The United States is home to some of the world’s best Christian colleges and universities and in this article, we have listed the top 15 Christian institutions.
Christianity is arguably the core of the belief system of the United States, so it is not surprising that it is also the foundation of the country’s education system. The most prestigious colleges and universities in the United States began with faith-based universities.
The Puritans founded Harvard, Yale, and Princeton, which was a strict Presbyterian church when it was founded. However, except a very small number of institutions, every one of the institutions has been transformed into a strict secular institution.
What is the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities
The Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) is a higher education association composed of more than 180 Christian institutions, mainly in the United States and Canada.
The committee was established in the 1970s to promote the interests of colleges and universities that are church-related through government lobbying and public relations. It also provides professional development for employees of universities and colleges that are in the association and conducts off-campus learning programs for students via CCCU GlobalEd.
Also Read: 15 Best Christian Colleges in Pennsylvania 2024
What you need to about Christian Institutions
Attending a Christian college does not mean that the school can impose beliefs on you. Many Christian schools are only slightly affiliated with their religion as a way of expressing respect for the foundational history.
These institutions mostly have students and professors with other views from other religions. Schools that do have close ties may be different because a larger population of students and teachers is aligned with the founding religion of the school.
Regardless of the affiliation of your proposed school, you most certainly be welcome. Your grades will not be affected by your non-compliance with the school’s religious beliefs.
In fact, by bringing different perspectives into the classroom, you may help other people understand the world better. Multi-angle discussions are good for lively discussions. As long as you respect someone’s beliefs, they should respect your beliefs also.
Do your research before Choosing a Christian school
If you don’t like a school’s beliefs, remember the following: Some of their policies may not be as lenient as public schools. For example, you are more likely to see same-gender hostels in religious schools, while public schools may have mixed-gender floors and buildings.
Religious schools may stipulate that there shouldn’t be a person of different genders in your room, or they may impose a curfew when people who are not living in the building must leave.
Another thing that needs to be studied is the school’s position on social issues that are important to you. An example might be how open the university or college is to its LGBTQ students and allies. Does the school policy fit your worldview? Does the university or college have a dry campus policy? and many other things to be put into consideration.
If you can visit the campus, that’s a great time to get a sense of the overall feeling of the school and student group projects. The tour around the school also allows you to ask important questions to visit some offices and professors to make enquiries.
No matter what university you go to, these are the questions you should ask. The school environment should be conducive to your study. If you feel that being surrounded by religion often makes you anxious, then maybe a different school may be a better choice for you. However, if you have no preference, most religious schools will warmly welcome all students, regardless of their religious beliefs.
Also Read: 10 Best Universities and Colleges in Pennsylvania 2024
List of the Best Christian Colleges and Universities
Here, we have listed the top 15 Christian colleges in the United States. All you need is to follow the guide we have provided on how to choose the right school to be able to make the best choice.
1. Wheaton College – Illinois
- Average Net Price: $28,005
- Retention Rate: 94%
- Graduation Rate: 90%
- Salary After Attending: $48,400
Established in 1860 in the town of Wheaton, Illinois, Wheaton College is just 25 miles from Chicago. The school is a non-denominational and independent Christian institution that emphasizes the combination of faith and scholarship. Wheaton is a co-educational liberal arts school.
The school focuses on offering degrees in English, health service preparation and managerial economics. Other degrees and programs are also available at the school.
Wheaton’s acceptance rate is about 85%, and the total number of students is just over 2,300. The total tuition and fees for an academic year are approximately US$30,000, but about 90% of undergraduate students are offered financial aid in the form of scholarships or grants.
2. Pepperdine University
- Average Net Price: $33,814
- Retention Rate: 90%
- Graduation Rate: 86%
- Salary After Attending: $65,500
Pepperdine University is located at the foot of the scenic Santa Monica Mountains in Malibu, California.
Founded in 1937, Pepperdine University is a four-year private Christian institution. The university ethics code is based on the principles of the New Testament and the teachings of the Christian Church.
Several auxiliary campuses in the Los Angeles area offer graduate programs. A total of about 7,500 students are enrolled each year, and the ratio of students to teachers is about 10:1. Tuition, miscellaneous fees, and room and board are slightly more than US$70,000 per year on average.
Also Read: 7 Cheap Universities in Calgary Canada in 2024
3. Luther College
- Average Net Price: $25,273
- Retention Rate: 83%
- Graduation Rate: 79%
- Salary After Attending: $47,400
The Lutheran College was founded in 1861 by Norwegian immigrants in a rural northeastern part of Dakota, Iowa.
This is an undergraduate liberal arts college whose principles are consistent with the teachings of the Lutheran Church. Luther’s acceptance rate is 60%, the average number of students is 2,000, and the student-to-faculty ratio is 11:1. The annual tuition and fees are approximately US$43,000, and the average housing cost is US$10,000, but 98% of students studying in the school are entitled to financial aid.
4. Messiah College
- Average Net Price: $27,200
- Retention Rate: 87%
- Graduation Rate: 78%
- Salary After Attending: $45,100
Founded in 1909, this private Christian college is only 12 miles from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and is run by the scholar and philanthropist R.S. Smith. Messiah College is an independent liberal and applied for arts and science college.
Messiah College is based on the Christian teachings of Pietists, Wesleyans, and Anabaptists. The school’s academic and community mission emphasizes service and leadership in religious and secular life.
Students must sign community conventions, committing to uphold academic integrity, Christian faith-based practices, and decision-making based on responsibility.
The acceptance rate is 77%, and the number of students enrolled exceeds 3,300. Tuition, miscellaneous fees, and room and board costs are approximately US$47,000, but most first-year students receive approximately US$26,000 in financial aid to help pay for the required fees.
5. Samford University
- Average Net Price: $29,032
- Retention Rate: 88%
- Graduation Rate: 74%
- Salary After Attending: $49,900
After experiencing two fires, two relocations, and even a civil war, Samford is ranked first in Alabama.
The institution’s campus was originally established in Marion in 1841 and is now located in Homewood, Alabama. Samford is a private Christian institution with an average of 5,600 students from 25 different countries and 40 states in the United States.
Samford’s tuition, miscellaneous fees, boarding and lodging costs average about US$44,000 per year, but 90% of students at the undergraduate level and 80% of students at the graduate students receive financial aid.
About 76% of Samford students have graduated, 97% of them are confident of finding a job within six months of graduation, and more than 95% of them always do.
6. Evangel University
- Location: Springfield, Missouri
- Tuition: $24,327
Evangelical University is a private comprehensive Christian university located in Springfield, Missouri. Although affiliated with the Assembly of God, Evangelical University draws students from various Christian denominations and faith traditions.
Founded in 1955, Evangelical University was the first Pentecostal liberal arts college in the United States to be chartered. The academic institution is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Evangelical University is a world-class academic institution that offers more than 100 academic courses through its various departments and colleges.
7. Biola University
- Location: La Mirada, California
- Tuition: $41,976
Located in La Mirada, California, Biola University is a private evangelical university and one of the best Christian colleges and universities on this list. Undergraduates must complete 30 credits of Bible and Theology courses, through which they are qualified to take minor courses in Bible and Theological Studies.
Biola has been accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission. Biola University is made up of several schools, including biological and biomedical sciences, education and engineering, to name just three examples.
Also Read: List of Top-Rated Cheap Universities in Ontario In 2024
8. Covenant College
- Location: Lookout Mountain, Georgia
- Tuition: $35,640
Covenant College is a private Christian liberal arts college with the Presbyterian Church of America (PCA).
The Christian college offers a variety of academic programs, including the following areas:
- Biblical & Theological Studies
- Business
- Community Development
- Computer Science
- International Studies
It also has a variety of pre-professional programs in the areas of:
- law
- medicine
- nursing
- physical therapy.
9. Milligan University
- Location: Milligan, Tennessee
- Tuition: $34,650
Milligan University is a private Christian liberal arts university located in the mountainous upper east of Tennessee. It belongs to the non-denominational Christian churches. Milligan University was founded in 1866 as a private high school named Buffalo Co-educational College.
It was renamed Milligan College in 1881 and recently renamed Milligan University. It consists of a good number of schools and a seminary.
10. Toccoa Falls College
- Location: Toccoa Falls, Georgia
- Tuition: $23,184
Tomoya Falls College is a private, Christian non-profit liberal arts college. The school is located in Tocoya, Georgia. Tomoya Falls College is an affiliated college of the Christian and Missionary Alliance denominations and cooperates with other evangelical Christian groups.
The institution was founded in 1907. Tocoya Falls College is accredited by an academic body known as the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The school offers a variety of programs through its multiple schools.
11. Lipscomb University
- Location: Nashville, Tennessee
- Tuition: $33,424
Lipscombe University is a coeducational private art university, affiliated with the Church of Christ. The school is located in Nashville, Tennessee.
Founded in 1891, the university was originally a campus school from preschool to 12th grade and has now developed into a first-class university. The main focus of Lipscombe University is to provide quality education at the undergraduate level in liberal arts and sciences.
It offers not less than 145 undergraduate course areas. It also has several professional foundation courses and an accelerated evening and adult degree program based online.
11. Roberts Wesleyan College
- Location: Rochester, New York
- Tuition: $32,494
Roberts Wesleyan College is a Christian college. The school offers liberal arts and professional courses. It is located in Rochester, New York. It was founded in 1869 and was called Chili Theological Seminary at the time, but in 1949, the college adopted the current name Roberts Wesleyan College.
The school received its accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Roberts Wesleyan College provides not less than 60 majors at different levels and mode of learning, including 11 online courses.
12. Hardin-Simmons University
- Location: Abilene, Texas
- Tuition: $31,140
Harding-Simmons University is Baptist University, and one of the Christian colleges and universities to pay attention to. The school is located in Abilene, Texas.
The university was founded in 1891 and has been affiliated with the Texas Baptist Convention since 1941. The university is composed of several colleges and schools and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
13. Texas Christian University
- Location: 2800 S UNIVERSITY DR
FORT WORTH, TX 76129 - Tuition: $42,574
Texas Christian University in Forth Worth, Texas is a private research university that was established by Addison and Randolf Clark in 1873.
As of the fall of 20203, over 12,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students enrolled at Texas Christian University. Recent rankings by U.S. News & World Report rank TCU at #98 in National Universities.
TCU is one of America’s best Christian academic institutions, offering over 100 areas of study at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. The Christian university employs the best professors in various fields to lecture and engage students in research.
14. Taylor University
- Location: Upland, Indiana
- Tuition: $35,305
Taylor University is a private, evangelical Christian college interdenominational university. The school is located in Upland, Indiana.
The core identity of the school is based on global participation and service. In one year, more than 450 students received credits for participating in 32 programs and projects in 35 countries.
Students can also earn credits by participating in service-learning or cross-cultural projects and programs. The University is accredited by the Higher Education Commission and 119 undergraduate majors are available for study in the school.
15. Bryan College
- Location: Dayton, Tennessee
- Tuition: $27,900
Bryant College is liberal arts college located in Dayton, Tennessee; it is one of the notable Christian colleges and universities in the US. In 1930, it was chartered as William Jennings Bryan University. In 1958, the university was designated as William Jennings Bryan College. It was abbreviated as Brian College in 1993. The schools are accredited by Southern College and School Committee College.
