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

<p>Here are some colleges mentioned in this thread that, while having some loose affiliation with some sort of Christian grouping at one time or another, have absolutely no commitment to Christian Scholarship. </p>

<ol>
<li>Davidson (No commitment to Christian Scholarship)</li>
<li>Pepperdine (Of the bunch - the closest to being legit - I would consider them VERY sympathetic to the Christian cause but uncommitted when push comes to shove)</li>
<li>Fordham (Catholic and Secular)</li>
<li>Brigham Young (Mormon!)</li>
<li>Georgetown (Well, it was at least FOUNDED by Catholics - clearly secular now)</li>
<li>Baylor (Fired a faculty member for teaching creationism!)</li>
<li>Liberty (The "TBN" college - need I say more?)</li>
</ol>

<p>Other Issues</p>

<ol>
<li>Patrick Henry College has serious issues and suffers from dubious accreditation.</li>
</ol>

<p>Houghton College in Houghton, New York. <a href="http://www.isi.org/college_guide/sample/aac/houghton.pdf%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.isi.org/college_guide/sample/aac/houghton.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Hillsdale College in Michigan is a small LAC dedicated to Judeo-Christian principles. Not affiliated with any church, I think it is 50/40/10 protestant/catholic/orthodox. Almost all students at Hillsdale are religious.</p>

<p>Grove City is an excellent school (cheap too!), with solid Christian values.</p>

<p>Franciscan U of Steubenville is an excellent Catholic college - vehemently catholic. My kids attend this school part time and love it. Mass 3/day standing 15 deep in the back of the church, confession daily, prayer before every class. If you are Catholic, or considering the Catholic Church, it's a great school. Good school too, for those athiests whose parents make them attend (we know one girl who fits this bill). And, while the Novos Ordo mass is said on campus, Tridentine is within walking distance (and there's a shuttle), plus every conceivable Catholic rite (Byzantine, Coptic, etc) is in Steubenville or across the Ohio River in Weirton, WV. Lots of priests and nuns in full habit on campus. Total costs... maybe $24K</p>

<p>Phear-me</p>

<p>While I agree with you that Biola and Wheaton are excellent Christian schools, I disagree with your assessment that other Christian schools in the country are too new or not developed enough to even consider. Is Grove City College for example ( mentioned by many posters in this thread), founded in 1876, too new compared to Biola ? It had over 50 years head-start as a college. Their average SAT entrance scores are HIGHER than Biola's. You ought to look at their website to see the Christian commitment of their administration as well as their student bodies. And that's just one example.</p>

<p>HENCE I WOULD AVOID OVER-GENERALIZING. I believe my post (see post #30 ) above was well thought out with authoritative links to back them up.</p>

<p>I PERSONALLY have had the chance to travel all over the country and have seen the programs of NUMEROUS Christian Colleges ( both Catholic and Protestant ) that are excellent.</p>

<p>To limit your choice to only two colleges ( no matter how excellent ), one in the mid-west and the other way down Southwest is to NARROW your horizon, not broaden it.</p>

<p>phear me: I think you are underestimating Grove City College. It has been around since the mid-1800's and is VERY well respected in the East. In fact, I would venture to say that Wheaton's reputation is somewhat jaded and in the mid-Atlantic states, Biola isn't exactly a household name. </p>

<p>Grove City College is also a politically conservative campus, having won a battle against the federal government. I believe they do not accept federal monies of any kind though they will still take your state grant (Hillsdale College accepts neither, but is so very well endowed, their fin aid is fantastic without it.).</p>

<p>I think you're also underestimating Gordon College in MA (previously named Gordon Conwell). It is an excellent, well-respected Christian college. Average high school GPA for the current freshman class is 3.6; average SAT is 1200.</p>

<p>I second the votes for Houghton, Grove City and Messiah. Those plus Calvin are the four schools that our youth groupers/Young Lifers almost always apply to and/or matriculate at</p>

<p>For what it's worth, I know two people who went to Bob Jones University who later attended Harvard Law School (also one from Houghton).</p>

<p>RE: Gordon College.</p>

<p>Be aware that before you apply to this school, you will be asked to fill out a statement of faith and be willing to sign a Life and Conduct statement agreeing to the standards of behavior that Gordon values. </p>

<p>Gordon College has a dorm visitation policy that allows for male-female visitation only during particular hours. </p>

<p>Chapel is offered Mondays and Wednesdays. </p>

<p>On Sunday nights, students are able to participate in Catacombs, a student-led worship service of quiet music in the darkened chapel. </p>

<p>The Provost hosts a film series every semester that includes international, political, and pop-culture films.</p>

<p>The school is also overwhelmingly female 60% ( good for guys looking for a Christian mate ).</p>

<p>For those planning to be theologians or pastors, this school is attached (but no longer affiliated ) to one of the best Christian Seminaries in the nation --- GORDON-CONWELL.</p>

<p>RE: Houghton College.</p>

<p>Be aware that operated by the school is affiliated with the Wesleyan Church. </p>

<p>It has several campuses so you might want to check which one you want to go to.</p>

<p>Houghton's main rural campus is in the Genesee Valley of southwestern New York (Houghton, New York). I think not far from SUNY GENESEO.</p>

<p>A secondary suburban campus is in West Seneca, New York, a suburb of Buffalo, New York. </p>

<p>It also has campus extensions in the Adirondacks State Park of New York.</p>

<p>I also hear it has satellite schools in Australia, Tanzania, and London, England.</p>

<p>Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California.</p>

<p>List of top conservative schools--many Christian too</p>

<p>Young</a> America's Foundation In The News</p>

<p>Well Harvard and Yale both started as Christian colleges.</p>

<p>I don't know their status now. Most of those big universities started as Christian colleges.</p>

<p>Someone mentioned Patrick Henry College, so I just wanted to point out that last time I checked, it had not been accredited. I would check that out before applying or suggesting someone else in your youth group apply to this school, as that would cause a ton of problems (as it did for one of my friends).</p>

<p>@Hunt- the first college I thought of from the OP's description was Bob Jones University, as well (although it's not in the NE).</p>

<p>Three Words: Bob Jones University..hell Yeah</p>

<p>RE: Bob Jones University</p>

<p>I tried checking it out at College Board's website, IT CAME OUT EMPTY.
The school is not listed on its site at all !!</p>

<p>Ahhh Bob Jones, what can one say ??</p>

<p>If you think the others are too conservative, you ought to try this school.</p>

<p>The school's founder even considers the sainted Billy Graham somewhat of a liberal.</p>

<p>This school is also always LATE in the game when it comes to progress in racial harmony.</p>

<p>Although BJU admitted Asians and other minorities from its inception, it refused to enroll black students until 1971, eight years after the University of South Carolina and Clemson University had been integrated by court order. </p>

<p>From 1971 to 1975, BJU admitted only married blacks, although the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) had already determined in 1970 that "private schools with racially discriminatory admissions policies" were not entitled to federal tax exemption. </p>

<p>Late in 1971, BJU filed suit to prevent the IRS from taking its tax exemption, but in 1974, in Bob Jones University v. Simon, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the University did not have standing to sue until the IRS actually assessed taxes. Four months later, on May 29, 1975, the University Board of Trustees authorized a change in policy to admit "students of any race," a move that occurred shortly before the announcement of the Supreme Court decision which prohibited racial exclusion in private schools.</p>

<p>In May 1975, as it prepared to allow unmarried blacks to enroll, BJU adopted more detailed rules prohibiting interracial dating and marriage—threatening expulsion for any student who dated or married interracially, who advocated interracial marriage, who was "affiliated with any group or organization which holds as one of its goals or advocates interracial marriage," or "who espouse, promote, or encourage others to violate the University's dating rules and regulations." </p>

<p>Fully 25 years later, In a 2000 interview, the then-president, Bob Jones III, said that interracial dating had been prohibited since 1950s and that the policy had originated in a complaint by parents of a male Asian student who believed that their son had "nearly married" a white girl.</p>

<p>In 2000, following a media uproar prompted by the visit of presidential candidate George W. Bush to the University, Bob Jones III abruptly dropped the interracial dating rule, announcing the change on CNN's "Larry King Live.</p>

<p>Five years later when asked by Newsweek for his view of the rule change, the current president, Stephen Jones, replied, "I've never been more proud of my dad than the night he...lifted that policy." ( how about his grandad, who adopted that policy ?? Never mind .... ).</p>

<p>However, you'll be glad to know that today BJU has a student body that includes many international and minority students and a number of interracial couples, including members of the faculty and staff. </p>

<p>If you want to go there, please know that Grounds for immediate dismissal include stealing, immorality (including sexual relations between unmarried students), possession of hard-core pornography, use of alcohol or drugs, and participating in a public demonstration for a cause the University opposes.[</p>

<p>Similar moral failures are grounds for terminating the employment of faculty and staff. In 1998, a homosexual alumnus was threatened with arrest if he visited the campus.</p>

<p>They also have general rules like :</p>

<ul>
<li><p>Freshman and sophomore residence hall students must sign out before leaving campus; students with junior and senior privileges may leave without signing out between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.. Curfew is at 10:25 p.m., and residence hall students must be in their own rooms and quiet at 11 p.m. Lights must be out by midnight. </p></li>
<li><p>Each student is provided with a filtered e-mail account. Using unfiltered Internet access via computer, mobile phone, or satellite phone is prohibited for residence hall students</p></li>
<li><p>DVD/VCRs are not allowed in residence halls; DVD players on computers cannot be used for watching films. Televisions may be used only as monitors to play video games. </p></li>
<li><p>Residence hall students are forbidden to go to movie theaters or, when visiting local homes, to watch any films with a rating higher than a G rating</p></li>
<li><p>Students may not listen to country, jazz, New Age, rock, rap, or contemporary Christian music ( yes, that's right I said CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN MUSIC ).</p></li>
<li><p>Men's hair must be traditionally styled with a conservative cut. Hair must not be colored, highlighted, shaved, shelved, tangled or spiked. Sideburns may not reach past the lower opening of the ear. No facial hair is permitted; students must be clean shaven. (Some exceptions are made for older students.) </p></li>
<li><p>Men may not wear earrings, necklaces, or bracelets. Tattoos and body piercings are forbidden. </p></li>
<li><p>Socks are required at all times. </p></li>
<li><p>Hats may not be worn indoors except in athletic facilities. </p></li>
<li><p>Sunday dress includes a coat, tie, dress shirt, dress shoes, dress or dressier casual pants.</p></li>
</ul>

<p>For Females, be aware of the following rules :</p>

<ul>
<li><p>The middle area of the torso may not be exposed, and tops must be long enough to meet the top of the skirt or pants. </p></li>
<li><p>Sleeveless tops and dresses may be worn with a blouse, jacket, or sweater; otherwise, sleeves are required. </p></li>
<li><p>Necklines may be no lower than four fingers below the collarbone.
Tops may be fitted, but not clingy. </p></li>
<li><p>Hemlines, slits or other openings may never be higher than the bottom of the knee. Denim skirts are allowed for casual dress but not in class or for other professional events. </p></li>
<li><p>Shoes such as combat boots or hiking boots are not permitted.
Hairstyles must be "neat, orderly (no spiking), and feminine. No masculine cuts or cutting edge fads. Hair color must always appear natural." </p></li>
<li><p>Tattoos are prohibited. A maximum of two matched sets of earrings are allowed, and they must be worn in the lobe of the ear. No other body piercings are permitted.</p></li>
</ul>

<p>Yet, inspite of these unbearable rules, Bob Jones University's enrollment continues to GROW !!! They currently have close to 4,500 students !!</p>

<p>GO FIGURE.</p>

<p>Grove City, Messiah. And Geogetown is a catholic school</p>

<p>Patrick Henry, Bob Jones, and Liberty- the Harvard, Yale, Princeton of the conservative Christian set. Too bad none of them are very good academically. Movies above G rated are prohibited. For god sakes, Lion King is PG. Also, all three are not included in the Fiske Guide to Colleges, which USA Today called "the best college guide you can buy", and The Big Book of Colleges.<br>
I would recommend Grove City.</p>

<p>What about the Jesuit schools?
I suppose if that particular order is both religious and committed to learning then it would be a good order to run a college.</p>

<p>Boston College, the various Loyolas. Oh, Fordham and Georgetown too, but those have been mentioned.</p>

<p>I suppose it depends on how much you want the school's affiliation to influence you. However, honestly, you can get involved in a local parish too (which might be good since you'll be out in the community), and lots of not-affiliated colleges have SWEET divinity schools.</p>