Featured Schools
America’s Top 10 Christian Colleges
(Forbes’ 2010-11 ranking)
Listed below are the 10 members of the Council of Christian Colleges and Universities that are highest ranked by Forbes in its 2010-11 ranking of "America’s Best Colleges." The Forbes system is designed to stress the outputs of a college education rather than the inputs stressed by the U.S. News and World Report college rankings. Forbes measured whether students liked their courses (25 percent), achieved post-graduate vocational success (25 percent), graduated in four years (16 and 2/3 percent), and graduated without a lot of debt (20 percent). It also factored in faculty who competed for nationally competitive academic awards (13 1/3 percent). The Forbes rankings are posted online at Forbes.com.
This ranking is just one way to measure the merits of a school. There are many great Christian colleges and universities in the United States and prospective students are encouraged to visit several colleges and talk with admissions staff to find the best college for their needs.
59. Wheaton College
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
80-acre campus
Denominational Affiliation: Christian nondenominational
Athletic Association: NCAA-III
wheaton.edu
81. Westmont College
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
130-acre campus
Denominational Affiliation: Christian nondenominational
Athletic Association: NAIA
westmont.edu
134. George Fox University
Forbes 10-11 rank: No. 134
Forbes 09-10 rank: No. 58
U.S. News Rank: National Universities Tier 1
Newberg, Oregon
Est. 1891
108-acre campus
Denominational Affiliation: Evangelical Friends
Athletic Association: NCAA-III
georgefox.edu
142. Pepperdine University
Forbes 10-11 rank: No. 142
Forbes 09-10 rank: No. 276
U.S. News Rank: National Universities Tier 1
Malibu, Calif.
Est. 1937
830-acre campus
Denominational Affiliation: Churches of Christ
Athletic Association: NCAA-I
pepperdine.edu
160. Gordon College
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
550-acre campus
Denominational Affiliation: non-denominational
Athletic Association: NCAA-III
gordon.edu
179. Covenant College
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
300-acre campus
Denominational Affiliation: Presbyterian Church in America
Athletic Association: NCAA-III
covenant.edu
209. Whitworth University
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
200-acre campus
Denominational Affiliation: Presbyterian Church in the United States
Athletic Association: NCAA-III
whitworth.edu
213. Houghton College
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
1,300-acre campus
Athletic Association: NAIA
houghton.edu
233. Oklahoma Baptist University
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
200-acre campus
Denominational Affiliation: Southern Baptist Convention
Athletic Association: NAIA
okbu.edu
235. College of the Ozarks
Forbes 10-11 rank: 235
Forbes 09-10 rank: NA
U.S. News Rank: Regional Colleges (Midwest) Tier 1
Point Lookout, Missouri
Est. 1906
1,000-acre campus
Denominational Affiliation: Christian Interdenominational
Athletic Association: NAIA
CofO.edu