America’s Top 10 Christian Colleges
(Forbes 2017 ranking)
Listed below are the 10 members of the Council of Christian Colleges and Universities that are highest ranked by Forbes in its 2017 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.
Showing CCCU governing members
1. Pepperdine University
Forbes rank: No. 149
U.S. News Rank: National Universities #46
Malibu, California
Est. 1937
830-acre campus
Denominational Affiliation: Christian Churches and Churches of Christ
Athletic Association:
http://www.pepperdine.edu/
2. Westmont College
Forbes rank: No. 167
U.S. News Rank: National Liberal Arts Colleges #108
Santa Barbara, California
Est. 1937
130-acre campus
Denominational Affiliation: Nondenominational
Athletic Association: NAIA
http://www.westmont.edu/
3. Samford University
Forbes rank: No. 182
U.S. News Rank: Regional Universities South #4
Birmingham, Alabama
Est. 1841
247-acre campus
Denominational Affiliation: Baptist
Athletic Association:
http://www.samford.edu/
4. Baylor University
Forbes rank: No. 211
U.S. News Rank: National Universities #78
Waco, Texas
Est. 1845
1000-acre campus
Denominational Affiliation: Nondenominational
Athletic Association:
http://www.baylor.edu/
5. Taylor University
Forbes rank: No. 222
U.S. News Rank: Regional Colleges Midwest #1
Upland, Indiana
Est. 1846
952-acre campus
Denominational Affiliation: Nondenominational
Athletic Association: NAIA
http://www.tayloru.edu/
6. Calvin College
Forbes rank: No. 233
U.S. News Rank: Regional Colleges Midwest #1
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Est. 1876
400-acre campus
Denominational Affiliation: Christian Reformed Church
Athletic Association: NCAA D3
http://www.calvin.edu/
7. College of the Ozarks
Forbes rank: No. 235
U.S. News Rank: Regional Colleges Midwest #3
Point Lookout, Missouri
Est. 1906
1000-acre campus
Denominational Affiliation: Presbyterian Church (USA)
Athletic Association: NAIA
http://www.cofo.edu/
8. Whitworth University
Forbes rank: No. 251
U.S. News Rank: Regional Universities West #8
Spokane, Washington
Est. 1890
200-acre campus
Denominational Affiliation: Presbyterian Church (USA)
Athletic Association: NCAA D3
http://www.whitworth.edu/
9. Seattle Pacific University
Forbes rank: No. 271
U.S. News Rank: National Universities #169
Seattle, Washington
Est. 1891
43-acre campus
Denominational Affiliation: Free Methodist
Athletic Association: NCAA D2
http://www.spu.edu/
10. Messiah College
Forbes rank: No. 302
U.S. News Rank: Regional Colleges North #5
Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
Est. 1909
471-acre campus
Denominational Affiliation: Nondenominational
Athletic Association: NCAA D3
http://www.messiah.edu/
1. Westmont College
Forbes rank: No. 167
U.S. News Rank: National Liberal Arts Colleges #108
Santa Barbara, California
Est. 1937
130-acre campus
Denominational Affiliation: Nondenominational
Athletic Association: NAIA
http://www.westmont.edu/
2. Taylor University
Forbes rank: No. 222
U.S. News Rank: Regional Colleges Midwest #1
Upland, Indiana
Est. 1846
952-acre campus
Denominational Affiliation: Nondenominational
Athletic Association: NAIA
http://www.tayloru.edu/
3. Calvin College
Forbes rank: No. 233
U.S. News Rank: Regional Colleges Midwest #1
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Est. 1876
400-acre campus
Denominational Affiliation: Christian Reformed Church
Athletic Association: NCAA D3
http://www.calvin.edu/
4. College of the Ozarks
Forbes rank: No. 235
U.S. News Rank: Regional Colleges Midwest #3
Point Lookout, Missouri
Est. 1906
1000-acre campus
Denominational Affiliation: Presbyterian Church (USA)
Athletic Association: NAIA
http://www.cofo.edu/
5. Messiah College
Forbes rank: No. 302
U.S. News Rank: Regional Colleges North #5
Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
Est. 1909
471-acre campus
Denominational Affiliation: Nondenominational
Athletic Association: NCAA D3
http://www.messiah.edu/
6. Biola University
Forbes rank: No. 325
U.S. News Rank: National Universities #157
La Mirada, California
Est. 1908
95-acre campus
Denominational Affiliation: Nondenominational
Athletic Association: NCAA D2
http://www.biola.edu/
7. Ouachita Baptist University
Forbes rank: No. 329
U.S. News Rank: National Liberal Arts Colleges #173-#229
Arkadelphia, Arkansas
Est.
Denominational Affiliation: Southern Baptist
Athletic Association:
http://www.obu.edu
8. Bethel University
Forbes rank: No. 351
U.S. News Rank: Regional Universities Midwest #17
St. Paul, Minnesota
Est. 1871
247-acre campus
Denominational Affiliation: Baptist
Athletic Association: NCAA D3
http://www.bethel.edu/
9. Azusa Pacific University
Forbes rank: No. 357
U.S. News Rank: National Universities #205
Azusa, California
Est. 1899
103-acre campus
Denominational Affiliation: Nondenominational
Athletic Association: NCAA D2
http://www.apu.edu/
10. George Fox University
Forbes rank: No. 374
U.S. News Rank: Regional Universities West #24
Newberg, Oregon
Est. 1891
108-acre campus
Denominational Affiliation: Friends
Athletic Association: NCAA D3
https://www.georgefox.edu/