! I currently live in California and I’m looking to go to another state for college, but I have no clue where to go! I am looking to become a pastor, which is why I want to go to a Christian college, does anyone have any ideas? Im up for any location, I really have no clue where to look.
Wheaton- It’s in Wheaton, IL
Any particular denomination?
My father is a Nazarene pastor, but denominations aren’t that big of a deal to me!
Are you female (I see your user name has Erin in it)? Some Christian denominations do not allow females to become pastors. Also, are you looking for a liberal arts degree and eventually a pastoral degree or do you want to go directly into a pastoral degree program?
I am female, thats my middle name! Im looking to go directly into a pastoral degree program.
Valparaiso University! One major is called Theology and Ministry. They also have a pre-seminary program. The school is an hour outside of Chicago.
I recommend a Master of Divinity after undergrad and something other than religious studies for undergrad. Get a liberal arts degree, business degree, or education. All will serve you well in seminary and the pastorate.
On colleges, if you want to leave CA, where do you want to live? There are many Baptist colleges in the south. Covenant College is a Presbyterian college on top of Lookout Mountain. SMU is loosely a Christian school and has good merit aid. Baylor is a Baptist school at the more liberal end of Baptist and also has decent merit aid but both SMU and Baylor have a high cost of attendance. Most Christian Schools are not going to offer great aid. Azusa in LA is actually a good deal and also offers good merit aid but you asked about outside CA.
Evansville. Hope. Adrian. Calvin. Taylor, Bryan, Grove City.
Fairly mainstream, nominally protestant. Have had friends, coworkers, or their kids who’ve attended most of these.
A little more liberal in outlook, I think, might be places like Defiance or Hanover, or other presby schools. Some of these will seem irreligious, if that’s what your looking for.
There are some church affiliated schools where faith appears to be actively discouraged. And I can’t quite wrap my head around that.
We are midwest, there’s a christian HS near us, and we know some of the kids who go there. The flavor of the day for this school is Grand Canyon College in Arizona. They seem to all like it! The Chicago Area offers lots of Christian colleges - Judson, North Park, Trinity, Wheaton, Moody, just to name a few. It could be an easy flight from CA to get there. My D attends one of those and likes it; she knows several kids going into youth ministry & worship arts. Colorado Christian looked like a neat place, but it didnt have her major. You can do internet searches and come up with all kinds of lists and sites that compare christian colleges. Good Luck!
I agree with @Sportsman88 . Get a solid liberal arts education, then go to divinity school. Gordon, Calvin, and Wheaton are among the many Christian colleges that offer a solid education. Major in anything you enjoy, then apply to divinity school. Wheaton is probably the best known and most competitive.
I’m surprised no one has asked this yet- what is your budget for COA?
Forgot about Grand Canyon University. $32,000/year full cost of attendance.
Whitworth University in Spokane, WA. Seattle Pacific University.
When you say Christian, do you mean Evangelical Christian only (like Wheaton, Hope, Calvin, Grove City, Messiah…), Church related (like Wofford, Berry, Baylor, St Olaf, Illinois Wesleyan, Luther, Presbyterian, Earlham, Guilford) or do you include Catholic colleges?
For example, a major in Religion from St Olaf, Holy Cross, Wofford or Earlham would definitely qualify you for the best divinity schools (many future pastors double major or add a minor in psychology.)
If you are open to snow I would say Hope, Calvin, Cornerstone, Wheaton (Il), Dordt, & Grove City are worth a look. Most in our area went to Calvin for Seminary.