Top Christian Colleges and Universities in the United States 2010 to 2011

Here is a ranking of Christian colleges which includes nationally recognized Christian Universities like Wheaton, Pepperdine, Calvin College, Biola University, Abilene Christian, and Asuza Pacific University. (as well as Texas Christian, Southern Methodist, and Belmont University which were left off the list–but ranked by Forbes) If you would like to contribute a top christian university to the list please leave a note in the comments section. I hope this list helps you in your college search–it includes a total of 31 of the top christian private universities in America. God bless. (Also, please feel free to bookmark this site…and click through to each university to learn more. Thanks for reading.)

59. Wheaton College (#1)

Forbes 10-11 rank: No. 59

Forbes 09-10 rank: No. 103

U.S. News Rank: National Liberal Arts Tier 1

Wheaton, Illinois

Est. 1860

Denominational Affiliation: Christian nondenominational

81. Westmont College (#2)

Forbes 10-11 rank: No. 81

Forbes 09-10 rank: No. 222

U.S. News Rank: National Liberal Arts Tier 1

Santa Barbara, California

Est. 1937

Denominational Affiliation: Christian nondenominational

134. George Fox University (#3)

Forbes 10-11 rank: No. 134

Forbes 09-10 rank: No. 58

U.S. News Rank: National Universities Tier 1

Newberg, Oregon

Est. 1891

Denominational Affiliation: Evangelical Friends

142. Pepperdine University (#4)

Forbes 10-11 rank: No. 142

Forbes 09-10 rank: No. 276

U.S. News Rank: National Universities Tier 1

Malibu, Calif.

Est. 1937

Denominational Affiliation: Churches of Christ

160. Gordon College (#5)

Forbes 10-11 rank: No. 160

Forbes 09-10 rank: No. 426

U.S. News Rank: National Liberal Arts Tier 1

Wenham, Massachusetts

Est. 1889

Denominational Affiliation: non-denominational

179. Covenant College (#6)

Forbes 10-11 rank: No. 179

Forbes 09-10 rank: No. 185

U.S. News Rank: Regional Colleges (South) Tier 1

Lookout Mountain, Georgia

Est. 1955

Denominational Affiliation: Presbyterian Church in America

209. Whitworth University (#7)

Forbes 10-11 rank: No. 209

Forbes 09-10 rank: No. 198

U.S. News Rank: Regional Universities (West) Tier 1

Spokane, Washington

Est. 1890

Denominational Affiliation: Presbyterian Church in America

213. Houghton College (#8)

Forbes 10-11 rank: No. 213

Forbes 09-10 rank: No. 172

U.S. News Rank: National Liberal Arts Tier 1

Houghton, New York

Est. 1883

Denominational Affiliation: Wesleyan Church

233. Oklahoma Baptist University (#9)

Forbes 10-11 rank: No. 233

Forbes 09-10 rank: No. 109

U.S. News Rank: Regional Colleges (West) Tier 1

Shawnee, Oklahoma

Est. 1910

Denominational Affiliation: Southern Baptist Convention

235. College of the Ozarks (#10)

Forbes 10-11 rank: 235

Forbes 09-10 rank: NA

U.S. News Rank: Regional Colleges (Midwest) Tier 1

Point Lookout, Missouri

Est. 1906

Denominational Affiliation: Christian Interdenominational

258. Calvin College (#11)

Forbes 10-11 rank: No. 258

Forbes 09-10 rank: No. 455

U.S. News Rank: National Liberal Arts Tier 1

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Est. 1876

Denominational Affiliation: Christian Reformed

268. Goshen College (#12)

Forbes 10-11 rank: No. 268

Forbes 09-10 rank: No. 177

U.S. News Rank: National Liberal Arts Tier 1

Goshen, Indiana

Est. 1894

Denominational Affiliation: Mennonite Church USA

286. Mississippi College (#13)

Forbes 10-11 rank: No. 286

Forbes 09-10 rank: No. 120

U.S. News Rank: Regional Universities (South) Tier 1

Clinton, Mississippi

Est. 1826

Denominational Affiliation: Southern Baptist Convention

287. Union University (#14)

Forbes 10-11 rank: No. 287

Forbes 09-10 rank: No. 278

U.S. News Rank: Regional Universities (South) Tier 1

Jackson, Tennessee

Est. 1823

Denominational Affiliation: Southern Baptist

289. Huntington University (#15)

Forbes 10-11 rank: No. 289

Forbes 09-10 rank: No. 97

U.S. News Rank: Regional Colleges (Midwest) Tier 1

Huntington, Indiana

Est. 1897

Denominational Affiliation: United Brethren in Christ

304. Cedarville University (#15)

Forbes 10-11 rank: No. 304

Forbes 09-10 rank: No. 284

U.S. News Rank: Regional Colleges (Midwest) Tier 1

Cedarville, Ohio

Est. 1887

Denominational Affiliation: Baptist

316. Vanguard University of Southern California (#16)

Forbes 10-11 rank: No. 316

Forbes 09-10 rank: No. 395

U.S. News Rank: Regional Colleges (West) Tier 1

Costa Mesa, California

Est. 1920

Denominational Affiliation: Assemblies of God

324. Biola University (#17)

Forbes 10-11 rank: No. 324

Forbes 09-10 rank: No. 314

U.S. News Rank: National Universities Tier 1

La Mirada, California

Est. 1908

333. John Brown University (#18}

Forbes 10-11 rank: No. 333

Forbes 09-10 rank: No. 316

U.S. News Rank: Regional Colleges (South) Tier 1

Siloam Springs, Arkansas

Est. 1919

Denominational Affiliation: Interdenominational

335. Asbury University (#19)

Forbes 10-11 rank: No. 335

Forbes 09-10 rank: No. 384

U.S. News Rank: National Liberal Arts Tier 1

Wilmore, Kentucky

Est. 1890

Denominational Affiliation: non-denominational

340. Dordt College (#20)

Forbes 10-11 rank: No. 340

Forbes 09-10 rank: NA

U.S. News Rank: Regional Colleges (Midwest) Tier 1

Sioux Center, Iowa

Est. 1955

Denominational Affiliation: Christian Reformed

365. North Greenville University (#21)

Forbes 10-11 rank: No. 365

Forbes 09-10 rank: No. 154

U.S. News Rank: National Liberal Arts Tier 2

Tigerville, South Carolina

Est. 1892

Denominational Affiliation: Southern Baptist Convention

387. Northwestern College (#22)

Forbes 10-11 rank: No. 387

Forbes 09-10 rank: No. 212

U.S. News Rank: Regional Colleges (Midwest) Tier 1

Orange City, Iowa

Est. 1882

Denominational Affiliation: Reformed Church in America

389. Seattle Pacific University (#23)

Forbes 10-11 rank: No. 389

Forbes 09-10 rank: No. 451

U.S. News Rank: Regional Universities (West) Tier 1

Seattle, Washington

Est. 1891

Denominational Affiliation: Free Methodist

390. Carson-Newman College (#24)

Forbes 10-11 rank: No. 390

Forbes 09-10 rank: No. 110

U.S. News Rank: National Liberal Arts Tier 1

Jefferson City, Tennessee

Est. 1851

Denominational Affiliation: Baptist

424. Bethel University (#25)

Forbes 10-11 rank: No. 424

Forbes 09-10 rank: No. 229

U.S. News Rank: Regional Universities (Midwest) Tier 1

Saint Paul, Minnesota

Est. 1871

Denominational Affiliation: Converge Worldwide

428. Azusa Pacific University (#26)

Forbes 10-11 rank: No. 428

Forbes 09-10 rank: No. 510

U.S. News Rank: National Universities Tier 1

Azusa, California

Est. 1899

Denominational Affiliation: Christian Interdenominational

435. Trinity International University (#27)

Forbes 10-11 rank: No. 435

Forbes 09-10 rank: No. 258

U.S. News Rank:National Universities Tier 2

Deerfield, Illinois

Est. 1897

Denominational Affiliation: Evangelical Free Church of America

444. Messiah College (#28)

Forbes 10-11 rank: No. 444

Forbes 09-10 rank: No. 542

U.S. News Rank:Regional Colleges (North) Tier 1

Grantham, Pennsylvania

Est. 1909

Denominational Affiliation: Christian Interdenominational

483. Corban University (#29)

Forbes 10-11 rank: No. 483

Forbes 09-10 rank: No. 515

U.S. News Rank:Regional Colleges (West) Tier 1

Salem, Oregon

Est. 1935

Denominational Affiliation: Baptist

Athletic Association: NAIA

484. Abilene Christian University (#30)

Forbes 10-11 rank: No. 484

Forbes 09-10 rank: No. 407

U.S. News Rank: Regional Universities (West) Tier 1

Abilene, Texas

Est. 1906

Denominational Affiliation: Church of Christ

Athletic Association: NCAA-II

489. Erskine College (#31)

Forbes 10-11 rank: No. 489

Forbes 09-10 rank: No. 245

U.S. News Rank:Regional Colleges (South) Tier 1

Due West, South Carolina

Est. 1839

Denominational Affiliation: Associate Reformed Presbyterian

Athletic Association: NCAA-II

525. Oral Roberts University (#32)

Forbes 10-11 rank: No. 525

Forbes 09-10 rank: No. 553

U.S. News Rank:National Universities Tier 2

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Est. 1963

Denominational Affiliation: Christian Interdenominational

Athletic Association: NCAA-I

I’ve quoted much of the above list information from Top Christian Colleges.org in an effort to aid in the value, credibility and transparency of rankings from reputable sources (that list was compiled by the marketing department at George Fox University.) Given that it is 1) educational 2) helps their university 3) uses info they copied as well.

It seems odd that the list did not include either of the three following which usually rank quite highly in Christian college and university rankings in the United States:

1) Southern Methodist University (SMU) (#109 on Forbes Ranking)

6425 Boaz Lane

Dallas, TX 75205

214-768-2000 2) Baylor University (#346 on the Forbes Ranking)

One Bear Place #97056

Waco, TX 76798

254-710-3435 3) Samford University (#409 on the Forbes Ranking)

800 Lakeshore Dr.

Birmingham, AL 35229

205-726-3673 4) Texas Christian University (TCU) (#426 on Forbes Ranking)

TCU Box 297013

Fort Worth, TX 76129

817-257-7490

(Obviously Lutheran, Wesleyan/Methodist, and Catholic Universities have been omitted as well. Although, this may be based on lack of membership to the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU))

I recommend you check out Top Christian Colleges which allows you to rank or sort universities by State, so you can find the best Christian university located nearby you or a breakdown of some of the US News and World Report rankings for top Christian colleges and universities including (which are listed by Tier):

Top Christian National Universities Tier 1 (listed alphabetically)

Top Christian National Universities Tier 2 (listed alphabetically)

Top Christian Liberal Arts Colleges & Universities Tier I (per US News and World Report ranking methodology listed alphabetically)

Asbury University (Wilmore, Kentucky)

Calvin College (Grand Rapids, Michigan)

Eastern Mennonite University (Harrisonburg, Virginia)

Gordon College (Wenham, Massachusetts)

Goshen College (Goshen, Indiana)

Houghton College (Houghton, New York)

Westmont College (Santa Barbara, California)

Wheaton College (Wheaton College)

Regional Universities (North) Tier I:

Eastern University (St Davids, Pennsylvania)

Roberts Wesleyan College (Rochester, New York)

Waynesburg University (Waynesburg, Pennsylvania)

Regional Universities (West) Tier I:

Abilene Christian University (Abilene, Texas)

California Baptist University (Riverside, California)

Colorado Christian University (Lakewood, Colorado)

Dallas Baptist University (Dallas, Texas)

Fresno Pacific University (Fresno, California)

Hardin-Simmons University (Abilene, Texas)

Houston Baptist University (Houston, Texas)

LeTourneau University (Longview, Texas)

Northwest Nazarene University (Nampa, Idaho)

Oklahoma Christian University (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)

Point Loma Nazarene University (San Diego, California)

Seattle Pacific University (Seattle, Washington)

Southern Nazarene University (Bethany, Oklahoma)

University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (Belton, Texas)

University of the Southwest (Hobbs, New Mexico)

Whitworth University (Spokane, Washington)

Regional Universities Midwest (Tier I) | US News & World Report Rankings

Bethel College (Mishawaka, Indiana)

Indiana Wesleyan University (Marion, Indiana)

Malone University (Canton, Ohio)

North Park University (Chicago, Illinois)

Olivet Nazarene University (Bourbonnais, Illinois)

Southwest Baptist University (Bolivar, Missouri)

Spring Arbor University (Spring Arbor, Michigan)

Top Regional Universities (South)

Belmont University (Nashville, TN)

Union University (Jackson, TN)

Lipscomb University (Nashville, TN)

Harding University (Searcy, AR)

Christian Brothers (Memphis, TN)

You can go to the actual US News and World Report Rankings for more specific information about each school. Before you do so, you might want to bookmark this page as well as specific Christian colleges and universities you are potentially interested in based on these rankings.