Top Christian Schools From Coast to Coast

We bring you a sampling of institutions located across the country, each with quality programs.
For high school students planning to attend a Christian college, the task of researching potential schools can be daunting. That’s why Charisma compiled the following list. Though by no means comprehensive, the alphabetical listing includes useful descriptions of several popular schools.

Biola University is a nationally ranked private Christian university founded in 1908 and located in La Mirada, California. It offers 145 academic programs ranging from bachelor’s degrees to doctoral degrees in six schools that integrate the Bible in more than 30 majors. Biola 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. For more information, visit biola.edu.

Bryan College, founded in 1930 in Dayton, Tennessee, was named after William Jennings Bryan, the renowned statesman and prosecuting attorney in the famous Scopes Evolution Trial. The nondenominational school has been listed among the top comprehensive colleges in the South by U.S. News & World Report for the 12th consecutive year. For more information, visit bryan.edu.

Central Bible College, established in 1922, is affiliated with the Assemblies of God and located near its headquarters in Springfield, Missouri. Courses are offered in the divisions of biblical education, church ministries, music, general education, and arts and sciences. The school’s stated mission is to train ministers and missionaries for tomorrow’s church. For more information, visit cbcag.edu.

Colorado Christian University is an interdenominational school founded in 1914 and located near Denver. The school is the only member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities in an eight-state region and offers associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees as well as certificate and licensing programs. Visit ccu.edu.

Crown College, founded in 1916 and affiliated with the Christian and Missionary Alliance, is located on a 215-acre campus near Minneapolis. About 60 percent of the traditional daytime student body come from Minnesota, with the remaining 40 percent coming from 22 other states. For more information, visit crown.edu.

Elim Bible Institute, founded in 1924, is a transdenominational, charismatic Bible college located in Lima, New York. Among Bible schools with a charismatic emphasis, Elim has an international reputation for excellence. To better fulfill its mission, Elim has chosen to be a nondegree-granting institution. However, its long tradition of high academic standards continues to make it possible for its students to transfer most of their course units to Christian colleges, selected public colleges and private universities. For more information, visit elim.edu.

Emmanuel College is a private, four-year Christian college in Franklin Springs, Georgia, with an evangelical, Pentecostal foundation. The school was founded in 1919 by the International Pentecostal Holiness Church, but more than 25 denominations are represented by its current student body. It offers associate and baccalaureate degrees. For more information, visit ec.edu.

Lee University is a private, comprehensive university founded in 1918. It is affiliated with the Church of God and is located near the denomination’s headquarters in Cleveland, Tennessee. Lee has the fifth largest undergraduate enrollment among the more than 100 Christian colleges that are member institutions of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities. For more information, visit leeuniversity.edu.

Liberty University, founded in 1971 and located in Lynchburg, Virginia, is the world’s largest evangelical university, with more than 20,000 students from at least 70 countries. The wide variety of residential, online and blended format programs are designed to serve students’ needs at the undergraduate and graduate levels regardless of location or schedule. For more information, visit liberty.edu.

Messiah College, situated on a 400-acre campus near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, was established in 1909 as a school of the Brethren in Christ Church. However, only 4 percent of today’s student body come from the Brethren denomination. The school was named one of the top five best colleges for comprehensive undergraduate programs in the North by U.S. News & World Report. For more information, visit messiah.edu.

Mount Vernon Nazarene University, founded in 1968 and located in Mount Vernon, Ohio, is a private, four-year liberal arts university with a solid evangelical Christian foundation. Although the majority of the student body at the school is Nazarene, more than 40 other Christian denominations are represented on campus. For more information, visit mvnu.edu.

North Central University, founded in 1930, is a private university affiliated with the Assemblies of God. The school, located in Minneapolis, offers more than 30 majors and awards bachelor’s of arts degrees, bachelor’s of science degrees, three-year diplomas, two-year associate of arts degrees and one-year certificates. For more information, visit northcentral.edu.

Oral Roberts University, founded in 1965 by its namesake evangelist, is located in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The university offers 61 undergraduate majors, 14 master’s programs and two doctoral degrees. The 263-acre campus serves more than 5,000 students from 64 countries. For more information, visit oru.edu.

Simpson University is a private, evangelical liberal arts university founded in 1921 and located in Redding, California. The school is affiliated with the Christian and Missionary Alliance, but all evangelical Christian denominations are welcome, with students representing more than 25 denominations. For more information, visit simpsonuniversity.edu.

Southeastern University, founded in 1935, is located in Lakeland, Florida, and offers 43 academic programs leading to bachelor’s and master’s degrees. The school is affiliated with the Assemblies of God, and more than 60 percent of students come from an AG background. For more, visit seuniversity.edu.

Vanguard University, founded in 1920, is a private university of liberal arts and professional studies that is distinctly Pentecostal and charismatic. Located in Costa Mesa, California, it is affiliated with the Assemblies of God. U.S. News & World Report named it the seventh best comprehensive college in the West. For more, visit vanguard.edu.

Wheaton College, located in Wheaton, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, is a private, interdenominational, four-year Christian liberal arts college founded in 1860. Wheaton is ranked ninth in the nation among Christian liberal arts colleges for total number of graduates. For more information, visit wheaton.edu.