Choosing a college as you finish up high school courses can be stressful, exciting, daunting and frustrating. For a lot of students, college is a time to not only prepare for a career: it’s also a time to grow socially, intellectually and spiritually. Besides considering factors like student to faculty ratio, number of interesting majors, and financial aid, students also need to research a college’s offering of programs that teach life skills, provide support and guidance, and help students develop into smart, capable, moral adults. Students with a strong Christian background and who want to continue exploring their faith during college may want to consider attending a Christian college or university. There are a variety of Christian colleges to choose from in the United States, but most have the same mission to give students an education beyond what they learn from their textbooks: they also emphasize the importance of leading a responsible, ethical life.
Once a student has settled on attending a Christian college, they still have a lot of decisions to make. There are Catholic and Jesuit institutions, Baptist colleges, large universities, small colleges, colleges with strict social policies and dress codes, colleges in big cities and schools in small towns, and schools that offer a wide range of degrees, while others specialize in only a few certain fields. Below is a guide that can help you narrow down your choices and find the best Christian college for you.
- Large Catholic or Jesuit school: Schools like Notre Dame and Loyola University in Chicago are large, Catholic universities steeped in tradition and are devoted to inspiring public service and the highest standards of academic achievement. They offer undergraduate and graduate programs in a variety of majors and fields. They are both nationally ranked schools and considered to be prestigious universities for anyone to attend, including non-Catholic students. Like many other liberal arts colleges, Loyola requires students to take classes from a core curriculum, and they must satisfy a philosophical and theological & religious studies requirement. These classes, though, aren’t necessarily Catholic-centric and can focus on Ancient Greece, Islam, the Bible and more. While large, well-respected Catholic universities are involved in teaching a number of disciplines and offer all kinds of secular social and professional groups, their strong Catholic heritage and community may make some non-Catholic students uncomfortable.
- Baptist college: Many Baptist colleges are very closely tied to their local church community and the network of Baptist churches regionally, nationwide, and even worldwide. The aim of these colleges is to help students develop into intelligent, hard-working individuals who do not separate their love of God and Christian ideals from their social, academic and professional lives. Some Baptist colleges can be very small and very conservative, implementing dress codes and requiring male and female students to live in separate dorms. Others are more relaxed socially but still encourage students to live spiritual, moral lives on campus and off. Like the large Catholic universities, many Baptist colleges are also dedicated to community service and volunteer work.
- Bible college and seminary: Bible colleges and theological seminaries are primarily devoted to preparing students for careers in Christian ministry. While they may offer undergraduate and graduate degrees, these schools generally only offer programs in areas like Christian Counseling, Religious Education, biblical Studies, Pastoral Ministry and others. Many times, Bible colleges implement strict dress codes and other social restrictions that may inhibit typical college behavior, like drinking or staying out late. Some Bible schools are affiliated with a particular denomination, while others teach general Christian principles.
