Should You Consider a Christian College?

Choosing which college to attend is one of the most important decisions you will ever make. Besides influencing your future relationships, career choices, and ministry opportunities, it will impact your development as a person. There are many factors to look at when considering a college: cost, size, majors, location. When looking at Christian colleges, many people are discouraged by the price tag which looks high when compared to that of a public institution. But Christians need to look at more than just the financial cost of attending a college: what will be the cost to your spiritual growth and relationship with God?

Studies show that the spiritual cost of attending secular colleges can be quite high, especially during the first year of college. Over half of Christian students at secular colleges either stop attending church, praying, reading their Bible, or they reject their faith outright. The greatest changes occur in students who come from a more conservative upbringing. These changes tend to be permanent, affecting their long-term spiritual health and that of generations to come. On the other hand, these studies show that the beliefs and accompanying behavior of students attending Christian colleges is strengthened.*

The college years are naturally a time of change and discovery as young people wrestle with questions of identity, faith and belief. At secular colleges, students are encouraged to question their beliefs and experiment with lifestyles and behaviors by faculties overwhelmingly opposed to Christianity. A student attending a Christian college is surrounded by faculty and fellow students who encourage him or her to seek answers for questions and grow closer to God.

Spiritual cost is a very good reason to consider attending a Christian college, even if only for the first year. If you are not sure what God wants you to do with your life, why not spend a year or two at a Christian college, receiving valuable Biblical knowledge while waiting for further direction? If you feel that a secular institution offers the best education for your chosen career path, getting at least one year of solid biblical training will go a long way towards preparing you for the clash of worldviews you will face in a secular college and in the workplace. Either way, attending a Christian college is an invaluable investment in the future.

* For more information on the spiritual impact of one’s college choice, read Steve Henderson’s article "A Question of Price versus Cost", available on Henderson’s website at www.christianconsulting.net.