Why Majors Are the New Sports Teams
Watch the full conversation with Adrian College President Dr. Jeffrey Docking to see how this strategy came together, what it’s meant for Adrian’s long-term growth, and how you might apply a similar approach on your own campus.
In 2005, Adrian College was in a tough spot. Enrollment had dropped to 840 students, the school was running a deficit, and the endowment was shrinking. To turn things around, they added more athletic teams, growing from 16 to 53 over the years. And it worked. More students enrolled, drawn by the chance to play a college sport.
But by 2016, student priorities had started to shift. Athletics were still a draw, but no longer the deciding factor. More students arrived focused on outcomes after college. They weren’t just looking for a great campus experience; they were looking for a clear path to a job. Fields like Cybersecurity and Digital Marketing weren’t just interesting; they felt necessary.
Adrian used the same approach that had earlier led to them growing athletics to expand its academic programs. With help from Rize, the college increased its offerings from 45 to more than 80 majors between 2020 and 2025. These new programs were built around what students wanted and what employers were hiring for.
The results speak for themselves. Adrian increased its revenue by 13 percent in a state where many peer institutions saw declines. Fewer students transferred out because they couldn’t find the major they were interested in. The college reduced its discount rate, enrolled more students, and built a more stable financial foundation. Enrollment has more than doubled since 2005, and the endowment has grown from $20 million to $83 million.
Adrian’s Playbook: How to bring this to your campus
- Expand programs that match what students and employers want
- What Adrian did: Launched 36 new majors between 2020 and 2025 in high-interest fields like Cybersecurity and AI.
- Result: Over 300 students enrolled in Rize-powered majors. Withdrawals due to major unavailability dropped by 50%.
- Try this: Audit inquiries and transfer-out reasons. Identify 3–5 in-demand fields your catalog doesn’t yet cover.
- What Adrian did: Launched 36 new majors between 2020 and 2025 in high-interest fields like Cybersecurity and AI.
- Move fast without adding cost
- What Adrian did: Used Rize’s course-sharing model to launch new programs without hiring additional faculty.
- Result: Reduced academic overhead and improved financial stability. Revenue increased 13%, while the discount rate dropped 5 percentage points.
- Try this: Identify one program your team has shelved due to staffing or budget constraints. Reopen the conversation and explore whether Rize’s shared curriculum model can help you launch it quickly, without the long runway or added headcount.
- What Adrian did: Used Rize’s course-sharing model to launch new programs without hiring additional faculty.
- Build a full student experience
- What Adrian did: Paired academic expansion with athletic growth, scaling from 16 to 53 teams over 20 years.
- Result: Enrollment doubled, and the endowment grew from $20 million to $83 million.
- Try this: Combine co-curricular and academic growth in messaging and recruitment. Show how you offer students both academic programs and a campus environment they will thrive in.
- What Adrian did: Paired academic expansion with athletic growth, scaling from 16 to 53 teams over 20 years.
Watch the full conversation with Adrian College President Dr. Jeffrey Docking to see how this strategy came together, what it’s meant for Adrian’s long-term growth, and how you might apply a similar approach on your own campus.
Want to Bring More Rize Programs to Your Campus?
Rize helps colleges launch academic programs, including undergraduate majors, minors, concentrations, or MBA specializations, in as little as six months. Explore our program catalog here to learn more.
If you're looking to future-proof your curriculum and equip students with the skills they need to succeed in today’s job market, we’d love to talk. You can schedule a demo here.
Why Majors Are the New Sports Teams
Watch the full conversation with Adrian College President Dr. Jeffrey Docking to see how this strategy came together, what it’s meant for Adrian’s long-term growth, and how you might apply a similar approach on your own campus.
In 2005, Adrian College was in a tough spot. Enrollment had dropped to 840 students, the school was running a deficit, and the endowment was shrinking. To turn things around, they added more athletic teams, growing from 16 to 53 over the years. And it worked. More students enrolled, drawn by the chance to play a college sport.
But by 2016, student priorities had started to shift. Athletics were still a draw, but no longer the deciding factor. More students arrived focused on outcomes after college. They weren’t just looking for a great campus experience; they were looking for a clear path to a job. Fields like Cybersecurity and Digital Marketing weren’t just interesting; they felt necessary.
Adrian used the same approach that had earlier led to them growing athletics to expand its academic programs. With help from Rize, the college increased its offerings from 45 to more than 80 majors between 2020 and 2025. These new programs were built around what students wanted and what employers were hiring for.
The results speak for themselves. Adrian increased its revenue by 13 percent in a state where many peer institutions saw declines. Fewer students transferred out because they couldn’t find the major they were interested in. The college reduced its discount rate, enrolled more students, and built a more stable financial foundation. Enrollment has more than doubled since 2005, and the endowment has grown from $20 million to $83 million.
Adrian’s Playbook: How to bring this to your campus
- Expand programs that match what students and employers want
- What Adrian did: Launched 36 new majors between 2020 and 2025 in high-interest fields like Cybersecurity and AI.
- Result: Over 300 students enrolled in Rize-powered majors. Withdrawals due to major unavailability dropped by 50%.
- Try this: Audit inquiries and transfer-out reasons. Identify 3–5 in-demand fields your catalog doesn’t yet cover.
- What Adrian did: Launched 36 new majors between 2020 and 2025 in high-interest fields like Cybersecurity and AI.
- Move fast without adding cost
- What Adrian did: Used Rize’s course-sharing model to launch new programs without hiring additional faculty.
- Result: Reduced academic overhead and improved financial stability. Revenue increased 13%, while the discount rate dropped 5 percentage points.
- Try this: Identify one program your team has shelved due to staffing or budget constraints. Reopen the conversation and explore whether Rize’s shared curriculum model can help you launch it quickly, without the long runway or added headcount.
- What Adrian did: Used Rize’s course-sharing model to launch new programs without hiring additional faculty.
- Build a full student experience
- What Adrian did: Paired academic expansion with athletic growth, scaling from 16 to 53 teams over 20 years.
- Result: Enrollment doubled, and the endowment grew from $20 million to $83 million.
- Try this: Combine co-curricular and academic growth in messaging and recruitment. Show how you offer students both academic programs and a campus environment they will thrive in.
- What Adrian did: Paired academic expansion with athletic growth, scaling from 16 to 53 teams over 20 years.
Watch the full conversation with Adrian College President Dr. Jeffrey Docking to see how this strategy came together, what it’s meant for Adrian’s long-term growth, and how you might apply a similar approach on your own campus.
Want to Bring More Rize Programs to Your Campus?
Rize helps colleges launch academic programs, including undergraduate majors, minors, concentrations, or MBA specializations, in as little as six months. Explore our program catalog here to learn more.
If you're looking to future-proof your curriculum and equip students with the skills they need to succeed in today’s job market, we’d love to talk. You can schedule a demo here.
