Four-Year Christian Colleges, Universities

The students of today are the leaders of tomorrow. It is critical, then, that college graduates have a Christian worldview when they enter the marketplace of ideas. If you aspire to study at a Christian college or university, our alphabetized listing will provide useful descriptions of several popular schools nationwide.

Asbury College (Wilmore, Kentucky). Asbury has been ranked in the top 10 of comprehensive colleges in the South for 13 years by U.S. News & World Report. It is interdenominational, offers master’s degrees in education and 50 majors within 17 academic departments, and is accredited with the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Visit asbury.edu.

Biola University (La Mirada, California). Biola offers 145 academic programs—from bachelor’s degrees to doctoral degrees—in six schools that integrate the Bible in more than 30 majors. It is the only school among the more than 100 members of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities to be recognized as a “national” university by U.S. News & World Report. Visit biola.edu.

Bryan College (Dayton, Tennessee). Named after William Jennings Bryan, a statesman and the prosecuting attorney in the famous Scopes Evolution Trial, Bryan College, which is nondenominational, has been listed among the top comprehensive colleges in the South by U.S. News & World Report for 12 consecutive years. Visit bryan.edu.

Crown College (St. Bonifacius, Minnesota). Located near Minneapolis, Crown College is affiliated with the Christian and Missionary Alliance and offers a wide variety of majors and minors that prepare students for careers in business, Christian ministry, education, nursing and more. About 60 percent of the traditional daytime student body come from Minnesota; the remaining 40 percent come from 22 other states. Visit crown.edu.

Elim Bible Institute (Lima, New York). Among Bible schools with a charismatic, transdenominational emphasis, Elim has an international reputation for excellence. It is a non-degree-granting institution; however, because of its high academic standards students can successfully transfer most of their course units to Christian colleges, selected public colleges and private universities. Visit elim.edu.

Emmanuel College (Franklin Springs, Georgia). Fully accredited and affiliated with the International Pentecostal Holiness Church, Emmanuel allows for a 14-to-1 ratio of students to teachers thanks to its small enrollment of 700 students. Besides offering majors in business, education and other fields, Emmanuel includes a vibrant school of Christian ministry and a variety of spiritual enrichment activities and athletic programs. Visit ec.edu.

Evangel University (Springfield, Missouri). Affiliated with the Assemblies of God, Evangel University is a member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities and has earned the highest level of accreditation available, offering more than 80 programs in 10 academic departments. Visit evangel.edu.

John Brown University (Siloam Springs, Arkansas). Fifty undergraduate programs, three degree-completion programs and six graduate programs are offered by the university, which is interdenominational. All its academic programs are fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Visit jbu.edu.

Lee University (Cleveland, Tennessee). Located in the foothills of the Appalachians, Lee is a private, coeducational university that was founded in 1918 and is affiliated with the Church of God. Lee is emerging as a leader in higher education in the Southeast, having been ranked in 2008 in the “top tier” in the South by U.S. News & World Report for comprehensive, medium-size universities. The school is ranked by Princeton Review’s Best Colleges and is currently one of the 136 colleges named “best” in the Southeast. Visit leeuniversity.edu.

Messiah College (Grantham, Pennsylvania). Originally a school of the Brethren in Christ Church, Messiah derives only 4 percent of its student body today from the Brethren denomination. It has been named one of the top five best comprehensive undergraduate colleges in the North by U.S. News & World Report. Visit messiah.edu.

North Central University (Minneapolis, Minnesota). Affiliated with the Assemblies of God, North Central offers more than 30 majors and awards Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees, three-year diplomas, two-year Associate of Arts degrees, and one-year certificates. Visit northcentral.edu.

Oral Roberts University (Tulsa, Oklahoma). Located on more than 260 acres in south Tulsa, ORU is a charismatic liberal arts university with an enrollment of more than 3,700 students from the U.S. and abroad. Founded by Oral Roberts in 1963, the school offers 63 undergraduate majors, 14 master’s programs and two doctoral degrees. ORU’s largest major is pastoral Christian ministry. Visit oru.edu.

Palm Beach Atlantic University (West Palm Beach, Florida). Palm Beach Atlantic provides a distinctive Christian liberal arts emphasis for students of all faiths. More than 80 programs of study are arranged into nine academic schools offering bachelor’s and associate degrees. Master’s and professional degree programs are offered in business administration, organizational leadership, counseling psychology and pharmacy. Visit pba.edu.

Regent University (Virginia Beach, Virginia). Founded in 1978 by Christian communications pioneer Pat Robertson, Regent has grown to a student body of more than 5,000 and offers both graduate and undergraduate programs. Nearly 30 degrees are offered in nine schools of study at the main campus in Virginia Beach. There is also a satellite campus near Washington, D.C. Visit regent.edu.

Southeastern University (Lakeland, Florida). Established in 1935, Southeastern became a liberal arts college in 1970 and is affiliated with the Assemblies of God. The school’s mission is to “create and engender a community of authentic Christian faith conducive to successful living and learning.” Southeastern offers bachelor’s and master’s programs and has an enrollment of more than 3,000 students. Visit seuniversity.edu.

Taylor University (Upland, Indiana). An interdenominational liberal arts university, Taylor offers more than 100 majors and has an extension campus in Fort Wayne. The Upland campus has been ranked third by U.S. News & World Report among Midwestern comprehensive colleges offering bachelor’s degrees. Visit tayloru.edu.

Vanguard University (Costa Mesa, California). Vanguard, affiliated with the Assemblies of God, is a comprehensive liberal arts university with professional studies. It has been named the seventh best comprehensive college in the western U.S. by U.S. News & World Report. Visit vanguard.edu.