allow for ministry and missionary studies, traditional mainstays at the organization, but also programs in fields like business management and education.

The strategy has changed enrollment dynamics: Milioni said fall enrollment at Mission University is 451 students, which is 60 more than last year.

"That's a 15% growth this year, which is very, very good," he said.

Not all colleges will be as fortunate, according to Milioni.

"It's a tougher environment," he said. "There’s more competition for fewer students.

"It's even harder in the Christian college world because we're looking at a smaller pool of students,” he said.

He added, "Every college is dealing with declining enrollment and a smaller pool of students."

Milioni said the school has gotten to a place where he feels more comfortable asking for private investment.

"We have just started going down that road," he said. "Today, we have a product that anybody can be proud of."