Rochester College is a four-year, liberal arts college located in Rochester Hills, Michigan; a northern suburb of Detroit. The college was founded by members of Churches of Christ in 1959. Total enrollment for the fall 2011 semester is 1,084 students.Rochester College is primarily undergraduate (though it offers some graduate programs, such as the Master of Religious Education) and includes both residential and commuting student populations. The college also offers a degree completion program for adult students. The college is governed by a board of trustees who are members of the Churches of Christ. The Ennis and Nancy Ham Library provides service to students, faculty, staff, and others.Rochester College was founded in 1959 as North Central Christian College, then later renamed Michigan Christian College. In 1997, the board of trustees adopted the name Rochester College in order to more clearly portray the institution's nature as a liberal arts college in a Christian setting.HistoryIn 1954, members of the Churches of Christ formed a board of trustees to establish an educational institution in the North Central region of the United States. After months of consideration, the board decided to establish a liberal arts college and purchased a country estate in Rochester Hills, Michigan, for a campus site. In September 1959, the college opened as North Central Christian College, retaining that name until 1961.In the years that followed, the institution operated under the name of Michigan Christian College. In 1997, the board adopted the name Rochester College in order to more clearly portray the institution's nature as a liberal arts college in a Christian setting. The campus of Rochester College has grown to exceed 74acre, assuring space for continued expansion.
