The Best of the Best in Midwest Christian Colleges

Did you know that many of the top universities in the Midwest have Christian associations? Almost half of the top 20 ranked Midwest Regional Universities by U.S News and World Report have ties to churches. In fact three of these Christian colleges are included in the top 10 – Valparaiso University, Drury University, and University of Evansville. If you are looking for a Christian school, those three are definitely ones to consider. You can also rest easy knowing there are many Christian schools that offer quality academic programs and spiritual development.

What do the top 3 Christian colleges in the Midwest do best?

Every school excels in certain areas. Take a look at these programs that stand out at three of the top Christian universities in the Midwest:

#5 Valparaiso University – Engineering

Are you considering being an engineering major? Valparaiso offers fully accredited Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering Bachelor of Science degrees. Valparaiso’s College of Engineering not only stands out in the Midwest, it was ranked among the top 30 engineering schools in the nation (by U.S. News and World Report).

#8 Drury University – Architecture

Drury’s Architecture program is notable because Design Intelligence ranked it in the top 11 architecture schools in the Midwest. Here are some of the attractions of the program as highlighted on Drury’s website:

• 70% of the HSA faculty is full-time (42% is the national norm)
• 75% of the HSA full-time faculty holds a professional architectural registration (34% is the national norm)
• Graduates achieve outstanding pass rates in the architecture licensing exam at par with the top architecture schools in the US, such as Harvard, MIT and Yale.
• In 2012–13, 18% of the HSA freshmen class and 27% of the junior class came from countries other than the U.S.

Also notable is the fact that Drury offers a music therapy major, a rare program offered by only 62 schools in the nation.

#9 University of Evansville – Study Abroad

Because University of Evansville has a second campus in Grantham, England (Harlaxton College), you can only imagine that they highly encourage studying abroad. In fact, 63% of their undergraduates complete studies abroad. Students at U of E have the option to study British culture by completing a semester at Harlaxton College. Other interdisciplinary courses are also available while studying at Harlaxton.  Students can also choose from several short-term international study programs available in Israel, Guatemala, and China (to name a few).

Another notable program at U of E is theater. Their theater program performs two studio productions a year and has won numerous awards including several from Broadway Theatre Wing.

Selecting a Christian College

As you can see, Christian colleges have a range of academic strengths. Their range of academic programs is as varied as their approach to spiritual development. We here at My College Planning Team would encourage you to select a college because of its fit for you– academically, socially, spiritually, and more. We believe that a university’s ranking should not be the main selection criterion for school. There are so many factors to consider when selecting and applying for colleges that we want to help you with the process. I especially want to help you select a college that is a good fit for you spiritually. In upcoming blogs, I look forward to continued exploration with you on the various ways Christian colleges promote spiritual development.