America’s Top 10 Christian Colleges (Forbes’ 2010-11 ranking)
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.
1. Wheaton College
Forbes rank: No. 59
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
2. Westmont College
Forbes rank: No. 81
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
3. George Fox University
Forbes rank: No. 134
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
4. Gordon College
Forbes rank: No. 160
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
5. Covenant College
Forbes rank: No. 179
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
6. Whitworth University
Forbes rank: No. 209
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
7. Houghton College
Forbes rank: No. 213
U.S. News Rank: National Liberal Arts Tier 1
Houghton, New York
Est. 1883
Denominational Affiliation: Wesleyan Church
1,300-acre campus
Athletic Association: NCAA-III
houghton.edu
8. Oklahoma Baptist University
Forbes rank: No. 233
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
9. College of the Ozarks
Forbes rank: 235
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
10. Calvin College
Forbes rank: 258
U.S. News Rank: National Liberal Arts Tier 1
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Est. 1876
400-acre campus
Denominational Affiliation: Christian Reformed
Athletic Association: NCAA-III
calvin.edu
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.
1. Wheaton College
Forbes rank: No. 59
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
2. Westmont College
Forbes rank: No. 81
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
3. George Fox University
Forbes rank: No. 134
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
4. Gordon College
Forbes rank: No. 160
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
5. Covenant College
Forbes rank: No. 179
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
6. Whitworth University
Forbes rank: No. 209
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
7. Houghton College
Forbes rank: No. 213
U.S. News Rank: National Liberal Arts Tier 1
Houghton, New York
Est. 1883
Denominational Affiliation: Wesleyan Church
1,300-acre campus
Athletic Association: NCAA-III
houghton.edu
8. Oklahoma Baptist University
Forbes rank: No. 233
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
9. College of the Ozarks
Forbes rank: 235
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
10. Calvin College
Forbes rank: 258
U.S. News Rank: National Liberal Arts Tier 1
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Est. 1876
400-acre campus
Denominational Affiliation: Christian Reformed
Athletic Association: NCAA-III
calvin.edu
