Cornerstone University Offers Tuition Freeze for 2026 and 2027

As many colleges and universities raised tuition costs by 4% to nearly 7%* this year, Cornerstone University is extending its three-year tuition freeze following the historic tuition reset in 2023. Fall incoming on-campus classes in 2026 and now 2027 will receive a guaranteed tuition rate — held at today’s level for the duration of the students’ full-time enrollment in an on-campus undergraduate program — providing stability and transparency for students and families. This is also great news for Cornerstone’s current student body as they can plan ahead for tuition to hold at the most affordable private school rates in the region.

Across Michigan and the country, rising prices are increasing pressure on families at the very moment students are making final college decisions. At the same time, some institutions are promoting tuition “freezes” that follow increases newly built into the cost.

Cornerstone’s approach is straightforward: continue to freeze tuition for years to come and guarantee affordability for incoming 2026 and 2027 students. Just as significantly, the university is committed to its distinctive private Christian college experience, which stands firm in its Christian worldview. And boldly applies it to today’s most relevant career industries and life-readiness outcomes.

According to Cornerstone University President Gerson Moreno-Riaño, “Cornerstone University rejects the false choice between academic excellence and accessibility. The average private university now charges $45,000 a year in tuition and fees — and students and families wonder whether these costs are worth it. Cornerstone offers something different: an accredited, rigorous, Christ-centered education grounded in timeless truth, delivered at a cost that doesn’t require families to choose between faith-based education and financial reality. And Cornerstone has designed its programs around the challenges that define today’s economy and tomorrow’s workforce. We are proof that a private Christian university can be both uncompromising in quality and radically affordable.”

Cornerstone is one of the most affordable Christian universities in the nation for traditional, online, and its innovative SOAR™ mobile business degree learning experiences. In addition to the tuition freeze for traditional undergraduate students, the university renewed the Cornerstone Commitment Grant, a tuition-free pathway for students who qualify for the full Pell Grant and maximum Michigan Achievement Scholarship.

Online and graduate programs remain among the most affordable regionally and nationally, providing accessible options for working professionals:

• Graduate tuition in key fields remains significantly lower than comparable programs.
• Business programs priced approximately 30% lower.
• Clinical Counseling programs are more than 34% lower.
• Seminary programs up to 20% lower than similar offerings.

Enrolling now, students and families are supported through a personalized process. Cornerstone’s admissions and financial aid teams work one-on-one with each student to identify scholarships, maximize aid opportunities and map out a clear path to graduation.

At Cornerstone, students and their families don’t have to choose between affordability and value or be concerned about a drift away from Biblical values. The Cornerstone Advantage™ is the university’s academic commitment to prepare students for work and leadership, equipping graduates to communicate effectively, make sound decisions and influence industry and society with Christ-centered principles. The Cornerstone Core™ is a new general education curriculum launching this fall, integrating a Christian worldview across every field of study, wisdom from the American experience and marketplace intelligence.

Together, our approach pairs affordability with a level of preparation that sets Cornerstone apart in an extremely expensive higher education sector. Students are formed with today’s most valued skills combined with Christian values that benefit industries, ministries, and society with morally grounded leaders.

In fall 2026, Cornerstone will also introduce a new Honors Program, that includes a student scholarship, built around an integrated minor in Influence & Innovation, where students engage great ideas, emerging technologies and leadership challenges shaping today’s world. Recognized by The Wall Street Journal as one of America’s Best Colleges and named by Newsweek as a top online college for three consecutive years, Cornerstone continues to demonstrate that affordability and long-term value can go hand in hand.

As families and working professionals make one of the most important decisions they will face, Cornerstone remains committed to providing an education that is both accessible and meaningful — preparing students for an evolving workforce with a bold, Christian worldview.

Let Cornerstone Help You Get Started:

• Explore Cornerstone’s 65+ degree programs including SOAR™ mobile.
• Apply today for August 2026.
• Connect with an admissions counselor for personalized guidance.
• Check out financial aid and scholarship opportunities.

To begin, contact us at admissions@cornerstone.edu or call 616.222.1426.

*Based on publicly available tuition announcements from regional institutions and national higher education reports (e.g., College Board Trends in College Pricing, university website tuition data, etc.).