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Christian Colleges

Best Christian Colleges of 2026

Duke University, a United Methodist-affiliated research university, finishes 96% of its students and sends them to a median $113,937 ten years after enrolling. It leads our list of four-year Christian colleges and universities, ordered by completion rate and open to every Christian tradition.

519 schools · Ordered by completion rate · Updated 2026-10-15 · Compare Online Degrees

We may earn a fee from the schools on this page, which can affect how they are placed.

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Written by Lena OkonkwoEducation editorReviewed by Marcus HaleData editor

Updated Oct 15, 2026

How we ranked these

Every school is listed with the same published figures, from the u.s. department of education, college scorecard (most recent cohorts, 2025-26). One figure orders the list: completion rate. Sponsorship is labeled and never changes a school's place.

At a glance

Compare by completion rate and cost

Best Christian Colleges of 2026, ordered by Completion rate
#SchoolCompletion rateNet priceCompletionEarnings, 10 yrsVisit
1Duke University96%$23,70696%$113,937Visit
2University of Notre Dame95%$25,33995%$113,124Visit
3Georgetown University94%$33,66194%$110,516Visit
4Villanova University93%$41,53693%$115,382Visit
5Emory University91%$16,75491%$93,897Visit
6Macalester College91%$27,85191%$69,951Visit
7Davidson College90%$15,06090%$89,297Visit
8Boston College90%$38,93090%$112,178Visit
9Hillsdale College89%n/a89%n/aVisit
10Santa Clara University87%$50,57087%$117,193Visit

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The shortlist

The 10 schools, from the top

  1. 1

    Rank 1

    Top pick

    Duke University

    NC · Private nonprofit

    Completion rate
    96%
    Net price
    $23,706
    Completion
    96%
    Earnings, 10 yrs
    $113,937
    Visit schoolCompare
  2. 2

    Rank 2

    University of Notre Dame

    IN · Private nonprofit

    Completion rate
    95%
    Net price
    $25,339
    Completion
    95%
    Earnings, 10 yrs
    $113,124
    Visit schoolCompare
  3. 3

    Rank 3

    Georgetown University

    DC · Private nonprofit

    Completion rate
    94%
    Net price
    $33,661
    Completion
    94%
    Earnings, 10 yrs
    $110,516
    Visit schoolCompare
  5. 4

    Rank 4

    Villanova University

    PA · Private nonprofit

    Completion rate
    93%
    Net price
    $41,536
    Completion
    93%
    Earnings, 10 yrs
    $115,382
    Visit schoolCompare
  6. 5

    Rank 5

    Emory University

    GA · Private nonprofit

    Completion rate
    91%
    Net price
    $16,754
    Completion
    91%
    Earnings, 10 yrs
    $93,897
    Visit schoolCompare
  7. 6

    Rank 6

    Macalester College

    MN · Private nonprofit

    Completion rate
    91%
    Net price
    $27,851
    Completion
    91%
    Earnings, 10 yrs
    $69,951
    Visit schoolCompare
  8. 7

    Rank 7

    Davidson College

    NC · Private nonprofit

    Completion rate
    90%
    Net price
    $15,060
    Completion
    90%
    Earnings, 10 yrs
    $89,297
    Visit schoolCompare
  9. 8

    Rank 8

    Boston College

    MA · Private nonprofit

    Completion rate
    90%
    Net price
    $38,930
    Completion
    90%
    Earnings, 10 yrs
    $112,178
    Visit schoolCompare
  10. 9

    Rank 9

    Hillsdale College

    MI · Private nonprofit

    Completion rate
    89%
    Net price
    n/a
    Completion
    89%
    Earnings, 10 yrs
    n/a
    Visit schoolCompare
  11. 10

    Rank 10

    Santa Clara University

    CA · Private nonprofit

    Completion rate
    87%
    Net price
    $50,570
    Completion
    87%
    Earnings, 10 yrs
    $117,193
    Visit schoolCompare

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Questions about this ranking

How is this ranking made?

One figure orders the list: completion rate. Every rule we applied is published in the method below.

Can a school pay to rank higher?

No. Sponsorship is a separate, labeled section, and paying never changes a school's place in the ranking.

What do the figures cover?

Whole-school College Scorecard numbers, campus students included, unless a figure names a specific program.

How this ranking is made

Every line below is a rule. None of them can be bought.

If a rule is not written here, we did not apply it.

  1. 01

    Schools in this list: colleges and universities that report a Christian religious affiliation to the U.S. Department of Education, four-year institutions only.

  2. 02

    Ranked by one figure: highest completion rate (completion rate). The list is ordered only by that published figure; no composite score is applied.

  3. 03

    Schools with fewer than 500 students are left out because their published rates swing too much to compare.

  4. 04

    No school can pay to be included or to move up. Sponsored schools, where shown, appear in a separate, labeled section.

  5. 05

    Figures come from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and cover undergraduate students who received federal aid. They describe the whole school, not a single program or major.

  6. 06

    Religious affiliation is self-reported by the school to the U.S. Department of Education. Confirm mission, accreditation, and program details with the school.

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (Most Recent Cohorts, 2025-26), retrieved 2026-10-15; online availability: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study distance flag. Logos by Logo.dev.

The short answer

The best Christian college or university is Duke University.

Duke University finishes 96% of its students, the highest rate on this list of 519 Christian colleges and universities. Its average net price is $23,706, and graduates earn a median $113,937 ten years after enrolling. No school can pay to appear here or to move up.

96%Duke University leads this list.Ordered by completion rate, not by a paid placement.

Schools on the list

519

Median net price

$23,165

Median earnings, 10 yrs

$59,582

Median completion

58%

Highest completion

  1. 01Duke University96% completion
  2. 02University of Notre Dame95% completion
  3. 03Georgetown University94% completion
  4. 04Villanova University93% completion

Lowest net price

  1. 01Universidad Central de Bayamon$3,642 average net price
  2. 02Wiley University$6,125 average net price
  3. 03Saint Peter's University$8,127 average net price
  4. 04Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary$8,500 average net price

Highest earnings, 10 years out

  1. 01Santa Clara University$117,193 median earnings
  2. 02Villanova University$115,382 median earnings
  3. 03Duke University$113,937 median earnings
  4. 04University of Notre Dame$113,124 median earnings

Largest enrollment

  1. 01Liberty University50,012 students · 64% completion
  2. 02Baylor University14,785 students · 82% completion
  3. 03DePaul University14,090 students · 67% completion
  4. 04Loyola University Chicago11,737 students · 72% completion

01

Which Christian college or university is actually best?

Duke University tops this list because its published numbers are the strongest on the page. It finishes 96% of its students, the figure this ranking sorts by. That is the namesake answer. The rest of this article explains what the figures leave out, how the list was built, and what to check before you apply to a Christian college.

The list includes 519 schools that report a Christian affiliation to the U.S. Department of Education. Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox, and non-denominational schools all qualify. The list is not a theological ranking and does not judge how strongly a school practices its faith. Many of these schools also teach online, but this list is not limited to online programs.

02

What counts as a Christian college here?

Religious affiliation is self-reported by the school to the U.S. Department of Education. A school appears here when it reports a Christian affiliation in the federal data. That includes Roman Catholic, mainline Protestant, evangelical, Orthodox, Pentecostal, Adventist, and non-denominational institutions.

The list is not a test of orthodoxy. A school's official affiliation does not tell you how often students attend chapel, what the faculty must affirm, or how the curriculum treats faith. Those are questions for the school. The ranking only uses the affiliation to decide who is eligible, then orders the eligible schools by one published figure.

Bible colleges are ranked separately. A Bible college on this site awards at least 30% of its degrees in theology and religious vocations and awards an undergraduate theology credential. That is a different list because those schools have a different mission and a different cost profile.

03

How this list is ordered

One published figure orders the list: completion rate. We do not blend it with a hidden score, and we do not adjust the order to reward a sponsor. The schools with fewer than 500 students are left out because their published rates swing too much to compare.

This list is limited to four-year institutions. Two-year Bible colleges are ranked on the Bible college lists. Specialized health and career colleges are not included. The list is not limited to online programs. No school can pay to be included or to move up.

05

What does a Christian college actually cost?

Average net price is tuition and fees minus grants for students who received federal aid. It is the number to compare, not the sticker price. On this list the median net price is $23,165 a year. Universidad Central de Bayamon posts the lowest average net price at $3,642. That figure describes the whole school. Your bill depends on the aid package the school offers you.

Cost figures for the top of this ranking, from the College Scorecard
SchoolNet priceIn-state tuitionOut-of-state tuition
Duke University$23,706$72,795$72,795
University of Notre Dame$25,339$67,607$67,607
Georgetown University$33,661$71,338$71,338
Villanova University$41,536$70,826$70,826
Emory University$16,754$68,056$68,056
Macalester College$27,851$70,862$70,862
Davidson College$15,060$69,315$69,315
Boston College$38,930$73,508$73,508

In-state and out-of-state are published annual full-time tuition. For an online degree, ask whether the school charges one flat rate wherever you live, and whether campus fees are removed from online terms. Many Christian colleges publish a separate online tuition rate.

06

Does it pay off?

The list's median graduate earns $59,582 ten years after enrolling. The top earner in this group is Santa Clara University, at $117,193. Duke University is on this list for a reason: its finish rate runs with the best.

Earnings vary more by field than by format or affiliation. A nursing degree, a business degree, a teaching degree, and a ministry degree at the same school lead to different salaries. Read the earnings number next to the completion number, and read both next to the program you actually want.

A Christian college can be a strong value, but the word "Christian" does not make a degree cheaper or more valuable by itself. The accreditation, the program, and the aid package decide that.

07

Online or on campus at a Christian college?

Many Christian colleges teach online even when this list is not limited to online programs. If you need to stay near home or keep working, ask whether your major has a fully online version and whether the online version carries the same accreditation as the campus version.

Some programs that look online still require a residential intensive, a weekly live class, a practicum, or a ministry placement near you. Those requirements are usually listed on the program page or in the handbook. Ask before you pay an application fee.

The transcript and the diploma name the school. The format is not printed on either one.

08

What kind of Christian college fits you?

Christian colleges come in several shapes. A Bible college is small and theology-heavy. A liberal arts college may be residential and church-related. A university may offer a broad catalog, a large online division, and a divinity school. The same word covers all three.

Start with the degree you want, then decide which shape fits. If you want a ministry degree, the Bible college list is the better starting point. If you want nursing, business, or education with a Christian mission, the main Christian college list is broader. If you need to study online, use the online list and confirm your major is actually offered online.

09

Is it a real degree, or a diploma mill?

Institutional accreditation is a review by an agency the U.S. Department of Education recognizes. It is what makes a school eligible for federal student aid. The schools on this list are in the College Scorecard, which covers institutions that participate in that aid system.

A theology or ministry program can also hold programmatic accreditation from a body such as the Association of Theological Schools. Teaching, nursing, counseling, and social work programs have their own accreditors. Ask the school which agency covers the degree you want, and check the agency at CHEA or the College Scorecard.

A diploma mill skips that review. Warning signs include an accreditor you cannot find at the Department of Education or CHEA, no real admission standard, and a promise that a degree is yours as soon as the payment clears.

10

What should I check before I apply?

Once a school is accredited, these are the questions worth answering before you apply.

  1. 01Is the school's Christian mission a fit for you?Read the mission statement and doctrinal statement. Ask whether online students are expected to attend chapel, sign a statement of faith, or complete a church or ministry placement.
  2. 02Is the degree accredited, and is the program accredited for your field?Institutional accreditation is the baseline. Teaching, nursing, counseling, and ministry programs can also hold programmatic accreditation. Confirm both before you apply.
  3. 03Is the program you want actually online?A school can offer online programs without offering your major online. Open the program page and confirm the plan of study, any required intensives, and whether clinical or ministry placements can be arranged near you.
  4. 04What will you pay after grants?Use average net price, not sticker tuition. Ask whether online students pay in-state or out-of-state tuition, and whether campus fees are waived for online terms.
  5. 05Will your credits transfer, and how long will the degree take?Ask for a transfer evaluation in writing. Church-based credit, Bible institute credit, and community college credit are handled differently by different schools.

Degree Finder narrows a field from what you already know. Compare puts two schools side by side. Explore colleges filters by price, state, and format.

11

How do you apply to a Christian college?

Applying to a Christian college is close to applying anywhere else, with a few extra items at some schools.

  • An application, sometimes with a fee
  • High school or college transcripts
  • A church reference or pastor recommendation, at some schools
  • A statement of faith or Christian commitment form, at some schools
  • Test scores, when the school still requires them
  • A short essay, resume, or ministry experience summary

If you already have college credit, the degree completion calculator estimates how long the rest might take. The school's own transfer evaluation is the number that counts. Ask specifically how the school treats Bible institute credit, church-based training, and credits from a community college.

12

Can online Christian college students get financial aid?

Online students use the same federal aid as campus students. File the FAFSA to see grants, work-study, and federal loans. Schools and outside groups also award scholarships that do not have to be repaid.

Christian colleges often have their own aid options: church matching grants, ministry discounts, sibling discounts, and scholarships tied to service or denominational membership. Ask the financial aid office which ones apply to online students. Employer tuition help and GI Bill benefits are separate from the FAFSA.

13

Other Christian college rankings

This page ranks Christian colleges and universities by one published figure. The rest of the hub uses the same rule and the same federal data.

14

Common questions about Christian colleges

Are Christian colleges accredited?

The schools here are in the College Scorecard, which covers institutions that participate in federal student aid. That requires recognized accreditation. A theology or ministry program can also hold programmatic accreditation. Ask the school which agency accredits the degree you want, and check the agency at CHEA or the College Scorecard.

Is an online Christian degree legitimate?

It is legitimate when the school is accredited and the program is the same one the school awards on campus. Online delivery changes where you study, not who awards the degree. Ask whether the program requires in-person intensives, a practicum, or a local ministry placement.

What counts as a Christian college here?

A Christian college here is an institution that reports a Christian religious affiliation to the U.S. Department of Education. Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox, and non-denominational schools all qualify. Jewish, Unitarian Universalist, and Latter-day Saints institutions are not included in this hub.

Do online Christian colleges require chapel or a statement of faith?

It varies by school. Some require chapel attendance, a statement of faith, or a church reference for online students. Others do not. Ask the admissions office before you apply, and read the school's doctrinal statement if that matters to you.

Can I use federal aid at a Christian college?

Yes, if the school participates in federal student aid. File the FAFSA and ask the aid office how grants, loans, and work-study apply to online students. Christian colleges also award their own scholarships, church matching grants, and ministry discounts.

15

Where do these numbers come from?

Order. The list is ordered only by completion rate. There is no composite score and no editorial adjustment. Best Christian Colleges of 2026 uses the same published figure for every school.

Figures. Completion, net price, earnings, debt, and tuition come from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and describe undergraduates who received federal aid. They describe the whole school, not a single program.

Affiliation. Religious affiliation is self-reported by the school to the U.S. Department of Education. Online availability comes from the College Scorecard field-of-study distance flag. A school that reports one online program may still not offer the program you want online.

No pay to rank. No school can pay to be included or to move up. Sponsored schools appear in a separate, labeled section.

Data source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (Most Recent Cohorts, 2025-26), retrieved 2026-10-15. Online availability: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study distance flag.

We rechecked the figures on this page against the College Scorecard release dated the 2026-10-15 College Scorecard release, confirmed each school is ordered only by the metric named in the ranking, and confirmed a sponsorship does not change that order.

Written by Lena Okonkwo, Education editor. Checked by Marcus Hale, Data editor. Some of the schools featured on this page are from our advertising partners who compensate us when you take certain actions on our website or click to take an action on their website. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own.

Terms used on this ranking

Graduation rateGraduation rate is the percentage of full-time, first-time degree- or certificate-seeking undergraduates who c...Persistence ratePersistence rate is the percentage of students who continue enrollment from one term to the next immediate ter...Retention rateRetention rate is the percentage of first-time degree- or certificate-seeking undergraduates from one fall who...Time-to-degreeTime-to-degree is the elapsed calendar time or the enrolled time a student takes to complete a credential, mea...

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The schools on this page are advertisers. They pay us when you click through or request information, and that payment affects which schools appear and in what order. Net price, graduation rate, earnings, and debt come from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and are the same figures we publish for every school.

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