Christian School CompassTrue north for Christian families.

Rankings

Ranked lists of Protestant and evangelical colleges, each computed from the published grades.

Graded so far: 153 of 257 Christian colleges (undergraduate).

Christian collegesTop listsBy state

Christian colleges

Undergraduate Christian colleges, graded on the four faith pillars. Each ranking below sorts them by faith, by one pillar, by academics, or by value.

Best Christian colleges

Christian colleges ranked by the Compass Score: 75% faith (the four pillars) and 25% Academic Excellence. Seminaries and graduate-only schools are excluded.

145 colleges ranked

Strongest Christian identity

Christian colleges ranked by Faith alone: the average of the four pillars, with academics left out.

153 colleges ranked

Christian colleges with the strongest academics

Every four-year Christian college ranked by Academic Excellence from federal data: graduation, retention, entering students’ preparation, faculty attention, and instructional investment.

228 colleges ranked

Best value Christian colleges

Christian colleges with a Faith grade of B or better, ranked by the value index, a composite of net price, graduation rate, earnings, and debt from federal data. The grades themselves are not changed by cost.

128 colleges ranked

Honor Roll

Christian colleges with a Faith score of 85 or higher (grade A) and no pillar below 70 (grade B).

Who makes the Honor Roll

Top ten Christian colleges

Sorted by Compass Score, highest first
RankSchoolCompass ScoreCompass Score: Christian identity (75%) and academics (25%) for Christian schools.FaithFaith: the average of the four faith pillars. Other colleges are graded on Christian life on campus instead.AcademicsAcademic Excellence: a score from federal data on graduation, retention, test scores, faculty ratio, and spending. It never uses rankings or surveys.
1Biola UniversityHonor RollChristian School Compass Honor Roll: a Faith score of 85 or higher (grade A), with all four faith pillars rated and none below 70 (grade B).ChristianChristian college: federal data lists a Protestant or evangelical affiliation (or it belongs to the CCCU), so it gets the full four-pillar faith scorecard.La Mirada, CAAFaith: Strong (grade A): 85 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.98B+Academics: B+ (grade B+): 0 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.74
2Wheaton CollegeHonor RollChristian School Compass Honor Roll: a Faith score of 85 or higher (grade A), with all four faith pillars rated and none below 70 (grade B).ChristianChristian college: federal data lists a Protestant or evangelical affiliation (or it belongs to the CCCU), so it gets the full four-pillar faith scorecard.Wheaton, ILAFaith: Strong (grade A): 85 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.88AAcademics: Strong (grade A): 85 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.93
3Westmont CollegeHonor RollChristian School Compass Honor Roll: a Faith score of 85 or higher (grade A), with all four faith pillars rated and none below 70 (grade B).ChristianChristian college: federal data lists a Protestant or evangelical affiliation (or it belongs to the CCCU), so it gets the full four-pillar faith scorecard.Santa Barbara, CAAFaith: Strong (grade A): 85 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.91A-Academics: A- (grade A-): 0 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.84
4Cedarville UniversityHonor RollChristian School Compass Honor Roll: a Faith score of 85 or higher (grade A), with all four faith pillars rated and none below 70 (grade B).ChristianChristian college: federal data lists a Protestant or evangelical affiliation (or it belongs to the CCCU), so it gets the full four-pillar faith scorecard.Cedarville, OHAFaith: Strong (grade A): 85 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.90A-Academics: A- (grade A-): 0 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.77
5Asbury UniversityHonor RollChristian School Compass Honor Roll: a Faith score of 85 or higher (grade A), with all four faith pillars rated and none below 70 (grade B).ChristianChristian college: federal data lists a Protestant or evangelical affiliation (or it belongs to the CCCU), so it gets the full four-pillar faith scorecard.Wilmore, KYAFaith: Strong (grade A): 85 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.89B+Academics: B+ (grade B+): 0 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.73
6Harding UniversityRecommendedCompass Recommended: a Faith score of 80 or higher, at least three of the four pillars rated, and none below C (55). A school with an Academic Excellence score must also reach 80 on its Compass Score.ChristianChristian college: federal data lists a Protestant or evangelical affiliation (or it belongs to the CCCU), so it gets the full four-pillar faith scorecard.Searcy, ARAFaith: Strong (grade A): 85 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.88B+Academics: B+ (grade B+): 0 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.74
7Azusa Pacific UniversityHonor RollChristian School Compass Honor Roll: a Faith score of 85 or higher (grade A), with all four faith pillars rated and none below 70 (grade B).ChristianChristian college: federal data lists a Protestant or evangelical affiliation (or it belongs to the CCCU), so it gets the full four-pillar faith scorecard.Azusa, CAAFaith: Strong (grade A): 85 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.87B+Academics: B+ (grade B+): 0 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.75
8Point Loma Nazarene UniversityHonor RollChristian School Compass Honor Roll: a Faith score of 85 or higher (grade A), with all four faith pillars rated and none below 70 (grade B).ChristianChristian college: federal data lists a Protestant or evangelical affiliation (or it belongs to the CCCU), so it gets the full four-pillar faith scorecard.San Diego, CAAFaith: Strong (grade A): 85 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.85A-Academics: A- (grade A-): 0 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.81
9TieBelmont UniversityHonor RollChristian School Compass Honor Roll: a Faith score of 85 or higher (grade A), with all four faith pillars rated and none below 70 (grade B).ChristianChristian college: federal data lists a Protestant or evangelical affiliation (or it belongs to the CCCU), so it gets the full four-pillar faith scorecard.Nashville, TNAFaith: Strong (grade A): 85 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.85A-Academics: A- (grade A-): 0 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.79
9TieOklahoma Christian UniversityHonor RollChristian School Compass Honor Roll: a Faith score of 85 or higher (grade A), with all four faith pillars rated and none below 70 (grade B).ChristianChristian college: federal data lists a Protestant or evangelical affiliation (or it belongs to the CCCU), so it gets the full four-pillar faith scorecard.Edmond, OKAFaith: Strong (grade A): 85 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.94B-Academics: B- (grade B-): 0 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.55

Sorted by Compass Score, highest first

  1. 1
    Biola UniversityHonor RollChristian School Compass Honor Roll: a Faith score of 85 or higher (grade A), with all four faith pillars rated and none below 70 (grade B).ChristianChristian college: federal data lists a Protestant or evangelical affiliation (or it belongs to the CCCU), so it gets the full four-pillar faith scorecard.La Mirada, CA
    • FaithAFaith: Strong (grade A): 85 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.98
    • AcademicsB+Academics: B+ (grade B+): 0 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.74
  2. 2
    Wheaton CollegeHonor RollChristian School Compass Honor Roll: a Faith score of 85 or higher (grade A), with all four faith pillars rated and none below 70 (grade B).ChristianChristian college: federal data lists a Protestant or evangelical affiliation (or it belongs to the CCCU), so it gets the full four-pillar faith scorecard.Wheaton, IL
    • FaithAFaith: Strong (grade A): 85 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.88
    • AcademicsAAcademics: Strong (grade A): 85 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.93
  3. 3
    Westmont CollegeHonor RollChristian School Compass Honor Roll: a Faith score of 85 or higher (grade A), with all four faith pillars rated and none below 70 (grade B).ChristianChristian college: federal data lists a Protestant or evangelical affiliation (or it belongs to the CCCU), so it gets the full four-pillar faith scorecard.Santa Barbara, CA
    • FaithAFaith: Strong (grade A): 85 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.91
    • AcademicsA-Academics: A- (grade A-): 0 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.84
  4. 4
    Cedarville UniversityHonor RollChristian School Compass Honor Roll: a Faith score of 85 or higher (grade A), with all four faith pillars rated and none below 70 (grade B).ChristianChristian college: federal data lists a Protestant or evangelical affiliation (or it belongs to the CCCU), so it gets the full four-pillar faith scorecard.Cedarville, OH
    • FaithAFaith: Strong (grade A): 85 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.90
    • AcademicsA-Academics: A- (grade A-): 0 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.77
  5. 5
    Asbury UniversityHonor RollChristian School Compass Honor Roll: a Faith score of 85 or higher (grade A), with all four faith pillars rated and none below 70 (grade B).ChristianChristian college: federal data lists a Protestant or evangelical affiliation (or it belongs to the CCCU), so it gets the full four-pillar faith scorecard.Wilmore, KY
    • FaithAFaith: Strong (grade A): 85 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.89
    • AcademicsB+Academics: B+ (grade B+): 0 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.73
  6. 6
    Harding UniversityRecommendedCompass Recommended: a Faith score of 80 or higher, at least three of the four pillars rated, and none below C (55). A school with an Academic Excellence score must also reach 80 on its Compass Score.ChristianChristian college: federal data lists a Protestant or evangelical affiliation (or it belongs to the CCCU), so it gets the full four-pillar faith scorecard.Searcy, AR
    • FaithAFaith: Strong (grade A): 85 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.88
    • AcademicsB+Academics: B+ (grade B+): 0 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.74
  7. 7
    Azusa Pacific UniversityHonor RollChristian School Compass Honor Roll: a Faith score of 85 or higher (grade A), with all four faith pillars rated and none below 70 (grade B).ChristianChristian college: federal data lists a Protestant or evangelical affiliation (or it belongs to the CCCU), so it gets the full four-pillar faith scorecard.Azusa, CA
    • FaithAFaith: Strong (grade A): 85 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.87
    • AcademicsB+Academics: B+ (grade B+): 0 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.75
  8. 8
    Point Loma Nazarene UniversityHonor RollChristian School Compass Honor Roll: a Faith score of 85 or higher (grade A), with all four faith pillars rated and none below 70 (grade B).ChristianChristian college: federal data lists a Protestant or evangelical affiliation (or it belongs to the CCCU), so it gets the full four-pillar faith scorecard.San Diego, CA
    • FaithAFaith: Strong (grade A): 85 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.85
    • AcademicsA-Academics: A- (grade A-): 0 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.81
  9. 9Tie
    Belmont UniversityHonor RollChristian School Compass Honor Roll: a Faith score of 85 or higher (grade A), with all four faith pillars rated and none below 70 (grade B).ChristianChristian college: federal data lists a Protestant or evangelical affiliation (or it belongs to the CCCU), so it gets the full four-pillar faith scorecard.Nashville, TN
    • FaithAFaith: Strong (grade A): 85 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.85
    • AcademicsA-Academics: A- (grade A-): 0 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.79
  10. 9Tie
    Oklahoma Christian UniversityHonor RollChristian School Compass Honor Roll: a Faith score of 85 or higher (grade A), with all four faith pillars rated and none below 70 (grade B).ChristianChristian college: federal data lists a Protestant or evangelical affiliation (or it belongs to the CCCU), so it gets the full four-pillar faith scorecard.Edmond, OK
    • FaithAFaith: Strong (grade A): 85 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.94
    • AcademicsB-Academics: B- (grade B-): 0 to 100 points out of 100 on what official sources document. Grades need sources for at least 60% of the checklist.55

Your own weights

Weight the pillars yourself. Families weigh things differently. This re-sorts schools with all four pillars graded. It never changes a school’s official grades.

Top lists

Shorter lists on a single theme, built from the same grades and federal data. A list appears once at least five schools qualify.

Faith life

By major

Cost and value

Outcomes and size

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By state

Every ranked school is a dot. Hover or tap a state to see its No. 1, then open its rankings. Switch to the street map to zoom in to cities and highways.

Alabama · 4 ranked schoolsAlaska · 0 ranked schoolsArizona · 3 ranked schoolsArkansas · 6 ranked schoolsCalifornia · 13 ranked schoolsColorado · 1 ranked schoolConnecticut · 0 ranked schoolsDelaware · 0 ranked schoolsDistrict of Columbia · 0 ranked schoolsFlorida · 2 ranked schoolsGeorgia · 6 ranked schoolsHawaii · 1 ranked schoolIdaho · 1 ranked schoolIllinois · 6 ranked schoolsIndiana · 4 ranked schoolsIowa · 3 ranked schoolsKansas · 2 ranked schoolsKentucky · 4 ranked schoolsLouisiana · 0 ranked schoolsMaine · 0 ranked schoolsMaryland · 1 ranked schoolMassachusetts · 1 ranked schoolMichigan · 7 ranked schoolsMinnesota · 6 ranked schoolsMississippi · 2 ranked schoolsMissouri · 6 ranked schoolsMontana · 1 ranked schoolNebraska · 3 ranked schoolsNevada · 0 ranked schoolsNew Hampshire · 0 ranked schoolsNew Jersey · 0 ranked schoolsNew Mexico · 0 ranked schoolsNew York · 2 ranked schoolsNorth Carolina · 3 ranked schoolsNorth Dakota · 0 ranked schoolsOhio · 6 ranked schoolsOklahoma · 6 ranked schoolsOregon · 4 ranked schoolsPennsylvania · 2 ranked schoolsRhode Island · 0 ranked schoolsSouth Carolina · 6 ranked schoolsSouth Dakota · 0 ranked schoolsTennessee · 14 ranked schoolsTexas · 16 ranked schoolsUtah · 0 ranked schoolsVermont · 0 ranked schoolsVirginia · 4 ranked schoolsWashington · 2 ranked schoolsWest Virginia · 0 ranked schoolsWisconsin · 3 ranked schoolsWyoming · 0 ranked schools

Hover or tap a state to see its top school.

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