Best Christian Colleges & Universities in the US (2024)

Are you searching for a college experience that combines academic excellence with a supportive faith-based community? Consider attending one of the top Christian colleges or universities in the United States! 

In this list, we'll highlight ten outstanding Christian liberal arts colleges where you'll receive a quality education in an environment that values spiritual growth, community, and personal development. These schools are dedicated to helping you build a strong foundation for your future career while deepening your relationship with Jesus Christ and God.

10 best Christian colleges in the US

Here are ten excellent Christian colleges for you to consider (in no particular order). We'll tell you some basic information about each school that you may find helpful as you work to narrow down your options for a Christian education.

Southern Methodist University

Southern Methodist University (SMU) is a private four-year college located in Dallas, Texas. They are affiliated with the United Methodist church. They admit 53% of applicants and enroll around 6,900 undergraduate students each year. The average tuition cost for both in-state and out-of-state students is just over $60,000. 

SMU is well-known for its sports management program and for being Lauren Graham's alma mater (although you may know her better as Lorelai Gilmore from Gilmore Girls).

Wheaton College - Illinois

Located just outside of Chicago, Wheaton College is a private school with over 2,300 undergraduate students making up their student body. Although they are not affiliated with a specific denomination, Wheaton College ranks as one of the top Christian institutions in the country year after year. 86% of applicants get in, and 88% will graduate within six years. Tuition averages around $40,000 per year. 

Back in the day, Wheaton College students had a tradition of burying a fruit cake on the first day of school and challenging the juniors to find it before the last day of school. The competition became so serious that the administration had to put rules into place about where cakes could (and couldn't) be buried. The tradition hasn't lived on, but you should still be careful where you dig on campus. 

Pepperdine University

Pepperdine University in Malibu, California, is home to one of the most beautiful college campuses in the nation. You'll be able to look out over the Pacific Ocean from most locations on campus. Over 3,700 undergraduate students attend this school affiliated with the Church of Christ each year, but they only admit around 53% of students who apply. Tuition costs around $60,000 per year for in-state and out-of-state students.

Pepperdine integrates faith into campus life through several faith-based activities and requirements. Undergraduate students are required to attend convocation sessions that feature guest speakers, worship, and discussions on faith-related topics. There are also student-led worship nights, Bible study groups, and service opportunities, all designed to encourage spiritual growth and community.

Perhaps you remember the Nickelodeon TV show "Zoey 101" from the early and mid-2000s. If you do, you'll quickly recognize Pepperdine's campus from the TV show, as it was the primary location for filming. 

Texas Christian University

Texas Christian University (TCU) is a private university affiliated with the Christian Church in Fort Worth, Texas. Undergraduate enrollment is over 10,000 students, and the admission rate is 54%. In-state and out-of-state tuition averages just under $52,000. Their nursing and criminal justice degree programs often receive great ratings, and their information technology degrees are also in high demand. 

If you're excited about cheering on your school's athletic teams in college, then it's a great time to be a Horned Frogs fan. TCU joined the Big 12 Conference for athletics in 2011 and made the College Football National Championship game at the end of the 2022 season. Although they lost to Georgia 65-7, it was still a fantastic season for the Horned Frogs (and one they hope to build on in the future).  

St. Olaf College

St. Olaf College is located in Northfield, Minnesota, about 45 miles south of downtown Minneapolis. The Evangelical Lutheran school enrolls almost 3,000 undergraduate students each year. This group represents 47% of applicants. Tuition costs around $52,000 each year, but there's good news - there's no application fee.

As an Evangelical Lutheran college, St. Olaf fosters spiritual development through various programs and resources. Students can participate in daily chapel services, which include worship, guest speakers, and reflections on faith. The college also offers Bible study groups, service projects, and faith-based student organizations that encourage a sense of community and spiritual engagement.

If you like music, then you'll love attending concerts at St. Olaf and hearing their world-renowned band, choir, and orchestra perform. And I think we can all agree that you can't miss the kiddie pool full of ice cream on Hawaiian night in the dining hall.

Baylor University

Baylor University is a Baptist-affiliated university located in Waco, Texas, with over 15,000 undergraduate students in their student body and an admission rate of 57%. In-state and out-of-state tuition costs around $50,000. They have excellent accounting and communications programs, and you'll want to look into their law degree programs if you're already thinking about graduate school.

Waco is the original home of Dr. Pepper, and in addition to visiting the nearby Dr. Pepper museum, you'll want to take advantage of Baylor's on-campus Dr. Pepper Hour on Tuesdays from 3pm to 4pm. After all, who could say no to all-you-can-drink Dr. Pepper floats?

Goshen College

Goshen College in Goshen, Indiana, is the smallest school on the list so far. Around 800 students attend this Midwest school each year, with the school admitting 93% of applicants. Tuition costs around $36,000 each year, and 63% of students will graduate within six years. 

Goshen may be a small town in the Midwest, but it definitely has character. Not only does the school have a great race-walking program, but they also give each of their students iPads. Plus, you really have to see Algae Town for yourself. 

Harding University

Like Pepperdine University, Harding University is affiliated with Churches of Christ. They enroll around 3,600 students each year and accept 54% of applicants. Tuition is relatively affordable for a private school at an average of $22,000 each year. 

Harding is located about 45 minutes outside of Little Rock in a small town called Searcy. Although Searcy isn't a big town, it has several popular hangouts within walking distance of the campus, like the Midnight Oil coffee shop.

Luther College

Luther College in Decorah, Iowa is a private school affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran church. They don't offer master's degrees, but they have around 1,800 undergraduate students. Luther admits 76% of applicants and charges just under $47,000 annually in tuition. 

Although there's a lot to love about life in Decorah, around 90% of Luther students will study abroad or out of state during their time in school. Many students will enroll in a study-away opportunity during the three-week holiday break in January. 

Point Loma Nazarene University

Located in San Diego, Point Loma Nazarene University is home to more than 3,100 undergraduate students. They admit 84% of applicants, and 72% of students will graduate within six years. Average tuition costs are just over $39,000 each year.

 As a Nazarene-affiliated institution, PLNU offers students various faith-based activities and requirements, fostering a close-knit spiritual community. Students are encouraged to participate in chapel services held twice weekly, featuring worship, speakers, and discussions that inspire spiritual growth. PLNU also offers small-group Bible studies, service projects, and mission trips, providing students with opportunities to connect deeply with their faith and peers.

If you love natural scenery and spending time outside, then you'll feel right at home at Point Loma. Students enjoy sitting outside and looking out over the ocean in between classes. The weather is also pleasant throughout the year. 

Additional Christian colleges to consider

Although these colleges didn't make our top 10 list, they are still worthwhile options to consider.

• Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia
• Biola University in La Mirada, California
• Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah
• Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan
• College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, Missouri
• University of Mobile in Mobile, Alabama
• Beulah Heights University in Atlanta, Georgia
• Roberts Wesleyan University in Rochester, New York
• Grove City College in Grove City, Pennsylvania
• Hobe Sound Bible College in Hobe Sound, Florida
• Carolina Christian College in Winston-Salem, North Carolina
• University of Northwestern in Saint Paul, Minnesota
• Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee
• Dordt University in Sioux City, Iowa
• Cedarville University in Cedarville, Ohio
• Gordon College in Wenham, Massachusetts
• Mississippi College in Clinton, Mississippi

What makes a great Christian college or university?

Although each Christian school is unique in its own way, there are a few common aspects that make the Christian or Bible college experience appealing. 

For starters, most Christian institutions are smaller than your average state school. You'll find smaller class sizes in addition to more opportunities to get to know your classmates. The faculty ratio per student is often lower than what you may find at a larger school, where faculty rates are higher to accommodate larger classes. You may discover more of a family atmosphere than what you may experience at a school with tens of thousands of students.

In addition, many Christian or Bible schools have regular chapel or worship services provided on campus. You can come together with your fellow Christian students to worship, fellowship, and discuss faith-related topics. Some schools require chapel attendance, while others let students choose how often they want to attend. 

Lastly, many Christian universities prioritize Christian faculty and staff when they are hiring. There's a good chance your professors share the same faith and Christian values as you, and they are often willing to have conversations about faith and the Bible with you both inside and outside of class. You may even have this type of Christian college experience if you're working virtually on an online degree.

How to choose the best Christian college for you

As you narrow down your options after high school and think about what school might be the right fit for you, here are some important factors to consider.

• Make a list. Give yourself plenty of options to choose from. As you move through the rest of the steps, you'll start crossing options off your list, but it's not a bad thing to have several choices to think about at the beginning.
• Write down your wants and needs. You're allowed to be picky when choosing a school. What aspects of your dream school are most important to you? Write them down and use them as a filter as you look at different colleges.
• Visit the campus. Once you narrow your list down to a few top choices, make plans to see the school in person. This will give you a chance to talk with professors and admissions counselors in person as you imagine what it might feel like to be a student at that particular school achieving academic excellence. (Don't forget to scope out the dorms!)
• Compare scholarship and financial aid offers. Going to school isn't cheap, and your final decision may come down to who can offer you the best financial aid package (especially if you've followed the steps above and still haven't made a final decision).
• Consider the pros and cons. Once you follow all the above steps, you'll have the information necessary to weigh the pros and cons of each option. You may want to include family members or friends in this conversation so that you can hear additional opinions and advice.

Use College Rover to help you pick the best school for you

Christian colleges in America offer a unique experience perfect for students who want to continue their education in a faith-based environment. As you consider different schools and think about what you want for your future, keep these schools in mind and consider researching to learn more about your options for a full-time education and a variety of minors. 

If you're looking for additional help learning about colleges, check out College Rover's online database. We have a ton of helpful information that will help you learn about different colleges and universities across the country and their academic programs. You can even add multiple schools to a spreadsheet to easily compare various options for higher education.

College Rover gets the majority of its data directly from the U.S. Department of Education (DOE). The DOE publishing schedule "lags" the most current data which some colleges post on their official websites. This may cause there to be a difference in the data you see on College Rover and an individual college website. College Rover's website is updated as the DOE data becomes available and is configured for the College Rover website.