By 1930 enrollment had increased to 371 students, but it fell to 185 by 1936 as the college was battered by the Great Depression and by charges from some of its Mennonite constituency that it promoted theological liberalism.

[5] In 1929, the college had a seemingly successful fundraising drive in an effort to increase its endowment to $500,000 and qualify for accreditation from the North Central Association.

[6] However, donors were unable to make good on their pledges after the stock market crash; the college failed to gain accreditation and fell into financial crisis.

Although enrollment plummeted to as low as 77 students during World War II, Ramseyer's tenure was marked by growth and expansion.

However, during Sprunger's term, the college managed to balance the budget, conduct a successful capital campaign and construct Shoker Science Center (1978).

[7] Another major addition was the Emery Sears Athletic Complex, which includes 2,600-seat Dwight Salzman Stadium (1993) plus a baseball diamond, all-weather track, and soccer field.

Historian Perry Bush, in his centennial history of the college, argues that Bluffton's distinctive religious orientation has been to avoid both secularization and generic American evangelicalism.

While many other denominational colleges adopted the latter, Bluffton leaders "refused to separate Mennonite ethical principles from the doctrines they held in common with other evangelicals.

Christ's theological and ethical teachings were all of one piece, Mennonites have insisted, and a proper Christian college would be built on the firm integration of the two.

"[16] Evidence of this focus can be found in the high percentage of Bluffton graduates "devoting lives to service occupations: teaching, medicine, social work, church ministry, and the like.

"[17] On March 2, 2007, a bus carrying the Bluffton baseball team fell off the Northside Drive overpass on Interstate 75 in Atlanta, Georgia, after the driver apparently mistook a southbound left-side exit ramp for a high-occupancy vehicle lane.

Bluffton offers academic study in more than 90 majors, minors and interdisciplinary programs; and master's degrees in organizational management, business administration, social work, and nutrition and dietetics.

Bluffton University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission, a member of the North Central Association.

Men's teams: baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, soccer, indoor and outdoor track & field Women's teams: basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, indoor and outdoor track & field, volleyball The Bluffton University mascots are a male and female beaver named J Denny and Jenny Beaver.