Best Christian Colleges & Universities

Top Consensus Ranked Schools 2019

The College Consensus ranking of the Best Christian Colleges combines the published rankings of a wide selection of trusted media outlets, with the more trustworthy student review sites, to determine the overall most highly regarded Christ-centered* schools (see also: Best Online Christian Colleges & Universities). Christian students of all denominations often find that a college experience rooted in their faith is the right choice for them, and with College Consensus’ all-encompassing method, prospective students can trust that their choice passes muster with the experts and the students alike.

(*As defined by the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities.)

How Do We Make Our Ranking of the Best Christian Colleges?

College Consensus takes an innovative approach to college rankings, combining data from the most reputable college ranking publishers with the most legit student reviews available. The Consensus uses established rankings such as U.S. News & World Report, The Wall Street Journal, and WalletHub to create the Publisher Rating. The Student Review Rating combines stats from Cappex, Niche, Unigo, and more. Together, they all add up to the Consensus Rating, one number to represent them all for a comprehensive, aggregate ranking.

American Christianity is a highly diverse, multi-faceted creature, with hundreds of denominations, and the higher education landscape dotted with Christian colleges and universities just like the real landscape is dotted with churches. Small and large, Christian colleges run the gamut, including schools rooted in the liberal arts, universities focused on research and professional education, and colleges dedicated to building an ethical, service-oriented workforce. For Christian students who find that an education in a Christian setting fits their needs, the College Consensus Best Christian Colleges ranking gives direction and focus to a search that could range near and far.

What’s Different About the College Consensus Ranking?

As an innovative, aggregate ranking, College Consensus crosses all kinds of boundaries, treating students who have experienced college life with the same seriousness as the published experts who dominate college rankings. The Consensus method is designed to give the full view of the landscape, taking into consideration the voices of all of higher education’s stakeholders. With College Consensus, students can trust that they’re getting the facts, and nothing but the facts, converted into the most unbiased, comprehensive ranking yet. Read more about the College Consensus methodology on the About page.

Note: The Top Consensus Ranked Christian Colleges are listed in descending order by their Consensus score. In the event of ties, schools are ranked in alphabetical order with the same rank number.

1

Calvin College

Grand Rapids, MI

74.5

College Consensus

70.6

Publisher Consensus

78.4

Student Consensus

Last Accessed: May, 2019

2

College of the Ozarks

Point Lookout, MO

72.8

College Consensus

77.6

Publisher Consensus

67.9

Student Consensus

Last Accessed: May, 2019

3

Samford University

Birmingham, AL

71.8

College Consensus

68.7

Publisher Consensus

74.9

Student Consensus

Last Accessed: May, 2019

4

Northwestern College

Orange City, IA

71.1

College Consensus

63.3

Publisher Consensus

79

Student Consensus

Last Accessed: May, 2019

5

John Brown University

Siloam Springs, AR

71

College Consensus

61.9

Publisher Consensus

80.1

Student Consensus

Last Accessed: May, 2019

6

Howard Payne University

Brownwood, TX

70.7

College Consensus

57.9

Publisher Consensus

83.4

Student Consensus

Last Accessed: May, 2019

7

Dordt College

Sioux Center, IA

70.5

College Consensus

71.6

Publisher Consensus

69.5

Student Consensus

Last Accessed: May, 2019

8

Pepperdine University

Malibu, CA

68.4

College Consensus

63.1

Publisher Consensus

73.8

Student Consensus

Last Accessed: May, 2019

9

San Diego Christian College

Santee, CA

67.2

College Consensus

62.4

Publisher Consensus

72.1

Student Consensus

Last Accessed: May, 2019

10

Huntington University

Huntington, IN

67.2

College Consensus

57.9

Publisher Consensus

76.5

Student Consensus

Last Accessed: May, 2019

11

Baylor University

Waco, TX

66.9

College Consensus

59.1

Publisher Consensus

74.7

Student Consensus

Last Accessed: May, 2019

12

Asbury University

Wilmore, KY

66.7

College Consensus

57.1

Publisher Consensus

76.3

Student Consensus

Last Accessed: May, 2019

13

Oklahoma Baptist University

Shawnee, OK

66.5

College Consensus

61.2

Publisher Consensus

71.8

Student Consensus

Last Accessed: May, 2019

14

Covenant College

Lookout Mountain, GA

66.3

College Consensus

49.5

Publisher Consensus

83.1

Student Consensus

Last Accessed: May, 2019

15

Kuyper College

Grand Rapids, MI

66.1

College Consensus

48.3

Publisher Consensus

83.9

Student Consensus

Last Accessed: May, 2019

16

Bethel University (MN)

Saint Paul, MN

66

College Consensus

58.4

Publisher Consensus

73.6

Student Consensus

Last Accessed: May, 2019

17

Harding University

Searcy, AR

65.6

College Consensus

56.9

Publisher Consensus

74.3

Student Consensus

Last Accessed: May, 2019

18

Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion

Marion, IN

65.5

College Consensus

55.9

Publisher Consensus

75.2

Student Consensus

Last Accessed: May, 2019

19

Messiah College

Mechanicsburg, PA

65.5

College Consensus

59.2

Publisher Consensus

71.8

Student Consensus

Last Accessed: May, 2019

20

MidAmerica Nazarene University

Olathe, KS

65.5

College Consensus

48.7

Publisher Consensus

82.3

Student Consensus

Last Accessed: May, 2019

21

Point Loma Nazarene University

San Diego, CA

65.4

College Consensus

58.9

Publisher Consensus

71.9

Student Consensus

Last Accessed: May, 2019

22

Biola University

La Mirada, CA

65.3

College Consensus

46.7

Publisher Consensus

83.9

Student Consensus

Last Accessed: May, 2019

23

LeTourneau University

Longview, TX

65.3

College Consensus

58.6

Publisher Consensus

72

Student Consensus

Last Accessed: May, 2019

24

Arizona Christian University

Phoenix, AZ

65.2

College Consensus

51.4

Publisher Consensus

78.9

Student Consensus

Last Accessed: May, 2019

25

Columbia International University

Columbia, SC

65.1

College Consensus

57.3

Publisher Consensus

72.9

Student Consensus

Last Accessed: May, 2019

26

Franciscan University of Steubenville

Steubenville, OH

65.1

College Consensus

55.8

Publisher Consensus

74.4

Student Consensus

Last Accessed: May, 2019

27

California Baptist University

Riverside, CA

65

College Consensus

50.7

Publisher Consensus

79.4

Student Consensus

Last Accessed: May, 2019

28

George Fox University

Newberg, OR

64.8

College Consensus

53.5

Publisher Consensus

76

Student Consensus

Last Accessed: May, 2019

29

Bethel College-Indiana

Mishawaka, IN

64.6

College Consensus

52.7

Publisher Consensus

76.5

Student Consensus

Last Accessed: May, 2019

30

Northwest Nazarene University

Nampa, ID

64.4

College Consensus

46.4

Publisher Consensus

82.3

Student Consensus

Last Accessed: May, 2019

31

Abilene Christian University

Abilene, TX

64.2

College Consensus

54.2

Publisher Consensus

74.3

Student Consensus

Last Accessed: May, 2019

32

Fresno Pacific University

Fresno, CA

64.2

College Consensus

49.2

Publisher Consensus

79.2

Student Consensus

Last Accessed: May, 2019

33

Corban University

Salem, OR

64.2

College Consensus

45.4

Publisher Consensus

82.9

Student Consensus

Last Accessed: May, 2019

34

Grace College and Theological Seminary

Winona Lake, IN

63.9

College Consensus

47

Publisher Consensus

80.9

Student Consensus

Last Accessed: May, 2019

35

Crown College

Saint Bonifacius, MN

63.6

College Consensus

49.2

Publisher Consensus

78

Student Consensus

Last Accessed: May, 2019

36

Northwest Christian University

Eugene, OR

63.3

College Consensus

44.4

Publisher Consensus

82.3

Student Consensus

Last Accessed: May, 2019

37

Houghton College

Houghton, NY

63.3

College Consensus

52.8

Publisher Consensus

73.7

Student Consensus

Last Accessed: May, 2019

38

Northwest University

Kirkland, WA

63.2

College Consensus

47.7

Publisher Consensus

78.6

Student Consensus

Last Accessed: May, 2019

39

East Texas Baptist University

Marshall, TX

62.9

College Consensus

53.8

Publisher Consensus

71.9

Student Consensus

Last Accessed: May, 2019

40

Campbell University

Buies Creek, NC

62.6

College Consensus

55.5

Publisher Consensus

69.7

Student Consensus

Last Accessed: May, 2019

41

Gordon College

Wenham, MA

62.4

College Consensus

49.6

Publisher Consensus

75.2

Student Consensus

Last Accessed: May, 2019

42

Anderson University (IN)

Anderson, IN

62

College Consensus

49.7

Publisher Consensus

74.4

Student Consensus

Last Accessed: May, 2019

43

Geneva College

Beaver Falls, PA

61.9

College Consensus

52.5

Publisher Consensus

71.4

Student Consensus

Last Accessed: May, 2019

44

Mississippi College

Clinton, MS

61.6

College Consensus

54.4

Publisher Consensus

68.8

Student Consensus

Last Accessed: May, 2019

45

Point University

West Point, GA

61.5

College Consensus

47.7

Publisher Consensus

75.3

Student Consensus

Last Accessed: May, 2019

46

Judson University

Elgin, IL

61

College Consensus

48.3

Publisher Consensus

73.7

Student Consensus

Last Accessed: May, 2019

47

Eastern University

Saint Davids, PA

60.9

College Consensus

53.1

Publisher Consensus

68.7

Student Consensus

Last Accessed: May, 2019

48

Malone University

Canton, OH

60.6

College Consensus

46.1

Publisher Consensus

75

Student Consensus

Last Accessed: May, 2019

49

Friends University

Wichita, KS

60.5

College Consensus

43.2

Publisher Consensus

77.9

Student Consensus

Last Accessed: May, 2019

50

Palm Beach Atlantic University

West Palm Beach, FL

60.5

College Consensus

48.6

Publisher Consensus

72.4

Student Consensus

Last Accessed: May, 2019

51

Carson-Newman University

Jefferson City, TN

60.5

College Consensus

50

Publisher Consensus

71

Student Consensus

Last Accessed: May, 2019

52

Seattle Pacific University

Seattle, WA

60.5

College Consensus

46.9

Publisher Consensus

74

Student Consensus

Last Accessed: May, 2019

53

Mount Vernon Nazarene University

Mount Vernon, OH

60.3

College Consensus

46.8

Publisher Consensus

73.8

Student Consensus

Last Accessed: May, 2019

54

Hardin-Simmons University

Abilene, TX

60.2

College Consensus

47.2

Publisher Consensus

73.2

Student Consensus

Last Accessed: May, 2019

56

Olivet Nazarene University

Bourbonnais, IL

60.1

College Consensus

49.5

Publisher Consensus

70.7

Student Consensus

Last Accessed: May, 2019

58

Evangel University

Springfield, MO

60.1

College Consensus

44.9

Publisher Consensus

75.3

Student Consensus

Last Accessed: May, 2019

59

Montreat College

Montreat, NC

60

College Consensus

43.7

Publisher Consensus

76.2

Student Consensus

Last Accessed: May, 2019

60

Anderson University (SC)

Anderson, SC

59.8

College Consensus

43.7

Publisher Consensus

75.9

Student Consensus

Last Accessed: May, 2019

61

Kentucky Christian University

Grayson, KY

59.7

College Consensus

44.3

Publisher Consensus

75.1

Student Consensus

Last Accessed: May, 2019

62

Dallas Baptist University

Dallas, TX

59.6

College Consensus

43

Publisher Consensus

76.2

Student Consensus

Last Accessed: May, 2019

63

Simpson University

Redding, CA

59.5

College Consensus

41.7

Publisher Consensus

77.4

Student Consensus

Last Accessed: May, 2019

64

Azusa Pacific University

Azusa, CA

59.3

College Consensus

45.6

Publisher Consensus

73

Student Consensus

Last Accessed: May, 2019

65

North Greenville University

Tigerville, SC

59.2

College Consensus

44.2

Publisher Consensus

74.2

Student Consensus

Last Accessed: May, 2019

66

Roberts Wesleyan College

Rochester, NY

59

College Consensus

51.9

Publisher Consensus

66.1

Student Consensus

Last Accessed: May, 2019

67

North Park University

Chicago, IL

58.9

College Consensus

50.3

Publisher Consensus

67.5

Student Consensus

Last Accessed: May, 2019

68

University of Mary Hardin-Baylor

Belton, TX

58.7

College Consensus

44.9

Publisher Consensus

72.6

Student Consensus

Last Accessed: May, 2019

69

Oral Roberts University

Tulsa, OK

58.4

College Consensus

47.8

Publisher Consensus

69

Student Consensus

Last Accessed: May, 2019

70

Bluefield College

Bluefield, VA

57.9

College Consensus

42.5

Publisher Consensus

73.3

Student Consensus

Last Accessed: May, 2019

71

Missouri Baptist University

Saint Louis, MO

57.8

College Consensus

40.3

Publisher Consensus

75.4

Student Consensus

Last Accessed: May, 2019

72

Oklahoma Christian University

Edmond, OK

57.5

College Consensus

42.4

Publisher Consensus

72.7

Student Consensus

Last Accessed: May, 2019

73

Lipscomb University

Nashville, TN

57.5

College Consensus

44.3

Publisher Consensus

70.6

Student Consensus

Last Accessed: May, 2019

75

Cornerstone University

Grand Rapids, MI

56.4

College Consensus

40.4

Publisher Consensus

72.5

Student Consensus

Last Accessed: May, 2019

77

North Central University

Minneapolis, MN

55.7

College Consensus

38.7

Publisher Consensus

72.7

Student Consensus

Last Accessed: May, 2019

78

Southwest Baptist University

Bolivar, MO

55.1

College Consensus

37.8

Publisher Consensus

72.4

Student Consensus

Last Accessed: May, 2019

79

Houston Baptist University

Houston, TX

54.8

College Consensus

44.5

Publisher Consensus

65

Student Consensus

Last Accessed: May, 2019

80

Charleston Southern University

Charleston, SC

54.5

College Consensus

41.7

Publisher Consensus

67.3

Student Consensus

Last Accessed: May, 2019