The Coalition for the Common Good (CCG) is not just another higher education partnership. It is the first national university system of its kind, built on the powerful belief that education can — and must — be a champion for a more just society. We bring together institutions of higher learning that are aligned in mission, values, and vision for the future, and have a unique organizational model.
Founded by Antioch University and Otterbein University, the Coalition for the Common Good collaborates with likeminded institutions that share our mission to transform lives and advocate for justice. Unbound by geography, we are creating a system that allows us to reach communities across the country and provide them with accessible, innovative education.
Together, we are redefining what a higher education system could look like — one that is united by purpose, driven by values, and fueled by the belief that education can preserve democracy and uphold justice.
Many small, independent, fiscally sound colleges and universities see the challenges facing higher education and, as good stewards of their institutions, are looking not for safe harbors to hunker down in and survive, but for opportunities to boldly set themselves apart from the pack and thrive. The Coalition for the Common Good will be the answer for a subset of those mission-aligned universities. The cornerstone of the CCG is a national graduate and adult learner program — managed by and operated as Antioch University — with the infrastructure to take a university’s legacy graduate programs across the nation and bring new programs to member campuses. The member campus maintains its distinctive branding, undergraduate programs, athletics, student life, and fiduciary Board while benefiting from shared revenue of the national graduate programs. Benefits for undergraduate students, like articulated graduate early admission pathways, and joint study abroad and study away programs, will become new reasons for students to enroll on your campus.
The Coalition for the Common Good (CCG) is a network of affiliated private nonprofit colleges and universities that, through collaboration and integration, provide transformative education and lifelong learning. Together, we are dedicated to promoting the common good, including democracy, social justice, equity, inclusion, and engaged global citizenship.
At its core, unlike other higher education systems, the CCG is built around a shared purpose: Education for a more just society. As we evaluate and invite additional member schools to join the CCG, we are focusing on institutions that share our values and our mission.
Mission alignment is the most important criterion for membership. We believe that the benefits of higher education must be available broadly — including those traditionally underserved by our educational system. We believe education is the key to counter the inequalities embedded in our society.
At the Coalition for the Common Good (CCG), we are relentless in our pursuit of a higher education system that works for everyone, especially those who have been historically marginalized. From Antioch’s and Otterbein’s founding days — when they were pioneers in enrolling women and Black students to study alongside white male students — to today, our universities remain committed to creating educational opportunities for all.
In a world where the barriers to higher education seem endless, we fight to break them down. We will not accept a system that limits access to the life-changing power of education. Through our collective work, we are building pathways to success for students who have been denied equal access to opportunity. In a just society, educational equity is non-negotiable.
Higher education must serve our communities as well as individuals. The CCG understands that education cannot be disconnected from the needs of our communities and employers. That is why we are committed to partnering with business and industry, and non-profit organizations, to help them provide their associates access to quality professional development, stackable credentials, adult degree completion, and advanced graduate degrees that allow both the associates and their employer to advance in an ever more competitive world.
The CCG understands that higher education is the great equalizer. By providing individuals with access to the knowledge and skills that will further their own personal aspirations for more meaningful lives, we are just as surely ensuring an engaged and educated citizenry that will contribute to stronger, more vibrant, prosperous and just communities.
The Coalition for the Common Good was born out of a shared vision between Antioch University and Otterbein University, two institutions with a long history of providing access to higher education for underrepresented communities. From their earliest days, both universities were among the first in pre-Civil War America to enroll women and Black students, rejecting the notion that some people do not deserve the life-changing opportunity of higher education, not because of their ability, but simply because of who they were. That commitment to seeing the value of all people and creating a culture of belonging has never ceased, and Otterbein and Antioch have always been at the forefront of efforts to create more equitable educational environments.
In 2023, after more than two years of planning, including input from faculty, staff, and students, both institutions officially launched the Coalition for the Common Good. After earning approval from the Higher Learning Commission and the Ohio Department of Higher Education, we have implemented our vision, bringing new graduate programs, graduate early admission pathways, and innovative business partnerships to students across the country.
From our historic roots to this moment of transformation, our story is one of bold action. We are here to transform the world through education — and our learners are champions of that commitment.
The Coalition for the Common Good (CCG) is pioneering a new model for higher education — one that is mission-driven, justice-oriented, and built to serve both individuals and communities. If you believe education should empower people and strengthen democracy, explore how you can be part of this transformative system.
