What is the Best Christian College/University in the USA?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I belong to a large church with a large youth group where a large number of smart kids of high school graduation age go to.</p>

<p>A lot of them have good grades and have quite good SAT scores ( averaging above 1250 ).</p>

<p>Many want to go to Christian Colleges/Universities where religious values are emphasized/taught without sacrificing academic rigour.</p>

<p>We live in the Northeast, but a lot are willing to travel to the Midwest or even South of the Mason/Dixon line if they can find an appealing school. Closer of course would be better.</p>

<p>I'd like to ask the knowledgable people in this forum what in your opinion is the best Christian College/University in the nation.</p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

2

<p>I'm assuming (for other posters come here) that you mean non-Catholic schools, and schools that are more than just "church-affilated", correct? </p>

<p>I don't know if one could argue it's "best in the country" but I think very highly of Calvin College in Michigan. Serious religious emphasis, and a place that values intellectual curiosity and academic rigor.</p>

3

<p>Cedarville (Ohio) is very good.</p>

4

<p>Furman University in South Carolina and Pepperdine University in Malibu, California are both excellent options with gorgeous campuses and strong alumni networks. Earlham College in Indiana stesses Quaker values. But Furman and Pepperdine are probably more in line with the type of school that you are seeking. Davidson College in North Carolina, also in a gorgeous setting, is the most academically demanding.</p>

5

<p>Not stating 'the best', but Wheaton College in ILL is a good Christian college. Not a christian madrassa, but a college in the Liberal Arts and Sciences tradition.</p>

<p>It is a college that change lives ( Colleges</a> That Change Lives ) along with a couple of other christ centered ones in that tome, St Olaf (Mn) and Hope (Mi).</p>

1 Like
6

<p>If you want the best Christian College in your area (you said Northeast), I can't think of any better than Grove City College.</p>

<p>It is located about an hour from Pittsburgh, PA and has a gorgeous 150 acre campus.</p>

<p>It has a great tradition and has great academic programs in almost ALL areas. Their placement and career service is considered among the tops in the country by Princeton Review.</p>

<p>It is probably the most competitive and selective Christian College in the country.</p>

<p>The thing that makes this school unique is it insist on being
FREE from government intervention. Therefore, it refuses any
government "aid" of any kind. </p>

<p>Inspite of this, their tuition fess plus board and lodgings are
among the lowest in the country ( less than $18,000 total ).
Students who are good academically can qualify for aid which
makes the payment burden even lesser. This means you graduate without assuming tons of debt. It is perenially ranked
among the colleges that is great value for money.</p>

<p>The school is unabashedly Christian but does not impose its religion on you.</p>

<p>For a quick introduction to the school, go to Main</a> Page - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia and type in Grove City College for a general introduction to the college. It tells you almost everything you need to know about the school.</p>

<p>I've heard great things about it from current students and alumni.</p>

7

<p>Furman has broken it's ties with the Southern Baptist Convention. My friend's kid went there and never participated in any sort of religious activities except the required religion classes. I'm sure some are available but I don't believe participation is required or expected. This kid was very active in Greek life.</p>

8

<p>Gordon College in Wenham, MA is an excellent Christian college.
Nondenominational</a> Christian College, Christian Colleges in New England, Massachusetts (MA), Boston - Gordon College</p>

1 Like
9

<p>Wheaton College is the best of the bunch, followed by Grove City College.</p>

<p>St. Francis in Steubenville, Ohio is also quite good.</p>

10

<p>Also, the colleges that made following list from the Young America's Foundation are very friendly in terms of strengthening Christian values :</p>

<p>2006-2007</a> Top Ten Conservative Colleges</p>

<p>Please note that not all of them are explicitly Christian, but ALL OF THEM ARE CONSERVATIVE.</p>

11

<p>
[quote]
But Furman and Pepperdine are probably more in line with the type of school that you are seeking.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>My cousin goes to Furman and he loves it.. and he's Athiest. There is a predominantly Christian student body, though.</p>

12

<p>
[quote]
St. Francis in Steubenville, Ohio is also quite good.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>You mean Franciscan University. They are Catholic, extremely so, so be prepared for that. If you're looking for a Protestant college, this is not it.</p>

13

<p>You should check this thread out</p>

<p><a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/413349-small-colleges-maybe-christian-west-coast.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/413349-small-colleges-maybe-christian-west-coast.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>What is "a christian madrassa "?</p>

14

<p>SeafoodLover ( above ) already mentioned Wheaton College ( in Illinois ) and Grove City College ( mentioned above ) as the best of the bunch and I concur. But these are not the only ones. There are MANY EXCELLENT Christian colleges in the country that are academically rigorous as well.</p>

<p>Here are some more colleges for your consideration ( Based on the academic capabilities of the kids you mentioned ( I am assuming that you want those colleges on the high end of the SAT scores you mentioned ) :</p>

<p>Messiah College -- Right in your neck of the woods ( Pennsylvania ). Mission is to "educate men and women toward maturity of intellect, character, and Christian faith in preparation for lives of service, leadership, and reconciliation in church and society." Offers over 60 majors in five schools. The schools are Arts; Education and Social Sciences; Health and Natural Sciences; Humanities; and Mathematics, Engineering, and Business. In addition to major requirements, there is a general education curriculum, required for all students. Named by the U.S. News and World Report as one of the top five best colleges for comprehensive bachelor's degrees in the North</p>

<p>Baylor University -- based in Waco Texas. Quite large with close to 12,000 students. Baptist Affiliated. The university is known for its programs in business, law, music, theology and science. Bachelor's, master's, doctorate and professional degrees are offered through eleven degree-granting academic units. Probably the cream of Christian Colleges in Texas. The largest Baptist-affiliated school in the world and offers over 146 undergraduate degrees</p>

<p>Calvin College -- Based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Educational institution of the Christian Reformed Church and stands in the Reformed tradition of Protestantism. This school hosts the annual faith and music festival.</p>

<p>Berea College ( Kentucky) -- Berea College is distinctive among post-secondary institutions as an interracial and coeducational college in the South and for funding students from low-income families. Berea College charges no tuition; every admitted student is provided the equivalent of a four-year, full-tuition scholarship (currently worth more than $90,000).</p>

<p>Repeatedly ranked as the top college in the South for academics and for service learning, Berea offers undergraduate academic programs in 28 different fields. Berea College has a full-participation work-study program. All students are required to work at least 10 hours per week in campus and service jobs in over 130 departments. Berea's primary service region is the Southern Appalachian region, but students come from all states in the United States and more than 60 other countries. Approximately one in three students represents an ethnic minority.</p>

<p>Biola University -- Known for its conservative evangelical theology. Biola's main campus is located in the city of La Mirada in Los Angeles County, California, USA, and has satellite campuses in Chino, Inglewood, Palm Desert, San Leandro, Thousand Oaks, San Diego, San Bernardino, and in Laguna Hills. Biola recently opened a Messianic Jewish Studies center in Manhattan.</p>

<p>Biola offers 36 majors, 145 professional fields of study, as well as master's, doctoral and professional degrees. Degrees include B.A., B.S., B.M., M.A., M.B.A., M.Div., Th.M., D.Min., D.Miss., Psy.D., Ed.D., Ph.D. All are regionally and professionally accredited and are integrated with evangelical Christian doctrine.</p>

<p>This school is the winner of the Robert and Susan Andringa Award for Advancing Racial Harmony and hosts the annual Biola Media Conference for those interested in the entertainment field.</p>

<p>Peppederine University -- One of the most gorgeous campuses in the country overlooking the Pacific Ocean and is adjacent to the city limits of Malibu. All around excellent college with such famous faculty as Ben Stein ( yes, he of Ferris Bueller's Day Off fame ) , Kenneth Starr ( yes the prsecutor of Clinton in the Lweinsky scandal ), Arthur Laffer ( famed economist known for the famous Laffer Curve), Douglas W. Kmiec, and Daniel Pipes. This school is expensive though. Features multiple international campuses as well as a strong athletics program</p>

<p>There are HUNDREDS of other Christian Colleges and Universities but in my mind, the above listed are probably the cream of the crop.</p>

<p>I might have missed others I admit but these are the ones that come to mind first.</p>

15

<p>I just thought of another college I might have missed. It should belong to the top 10 on my list -- DAVIDSON COLLEGE in Davidson, North Carolina.</p>

<p>College were named for Brigadier General William Lee Davidson, a Revolutionary War commander. The land for Davidson College came from Brig. Gen. Davidson's estate, a large portion of which was donated by his son.</p>

<p>The College was established by Presbyterians in 1837, though as recently as 2005 it has adjusted and rearticulated its now largely nominal religious affiliation. According to its Board of Trustees, the dedication of the college "extends beyond the Christian community to the whole of humanity and necessarily includes openness to and respect for the world’s various religious traditions. Majors are offered in over twenty fields, as are several minors and self-designed interdisciplinary options. The college has graduated 23 Rhodes Scholars and is consistently ranked in the top ten liberal arts colleges in the country by U.S. News and World Report magazine.</p>

<p>Davidson is known as an extremely academically rigorous college and is notorious for its difficult grading standards.</p>

<p>Moreover, according to The Princeton Review, it is ranked in the top twenty colleges nationally for the following categories: "Best Overall Academic Experience For Undergraduates," "Professors Get High Marks," "Professors Make Themselves Accessible," and "Their Students Never Stop Studying".</p>

16

<p>Others that have not been mentioned</p>

<p>Sewanee (BIG PARTY SCENE)
Southern Methodist
Samford (SUPER CONSERVATIVE)
Azusa Pacific
Centre College</p>

<p>Davidson, although it is the most conservative top LAC, is far from what I'd consider a "Christian school".</p>

17

<p>BYU ? I know BYU is good. (Bring. Young U)</p>

18

<p>Hello,</p>

<p>I believe I can help with some good suggestions. But first, I need a more detailed background of your church so that I can know the kind of values/doctrine you adhere to. Can you tell us more about the church ?
Do you adhere for instance to a CREED ( e.g. The Apostle's Creed, the Westminster Confession of Faith, a Statement of Faith ?).</p>

19

<p>Thanks everyone for your advise. It will be very invaluable for our youth group.</p>

<p>Joejitsu, to answer your question, our church is large ( 2,500 members ) with a large senior high youth group ( 100 members ) where about 30% are graduating soon.</p>

<p>I am one of their youth advisers.</p>

<p>Our church is quite conservative and adheres to the historic Christian faith. You know, Inerrant Word of God, Salvation by Grace through faith, etc.
We have a statement of faith similar to most Evangelical Churches in the country.</p>

<p>Hence, our high schoolers tend to be conservative, clean living folks.</p>

<p>A lot go to Christian high schools but a significant number go to public schools where they join Christian clubs.</p>

<p>In fact during summer, a lot of them go on missions groups, charity work for the urban poor, etc.</p>

<p>I hope this gives you a background of our graduates and their values.</p>

<p>Thanks again.</p>

20

<p>surprised no one mentioned Regent University in Va Beach, VA. It is home to CBN and Pat's crew. Just thought it was at least an honorable mentionable.</p>