<p>Dakota Wesleyan University (SD)<br>
Illinois Wesleyan University (IL)<br>
Indiana Wesleyan University (IN)<br>
Iowa Wesleyan College (IA)<br>
Kansas Wesleyan University (KS)<br>
Kentucky Wesleyan College (KY)<br>
Nebraska Wesleyan University (NE)<br>
North Carolina Wesleyan College (NC)<br>
Ohio Wesleyan University (OH)<br>
Oklahoma Wesleyan University (OK)<br>
Roberts Wesleyan College (NY)<br>
Southern Wesleyan University (SC)<br>
Tennessee Wesleyan College (TN)<br>
Texas Wesleyan University (TX)<br>
Virginia Wesleyan College (VA)<br>
Wesleyan College (GA)<br>
Wesleyan University (CT)<br>
West Virginia Wesleyan College (WV)</p>
<p>Yup. All originally Methodist colleges. The most well-known one, Wesleyan University in Connecticut, severed it's roots some time ago, but most of them are still affiliated to the Methodist church.</p>
<p>(which we were sorry to find out, since the Methodist Church does offer some scholarships to members going to Methodist colleges).</p>
<p>One additional bit of trivia: when the college in Connecticut was first founded (1831), it's original charter name was "The" Wesleyan University. It's unclear when the definite article was finally dropped from usage, but, probably not until well after many other Wesleyans had come into existence.</p>
<p>There are 15 colleges with Lutheran in the name as well, but the grand champion is "Baptist." There are 51 colleges with Baptist in the name of the school.</p>
<p>The 3 that are truly have a national reputation are: </p>
<p>Ill Wesleyan University
Ohio Wesleyan University
Wesleyan University</p>
<p>The third one probably more prominent in the U.S. due to its size while Ohio Wesleyan more prominent internationally due to enrolling 3 times the percent of international students at either one of the other two.</p>
<p>Methodists founded a lot of colleges, back when denominations were doing so both to train future clergy and to evangelize. Not all survived, of course, and not all who survived keep strong ties to their founding denominations. But I believe that Methodist is the top protestant affiliation for such colleges. So it stands to reason you'd find the "Wesleyan" name a lot.</p>
<p>To continue with hoedown's observation, education has historically been a key component of Methodism. The "method" of Methodism espoused by John Wesley included weekly meetings to educate the flock (mostly in Biblical matters but not exclusively)...originally this was attained through the use of circuit riders and led to the development of Sunday school. As education become more formalized at the K-12 level, it eventually evolved into the creation of colleges and universities. As Methodism splintered over the years (e.g. over issues like slavery), the designation of "Wesleyan" was often used by later schools as an indicator of "true" followers of Wesley's method. As a result, it's possible to find Wesleyan schools which are not historically Methodist (as viewed by the current United Methodist church) but trace their roots to one of the schisms.</p>
<p>Well, most colleges or universities have or had a religious affiliation. For instance, though Wesleyan U is no longer affiliated with the UMC, Duke is, and is often noted for its national reputation (not quite the same thing as prestige, I think.)</p>
<p>"Hmmm. Ranking a religious based college by prestige? Isn't that something."</p>
<p>You must be pretty unfamiliar with U.S. History from the 18th and especially the 19th century to say such a thing. </p>
<p>I assume in what follows that prestigious and "top-ranked" mean the same thing in your books although they certainly do according to The American Heritage Dictionary (prestigious=exerting influence by reason of high status/rank). </p>
<p>A significant number of top (whatever ranking you choose to look at or whatever top means to you) LACs and private Universities were founded by various protestant churches in the early 19th century. Many still maintain some kind of affiliation with them. </p>
<p>For example, if you were to go to the website of Ohio Wesleyan University, you would see a mention of the UMC but that affiliation is at best quite tenuous these days. The school is one of the most liberal LACs in the country. Many of its sister schools are still affiliated with their respective founding churches or were founded by churches: Kenyon College (Episcopal Church), College of Wooster (Presbyterian), Denison University (originally Baptist now unaffiliated), Oberlin (originally Presbyterian now unaffiliated)... </p>
<p>As you may know, these happen to be the most progressive LACs in Ohio and among the most progressive and liberal schools in the country. </p>
<p>Incidentally, they also happen to be among the most prestigious ones, as well.</p>
<p>I don't think LakeWashington is denying that religious affiliated colleges can be prestigious (look at Georgetown, for instance.) What s[he] she seems to be saying, and I thinK I agree with her/him, is that prestige is, by definition, a worldly concept and somewhat at odds with what a religious minded person would have in mind when shopping for a church. Why less so when shopping for a religious college?</p>
<p>For example, the wider world might consider Duke more prestigious than Emory. But, to a truly religious member of UMC, my bet is that Emory's religiousity would level the playing field a great deal.</p>
<p>Here's another school that's strayed pretty far from its roots....Bucknell was originally founded by Baptists as the University at Lewisburg in mid-1840's...renamed for a very generous benefactor and founding member of the board of trustees in 1881 - Lewis Bucknell of Philadelphia - who saved the school from financial ruin and continued to donate heavily throughout his lifetime.</p>
<p>"I don't think LakeWashington is denying that religious affiliated colleges can be prestigious (look at Georgetown, for instance.)"</p>
<p>I am not into the business of second-guessing the meaning of people's messages when their content appears slightly cryptic. I interpreted it as a slight touch of irony. Perhaps he should tell us what it is that he meant? </p>
<p>If there is a bad example of a school that is affiliated with a church that would also appeal "to a truly religious member of UMC", you certainly found that one example: Emory is a perfect example of what I meant by "tenuous affiliation with the UMC at best". Same applies for Duke University and Ohio Wesleyan University. There are probably more muslim students at Ohio Wesleyan and Duke than Methodist ones. (I know that's certainly true for OWU). If one wants to go to a religious school or one that is really affiliated with a Church, one would go to Calvin, Bob Jone, etc.</p>