Watch the President’s Welcome, August 20, 2026 at 4 p.m.
Asbury prepares students to learn, worship, serve and impact the world for Christ.
Asbury University’s campus is coming alive again. Residence halls are filling, classrooms are reopening and students are reconnecting with friends and professors as a new academic year begins. For returning students, the fall brings familiar faces and beloved traditions. For new students and their families, it marks the beginning of a new chapter and an invitation to find their place in the Asbury community.
Asbury first opened its doors for instruction in 1890. More than a century later, the University remains committed to developing both the mind and soul while preparing students for meaningful work, service and a lifetime of following Christ.
I have never been in a community so committed to a student’s intellectual, social, moral, and spiritual formation like Asbury University.”
“Students can expect to forge lifelong friendships, broaden their intellectual horizons, prepare for the next chapter of their life, and have a transformative encounter with Jesus Christ. When it comes to striking a balance between these critical dimensions of a Christian University, Asbury is second to none. I am so excited for another school year to begin!”
That commitment to the whole student is reflected in a community where students are known, supported and challenged to grow. Strong retention reflects that sense of belonging, while relationships with professors, mentors and friends help students persist toward graduation and discover who they are becoming along the way.
Preparation for life beyond Asbury is also woven throughout the student experience. Through rigorous academics, internships, hands-on learning, career development and leadership opportunities, students connect their education with their gifts and calling, preparing for careers, graduate education, ministry and service around the world.
That shared journey unfolds within a community whose reach extends far beyond Wilmore. Based on the University’s most recently finalized demographic data, Asbury students represent 46 states and 39 countries. Media Communication, Business Administration, Psychology, Exercise Science and Equine Studies are among the leading traditional undergraduate majors in the most recently available data.
I am incredibly expectant for all God has for us as we journey through the book of Matthew together, specifically focusing on what it means to be a disciple of Jesus and live out the kingdom of heaven here on earth.”
At Asbury, preparation for the future is inseparable from formation in the present. Students are encouraged to ask not only what they will do after college, but who they are becoming. Through worship, mentorship, scholarship, service and shared life, they deepen their faith, discover their calling and develop the character to lead and serve well.
That formation happens in community. Students learn alongside professors who invest personally in their growth, compete and build relationships through athletics, worship together in Hughes Auditorium, serve others and form friendships that can last a lifetime.
Asbury University’s first-year student retention rate of 86.1% significantly exceeds the national average of 69.5%, as reported by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center’s 2025 Persistence and Retention Report, highlighting the University’s success in helping students thrive academically, spiritually, and personally.
Ninety-nine percent of Asbury University’s 2025 traditional undergraduate graduates were working or continuing their education through graduate school, fellowships, or internships within six months of graduation. Based on a 92.5% knowledge rate, Asbury’s career outcomes rate exceeds the national bachelor’s-degree career outcomes rate of 85.7%, as reported by NACE’s First Destinations for the college class of 2025.
The beginning of Asbury’s 137th academic year is more than another date on the calendar. It continues a 136-year commitment to academic excellence and spiritual vitality, forming students who are prepared to pursue meaningful work, serve their communities and follow Christ wherever He calls them.
As the 2026-2027 academic year begins, Asbury celebrates the students, families, faculty and staff who make this community possible and welcomes prospective students and families considering whether Asbury could become part of their own story.
Through all that lies ahead, Asbury enters its 137th year grounded in its enduring mission to equip students through academic excellence and spiritual vitality for a lifetime of learning, leadership and service to the glory of God.
Explore life at Asbury through inspiring stories, upcoming events, campus visits, and more.