Suggestions for Christian colleges?

College Search & Selection
1

Hi!

I’m a current junior, and I’m pretty well started on my college search. Meaning, I don’t necessarily know what I do want, but I know what I don’t. I’m not dead-set on going to a Christian college, but I think the environment at one would do a lot to help strengthen my Christian walk and provide me with a community of people who share the same beliefs. The only problem is, I’m having some trouble finding a Christian college that is committed to its faith and living like Christ but also is open-minded and willing to have discussions (true discussions, not one-sided ones, where all opinions are valued and valid). I’m from the Bay Area, so I’ve grown up in a solidly liberal area for most of my life, and I’m worried about the potential culture shock of an über-conservative university.

Academically, I’m a strong student. I have (weighted) aroud a 4.10 GPA, a 29 on the ACT (I’ll be retaking it in September and hope to do better,) and have taken numerous honors and AP courses during high school. I’m also heavily involved in the arts, having done virtually every theater production I’m eligible as well as participate in both the school choirs (one of which is audition-only). I haven’t held a ton of leadership positions, but am going to have a few next year as a senior.

I’d love a Christian college that respects and appreciates the arts, is open-minded, and also academically rigorous. I’m planning on going into political science, if that has any weight. I’ve already checked out Pacific and Cal Lutheran, and have looked at a few others.

Thanks for all the help!

2

I’m struggling with what you mean by “Christian.”

Does that term include Catholic? There are a variety of excellent Catholic-based schools.

Many other schools are based in a different faith, such as Quaker.

Then there are the evangelical schools, which I hesitate to send anyone to, such as Liberty, Oral Roberts, Wheaton in IL.

Google for a list of Christian Colleges That will help you start your search.

Schools that have a Christian base defined broadly that I might recommend include–

Notre Dame
Earlham
St. Olaf’s
St. Catherine (in Minnesota)
St. Mary’s of CA
Baylor
Pepperdine
Santa Clara
Fordham
Villanova
The Quaker Consortium schools are not very associated with any religion at all any more, but they include Bryn Mawr, Haverford, and University of Pennsylvania
(Yale still has a divinity school that might interest you for grad school and Princeton does too.)
There’s a consortium of schools called “the work colleges.” Not all of them are Christian, like Warren Wilson is secular I’m pretty sure, but many of them are. Part of the education is working and the work often helps to pay the tuition. It’s an interesting model. They include Ecclesia, Alice Lloyd (might be for students local to the school); Berea (also need to be in the area I think); College of the Ozarks; I’m not sure about Blackburn being Christian overtly but it was founded by a minister.

3

what is your budget? Baylor sounds like a great match. They have a great music/theater program.

4

Minus merit and need-based aid, it would be great if the price is UC-comparable (mid-high 20,000 range).

5

To check net price, you can get an estimate using the government site called college navigator d gov

You would have to know your parent’s income to get the best estimates.

Just looking at the net price for Baylor at all income levels, it may be high. That doesn’t mean you can’t or shouldn’t apply. Just be prepared that it may be too expensive in the end. Have a back-up plan.

Otherwise for a more refined estimate you can go to each college’s website and find their price calculator, which the federal government requires they post. Usually you need to plug in a bunch of numbers based on your family’s assets. Be prepared!

This work is worth it. Knowing the cost will be very helpful to keep yourself from disappointment.

And whatever these tools tell you, what the school actually offers you may well be different. These tools are just estimates.

Pepperdine seems more within your price range. It also has a music and visual arts program.

Chapman has screenwriting, theater, music but is about 5K per income-level gradient higher than Pepperdine.

St. Olaf has amazing music and theater that I know nothing about, and it’s an excellent school academically. It seems to be closer to your price range

St Catherine U (St. Kates) provides excellent academics, musical theater, seems close enough to your price range, and didn’t fill this year. Meaning: if you meet their minimum you could get in. Also, you may be able to bargain for better financial aid. https://www.stkate.edu/academics/bachelors-degrees/academic-programs/music-theater

Earlham has a new performing arts space. The school offers excellent academics and is smaller, which would probably give you more active and more important roles in what you would like to do. I hear elsewhere on CC forum that the financial aid is also pretty good. http://earlham.edu/theatre-arts/

There are probably more schools

Basically, once you locate a school that you like, check the department of interest to see if it appeals to you, and the college navigator site for the net price estimate.

6

I have a good friend that also grew up in the Bay Area and absolutely loved Point Loma, a Christian Liberal Arts school in San Diego. She sounds very similar to you, so it might be worth investigating. I’m not sure what the tuition runs, or they type of aid offered. Good luck!

7

Hi,

I am currently a student a Concordia University Irvine. I thought that you would be interested in Concordia because personally, as a student I have grown all aspects of my life here. I have strengthened my faith, learned more than I would ever thought I would and I’ve created friendships that have been a great support system. We have a great performing arts program here as well as a strong Political Science program. I will give you the link to the school’s website so you can check it out: http://www.cui.edu/en-us/

8

Child of a good friend is at Grove City in Pennsylvania — loves it and you would seem to qualify for great merit there.

9

@BayAreaRecruiter I was also going to offer Point Loma as a possibility. I loved the music program there and the campus is gorgeous. Note that it is a Nazarene University and Nazarenes tend to be more conservative than not, but Point Loma is generally thought of as the least conservative of the Nazarene schools.