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U.S. Christian College Rankings, 2024

For a decade, Faith on View has produced the most comprehensive rankings of American Christian Colleges and Universities available. These top colleges are profoundly and distinctly Christian. 207 institutions are ranked using 25 measures to quantify the ever-elusive concept of educational quality.

What are Christian Colleges?

While the term 'Christian college' may evoke images of bible colleges exclusively focused on theological training for clergy or church leadership roles, modern-day Christian institutions encompass much more than religious instruction. These institutions range from small schools with intimate class sizes that foster personalized learning experiences, to larger institutions hosting diverse student clubs and robust graduate degree programs, the scope of Christian institutions is as varied as any category of private colleges within the United States. These post-secondary institutions from diverse Christian traditions offer a unique mosaic of academic programming laced with an emphasis on Christian faith and values. 

Christian College Rankings for the United States

First Tier

  Rank   Score   Institution

  1. 987       University of Notre Dame (Notre Dame, IN)
  2. 851     Thomas Aquinas College (Santa Paula, CA)
  3. 799     Boston College (Chestnut Hill, MA)
  4. 795     St. Olaf College (Northfield, MN)
  5. 751     Baylor University (Waco, TX)
  6. 746     Wheaton College (Wheaton, IL)
  7. 739     Berea College (Berea, KY)
  8. 719     Hope College (Holland, MI)
  9. 718     Augustana College (Rock Island, IL)
  10. 715     Providence College (Providence, RI)
  11. 712     Hillsdale College (Hillsdale, MI)
  12. 712     Samford University (Birmingham, AL)
  13. 706     Pepperdine University (Malibu, CA)
  14. 698     Grove City College (Grove City, PA)
  15. 684     College of the Ozarks (Point Lookout, MO)
  16. 681     Taylor University (Upland, IN)
  17. 676     University of Dallas (Irving, TX)
  18. 671     Calvin College (Grand Rapids, MI)
  19. 670     Westmont College (Santa Barbara, CA)
  20. 665     Whitworth University (Spokane, WA)
  21. 654     Goshen College (Goshen, IN)
  22. 651     Mercer University (Macon, GA)
  23. 646     Gutenberg College (Eugene, OR)
  24. 646     Cedarville University (Cedarville, OH)
  25. 646     Valparaiso University (Valparaiso, IN)
  26. 642     Chapman University (Orange, CA)
  27. 639     Union University (Jackson, TN)
  28. 635     Belmont University (Nashville, TN)
  29. 632     Messiah College (Mechanicsburg, PA)
  30. 630     Catholic University of America (Washington, DC)
  31. 623     Dordt College (Sioux Center, IA)
  32. 617     Ouachita Baptist University (Arkadelphia, AR)
  33. 617     Houghton College (Houghton, NY)
  34. 610     Franciscan University of Steubenville (Steubenville, OH)
  35. 610     The Thomas More College of Liberal Arts (Merrimack, NH)
  36. 607     University of St. Thomas (Saint Paul, MN)
  37. 605     Asbury University (Wilmore, KY)
  38. 605     John Brown University (Siloam Springs, AR)
  39. 604     Northwestern College (Orange City, IA)
  40. 601     Milligan College (Milligan College, TN)
  41. 598     Georgetown College (Georgetown, KY)
  42. 597     Bethel University (Saint Paul, MN)
  43. 596     Huntington University (Huntington, IN)
  44. 595     Erskine College (Due West, SC)
  45. 590     Indiana Wesleyan University (Marion, IN)
  46. 590     Covenant College (Lookout Mountain, GA)
  47. 589     Benedictine College (Atchison, KS)
  48. 588     Oklahoma Baptist University (Shawnee, OK)
  49. 585     Christendom College (Front Royal, VA)
  50. 580     Azusa Pacific University (Azusa, CA)
  51. 577     University of St. Thomas (Houston, TX)
  52. 567     Abilene Christian University (Abilene, TX)
  53. 565     Gordon College (Wenham, MA)
  54. 564     Seattle Pacific University (Seattle, WA)
  55. 562     Roberts Wesleyan College (Rochester, NY)
  56. 561     Harding University (Searcy, AR)
  57. 559     Lipscomb University (Nashville, TN)
  58. 559     LeTourneau University (Longview, TX)
  59. 557     North Greenville University (Tigerville, SC)
  60. 555     Mississippi College (Clinton, MS)
  61. 552     Point University (East Point, GA)
  62. 551     George Fox University (Newberg, OR)
  63. 548     Greenville University (Greenville, IL)
  64. 548     Biola University (La Mirada, CA)
  65. 548     Hardin-Simmons University (Abilene, TX)
  66. 547     Anderson University- IN (Anderson, IN)
  67. 543     Mount St. Mary's University (Emmitsburg, MD)
  68. 542     Walsh University (North Canton, OH)

    Second Tier
  69. 542     Bethel College- IN (Mishawaka, IN)
  70. 542     University of Northwestern (Saint Paul, MN)
  71. 569     Eastern University (Saint Davids, PA)
  72. 541     New Saint Andrews College (Moscow, ID)
  73. 540     Eastern Mennonite University (Harrisonburg, VA)
  74. 535     Trinity Christian College (Palos Heights, IL)
  75. 532     Aquinas College (Nashville, TN)
  76. 530     Freed-Hardeman University (Henderson, TN)
  77. 528     William Carey University (Hattiesburg, MS)
  78. 527     Sterling College (Sterling, KS)
  79. 525     Welch College (Nashville, TN)
  80. 523     Geneva College (Beaver Falls, PA)
  81. 520     Oral Roberts University (Tulsa, OK)
  82. 520     Dallas Baptist University (Dallas, TX)
  83. 520     The Master's University (Santa Clarita, CA)
  84. 518     Bob Jones University (Greenville, SC)
  85. 518     Columbia International University (Columbia, SC)
  86. 518     Patrick Henry College (Percellville, VA)
  87. 517     Bryan College (Dayton, TN)
  88. 516     Walla Walla University (College Place, WA)
  89. 516     Oklahoma Christian University (Edmond, OK)
  90. 515     Blue Mountain College (Blue Mountain, MS)
  91. 515     McMurry University (Abilene, TX)
  92. 515     Point Loma Nazarene University (San Diego, CA)
  93. 514     Belhaven University (Jackson, MS)
  94. 514     William Jessup University (Rocklin, CA)
  95. 512     Gardner-Webb University (Boiling Spring, NC)
  96. 510     Judson University (Elgin, IL)
  97. 509     Waynesburg University (Waynesburg, PA)
  98. 508     Carson-Newman University (Jefferson City, TN)
  99. 507     Bluffton University (Bluffton, OH)
  100. 506     University of Mobile (Mobile, AL)
  101. 506     Northwest Nazarene University (Nampa, ID)
  102. 504     Emmanuel College (Franklin Springs, GA)
  103. 504     Malone University (Canton, OH)
  104. 504     Mars Hill University (Mars Hill, NC)
  105. 503     Lee University (Cleveland, TN)
  106. 501     King University (Bristol, TN)
  107. 497     Fresno Pacific University (Fresno, CA)
  108. 496     Trevecca Nazarene University (Nashville, TN)
  109. 496     Howard Payne University (Brownwood, TX)
  110. 495     Mount Vernon Nazarene University (Mount Vernon, OH)
  111. 494     MidAmerica Nazarene University (Olathe, KS)
  112. 494     Hannibal-LaGrange University (Hannibal, MO)
  113. 494     Palm Beach Atlantic University (West Palm Beach, FL)
  114. 494     Evangel University (Springfield, MO)
  115. 493     Grace College & Seminary (Winona Lake, IN)
  116. 490     University of Mary (Bismarck, ND)
  117. 489     The King's College (New York, NY)
  118. 487     Belmont Abbey College (Belmont, NC)
  119. 487     Oakland City University (Oakland City, IN)
  120. 487     Spring Arbor University (Spring Arbor, MI)
  121. 486     East Texas Baptist University (Marshall, TX)
  122. 485     Cairn University (Langehorn, PA)
  123. 485     San Diego Christian College (El Cajon, CA)
  124. 485     University of Sioux Falls (Sioux Falls, SD)
  125. 484     Liberty University (Lynchburg, VA)
  126. 484     Corban University (Salem, OR)
  127. 483     California Baptist University (Riverside, CA)
  128. 480     Judson College (Marion, AL)
  129. 479     Houston Baptist University (Houston, TX)
  130. 478     North Park University (Chicago, IL)
  131. 478     University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (Belton, TX)
  132. 478     Central Baptist College (Conway, AR)
  133. 477     Anderson University- SC (Anderson, SC)
  134. 477     Simpson University (Redding, CA)
  135. 476     Campbellsville University (Campbellsville, KY)
  136. 476     Southeastern University (Lakeland, FL)

    Third Tier
  137. 476     Olivet Nazarene University (Bourbonnais, IL)
  138. 475     Faulkner University (Montgomery, AL)
  139. 475     Shorter University (Rome, GA)
  140. 475     Oklahoma Wesleyan University (Bartlesville, OK)
  141. 474     Toccoa Falls College (Toccoa Falls, GA)
  142. 472     Charleston Southern University (Charleston, SC)
  143. 469     Kentucky Christian University (Grayson, KY)
  144. 469     Northwest Christian University (Eugene, OR)
  145. 469     Southern Wesleyan University (Central, SC)
  146. 469     Louisiana College (Pineville, LA)
  147. 468     Williams Baptist College (Walnut Ridge, AR)
  148. 466     Warner Pacific College (Portland, OR)
  149. 466     Tabor College (Hillsboro, KS)
  150. 460     Vanguard University of Southern California (Costa Mesa, CA)
  151. 459     University of the Cumberlands (Williamsburg, KY)
  152. 456     Chowan University (Murfreesboro, NC)
  153. 452     Cornerstone University (Grand Rapids, MI)
  154. 451     Concordia University Irvine (Irvine, CA)
  155. 450     Eastern Nazarene College (Quincy, MA)
  156. 450     University of Valley Forge (Phoenixville, PA)
  157. 449     Northwest University (Kirkland, WA)
  158. 449     Crown College (Saint Bonifacius, MN)
  159. 446     Trinity International University (Deerfield, IL)
  160. 445     Bluefield College (Bluefield, VA)
  161. 444     Montreat College (Montreat, NC)
  162. 444     York College (York, NE)
  163. 443     Arizona Christian University (Phoenix, AZ)
  164. 441     Providence Christian College (Pasadena, CA)
  165. 440     Nyack College (Nyack, NY)
  166. 439     Southern Nazarene University (Bethany, OK)
  167. 436     Regent University (Virginia Beach, VA)
  168. 435     Warner University (Lake Wales, FL)
  169. 430     Wayland Baptist University (Plainview, TX)
  170. 430     Randall University (More, OK)
  171. 430     Hope International University (Fullerton, CA)
  172. 422     Truett-McConnell College (Cleveland, GA)
  173. 406     Grand Canyon University (Phoenix, AZ)
  174. 400     Concordia College- NY (Bronxville, NY)
  175. 399     Brewton-Parker College (Mount Vernon, GA)
  176. 396     Baptist College of Health Sciences (Memphis, TN)
  177. 396     Ave Maria University (Ave Maria, FL)
  178. 384     Campbell University (Buies Creek, NC)
  179. 369     Central Christian College of Kansas (McPherson, KS)
  180. 339     North Central University (Minneapolis, MN)
  181. 330     Arkansas Baptist College (Little Rock, AR)
  182. 336     Southwestern Assemblies of God University (Waxahachie, TX)
  183. 322     Colorado Christian University (Lakewood, CO)
  184. 319     University of Fort Lauderdale (Lauderhil, FL)
  185. 317     Southwest Baptist University (Bolivar, MO)
  186. 316     Baptist College of Florida (Graceville, FL)
  187. 313     Kuyper College (Grand Rapids, MI)
  188. 302     Southwestern Christian University (Bethany, OK)
  189. 298     Multnomah University (Portland, OR)
  190. 297     John Paul The Great Catholic University (San Diego, CA)
  191. 289     Virginia University of Lynchburg (Lynchburg, VA)
  192. 288     Holy Spirit College (Atlanta, GA)
  193. 285     Missouri Baptist University (St. Louis, MO)
  194. 271     University of the Southwest (Hobbs, NM)
  195. 257     Northeast Catholic College (Warner, NH)
  196. 249     Holy Apostle College & Seminary (Cromwell, CT)
  197. 247     Trinity Baptist College (Jacksonville, FL)
  198. 225     Baptist University of the Americas (San Antonio, TX)
  199. 212     Bethesda University of California (Anaheim, CA)
  200. 211     Mid-America Christian University (Oklahoma City, OK)
  201. 201     Beulah Heights University (Atlanta, GA)
  202. 189     Paul Quinn College (Dallas, TX)
  203. 154     Wyoming Catholic University (Lander, WY)
  204. 106     Pensacola Christian University (Pensacola, FL)

*The current published rankings are based on Faith on View's 2016 study. An updated study is currently in progress and expected to release in late 2024.

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The Importance and Purpose of Christian College Rankings

In this landscape of diverse options for higher education within Christian institutions, rankings play an integral role in assisting prospective students make informed decisions about where they should invest their time and resources. Rankings offer quantifiable data including acceptance rates, graduation rates, student satisfaction scores among others - all crucial information when choosing a college. 

Rankings serve as a barometer reflecting the quality of education provided by individual colleges relative to other similar institutions. The best Christiaan colleges consistently fare well across various parameters highlighted by major ranking systems nationwide – from academic quality measured by faculty credentials and research output; financial sustainability gauged by endowment funds; student life experiences influenced by extracurricular opportunities; even down to metrics like small class sizes – thus aiding students in deciphering the quality of education institutions. 

Nevertheless, while rankings carry weight, it is essential to remember they are one among many tools for assessing the overall potential fit and value of a college. 

Controversies and Criticisms of Christian College Rankings

The methodologies used in ranking systems often spark debates. Critics argue that the metrics used may not fully capture an institution's true worth or they might unduly favor certain institutions over others. This is further complicated by perceived biases inherent within the ranking process itself, which may potentially distort rankings.

Moreover, there are concerns over effects on smaller or less well-known institutions which might offer great programs but slip under the radar due to lack of visibility or size. Therefore prospective students are advised not just to rely solely on rankings but also consider if the college is indeed their best fit.

There is truth to all of this. Rankings are only one factor for potential students to consider. However, the Faith on View Christian college rankings have been designed to give small and less known institutions the opportunity to shine and are intentionally much more than a reflection on the institution's wealth. These rankings take dozens of factors into consideration to provide a wholistic assessment of Christian institutions.  

Using Christian College Rankings Effectively 

In deciding where to enroll, it’s essential for prospective students to align their personal goals and values with those emphasized by their chosen institution. Consideration should be given not only towards academic programs but also factors such as campus culture, community engagement opportunities, student life, and the spiritual culture. 

While rankings can act as a guidepost, they should never eclipse considerations such as personal fit or accreditation status of an institution. The ultimate choice of college should be one that promises to equip students with a quality education that aligns with their personal faith and aspirations.

The rising importance of online education is set to impact future Christian colleges and higher education more broadly. It is important for students to consider the type of education, spiritual formation, and college experience they desire. 

It's crucial not to become overly fixated on numbers alone always keeping in mind how well an institution aligns with each student individually. As the landscape of education continues to evolve, so will these rankings, reflecting not just academic achievement but also the capacity for spiritual growth and societal impact. 

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