About the Nonprofit
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Calumet College of St. Joseph is a Catholic institution of higher learning informed by the values of its founding religious community, the Missionaries of the Precious Blood (C.PP.S.). The mission of the College is to cultivate the academic, spiritual, and ethical development of our students by affirming the inherent dignity of all people, promoting social justice and an ethic of service, and providing opportunity and empowerment.
The College was established in 1951 in order to meet the needs of the children of steel and refinery workers who did not want to leave Northwest Indiana for a college education. Calumet College’s student body of 678 (Fall 2023) has changed since its founding; our student body is 29% African American, 33% Hispanic, and 26% white. Our diversity is a key aspect of who we are. CCSJ has the highest diversity index of any college in Indiana according to U.S. News and World Report and is consistently listed among the most diverse liberal arts colleges in the Midwest by that publication. In addition, we were the first federally designated Hispanic-serving college or university in the state of Indiana. Many of our students are first-generation college students (32% in fall 2023) and qualify for federal Pell grants (63% to 75% annually over the last five years). The urban school systems we serve are among the lowest performing systems in the state. The challenge we face is to provide the financial and academic support these students need to develop both the knowledge and the soft skills necessary to prepare for high-demand jobs that lead to a better life for themselves and their families.
