Best Christian Colleges in Indiana 2024

Published: Mar 23, 2021
Updated: Oct 26, 2023

For prospective college students looking for schools that align with their Christian faith and demonstrate academic excellence, here are the best Christian colleges and universities in Indiana.

10 Best Christian Colleges in Indiana

University of Notre Dame
Earlham College
Valparaiso University
University of Evansville
Manchester University
Hanover College
Goshen College
Saint Mary's College
Indiana Wesleyan University
Marian University

University of Saint Francis 99%
Franklin College 95%
Valparaiso University 93%
Goshen College 93%
Indiana Wesleyan University 92%
Holy Cross College 86%
Grace College & Seminary 83%
Saint Mary's College 83%
Huntington University 79%
University of Indianapolis 78%

Grace College & Seminary 21 to 1
Manchester University 15 to 1
Indiana Wesleyan University 13 to 1
University of Indianapolis 13 to 1
Marian University 13 to 1
Taylor University 13 to 1
Holy Cross College 13 to 1
Huntington University 12 to 1
Hanover College 12 to 1
University of Saint Francis 12 to 1

University of Notre Dame $58,843
Earlham College $49,323
Saint Mary's College $48,010
Valparaiso University $44,796
Hanover College $40,250
University of Evansville $39,806
Marian University $36,600
Taylor University $36,570
Goshen College $35,940
Franklin College $34,966

University of Notre Dame $58,190
University of Indianapolis $39,224
Franklin College $39,114
Goshen College $29,098
Saint Mary's College $28,252
Manchester University $23,100
Marian University $20,737
Calumet College of St. Joseph $20,640
Earlham College $20,533
University of Evansville $14,395

Calumet College of St. Joseph
University of Saint Francis
Holy Cross College
Oakland City University
Huntington University
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College
Anderson College, Indiana
Grace College & Seminary
Taylor University
Franklin College

University of Notre Dame 15%
Anderson College, Indiana 62%
Earlham College 69%
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College 70%
Oakland City University 73%
Hanover College 73%
Marian University 73%
Taylor University 73%
University of Evansville 75%
Manchester University 76%

Anderson College, Indiana 8 to 1
Earlham College 8 to 1
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College 8 to 1
University of Notre Dame 9 to 1
Saint Mary's College 9 to 1
Goshen College 10 to 1
University of Evansville 10 to 1
Valparaiso University 11 to 1
Franklin College 11 to 1
Huntington University 12 to 1

Calumet College of St. Joseph $20,470
Oakland City University $25,740
Huntington University $28,192
Grace College & Seminary $28,228
Indiana Wesleyan University $28,960
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College $31,425
Anderson College, Indiana $32,950
University of Saint Francis $33,390
University of Indianapolis $33,520
Holy Cross College $34,050

Grace College & Seminary $8,054
Oakland City University $9,000
Anderson College, Indiana $10,868
Valparaiso University $11,700
Huntington University $11,856
University of Saint Francis $12,418
Taylor University $12,700
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College $13,500
Indiana Wesleyan University $13,512
University of Evansville $14,395

Key Takeaways

Living and housing prices are relatively low in Indiana, allowing Christian college students to worry less about money than those who attend schools in more expensive cities.
Christian colleges charge higher tuition and fees than their public counterparts. But the benefits of attending one outweigh the cost.
Some of the best Christian colleges in Indiana offer very low tuition and fees after financial aid.

Table of Contents

Discovering Faith-based Colleges for Christians in Indiana

The Hoosier State, home to Indianapolis, otherwise known as “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” is also home to several Christian colleges that can compete with larger colleges because of the high caliber of education available there.

There are a number of factors that will help to determine whether the state’s Christian colleges are for you. Like with other decisions in life, there are advantages and disadvantages.

Living and Studying in Indiana: Pros and Cons

Advantages

Indiana residents enjoy low housing costs.

One benefit of attending school in Indiana is that, in comparison to other larger states, rentals are far more inexpensive for many students. Students in Indiana have a more laid-back experience regarding housing costs than those studying in New York do.

The housing shortage in Indiana is not a major issue, so finding a quality home to live in as a student is also relatively easy. Students, especially out-of-state ones, will be in a better position as renters than in larger and more populated areas where the general demand for housing is frequently considerably higher.

Living costs in Indiana are low.

For out-of-state students, the cost of living is the #1 factor affecting their decision. Attending a Christian college is expensive enough as it is, let alone in a city that has a high cost of living. You’ll be happy to know that the cost of living in the Hoosier State is very affordable compared to other states, such as New York and California.

Forbes ranked Indiana as #10 in the lowest cost of living.

Avoiding metropolitan areas in Indiana, such as Bloomington, Valparaiso, and Indianapolis, will provide a more affordable cost of living. The cheapest cities in Indiana include Winona Lake, Richmond, Huntington, and Marion.

Christian College Students in Indiana can help build a solid business network.

Indiana is a significant economic hub that allows students to establish a strong business network. This network will benefit you as you quickly advance in your profession.

Disadvantages

Indiana does not have many popular student towns.

Unlike many other states with large “student towns,” Indiana’s focus tends to be on the working population rather than on student preferences. As a result, students in Christian colleges in Indiana may have fewer fun things to do than in states with more vibrant cities focusing on young people.

The cold season can be harsh.

Winters in Indianapolis may be quite chilly, so if you don’t enjoy the cold, you may be better suited studying in a warmer location.

You might not encounter as many international students as you would in states with larger cities.

Christian colleges are less diverse than their public college counterparts, so you may not meet as many international students in Indiana.

Christian Colleges in Indiana with Online Degrees

Students sometimes work part-time jobs since attending Christian universities can be very expensive. Considering a distance learning program due to time restrictions can be worthwhile.

In the past ten years, Christian colleges in Indiana have seen an increase in the popularity and worth of their online degree programs. Online degrees from reputable universities are valued on par with traditional degrees by employers and faith-based organizations. Some of Indiana’s top Christian universities offering online degree programs include:

Holy Cross College
Taylor University
Franklin College
Hanover College
Earlham College
University Of Notre Dame
Manchester University at North Manchester
University Of Saint Francis
Valparaiso University

Cheapest Christian Colleges in Indiana after Financial Aid

Indiana students may choose Christian colleges with lower tuition costs and a wide range of financial aid options due to the high tuition costs at most Christian colleges. The following five Christian colleges are among the least expensive on the list, after financial aid is factored in:

Oakland City University ($12,481)
Calumet College of St. Joseph ($13,290)
Grace College Seminary ($20,415)
Indiana Wesleyan University ($20,798)
Huntington University ($25,956)

Colleges and Universities in Indiana

Prospective students searching for both brick-and-mortar and online colleges in Indiana have many excellent options, including notable institutions like University of Notre Dame, Purdue University, and Butler University. Each boasts a high graduate rate, a wide variety of traditional and online degree programs, and numerous excellent undergraduate and graduate programs. The tuition and student population vary widely between these schools.

Indiana University Bloomington is the largest public university in Indiana. The state university is also noted for its high graduation rate, its large student population of roughly 40,000 students, and an in-state tuition rate just above the national average at $11,000.

Find college admissions consultants in your state.

Additionally, students hoping to attend a school with a religious affiliation have nearly 30 options to choose from. Both traditional and online students at these schools can study areas like engineering, business, philosophy, religious studies, and law.

The state of Indiana offers loan forgiveness-based financial aid programs for health care workers who work in areas with labor shortages as well as for lawyers providing public legal aid. Additionally, graduates of Indiana University’s Maurer School of Law pursuing public interest law can apply for a special grant program that will help cover the cost of preparing and sitting for the bar exam.

With town names like Popcorn and Santa Claus, Indiana clearly has a quirky personality. Along with these unique towns, Indiana also hosts the famous Indianapolis 500 auto race; boasts a thriving art scene; and has been home to iconic celebrities, including Larry Bird, James Dean, and David Letterman.

Students wanting to experience all Indiana has to offer while studying have the option of attending one of Indiana’s more than 50 higher education institutes. Most offer both traditional and online degrees, as well as a full array of undergraduate programs and advanced degrees.

Explore Indiana’s more than 50 colleges and universities to find a program and future career path that’s right for you.

What are Indiana’s Colleges & Universities?

Indiana’s Best Overall

The following list of the best Christian schools consists entirely of colleges and universities that offer four-year undergraduate degrees. We’ve identified 21 Christian colleges in Indiana. In order to be included in this ranking list of best Christian colleges and universities, a school must self-identify as Christian, be fully accredited, and offer a broad range of bachelor degree programs.

How do we determine Indiana's best Christian colleges and universities?

Methodology

The people affiliated with a school are ultimately what make it great! If you are serious about finding the best colleges and universities for a bachelor’s degree, you should be asking where the most influential professors are teaching and whether their graduates are themselves advancing the school’s reputation for academic excellence in their fields of study.

Most ranking sites rely on an opaque combination of reputation surveys and arbitrary performance metrics. Concentrated Influence provides a ranking that is freer from bias, insulated from manipulation, and reflective of real-world educational outcomes.

To rank the influence of schools, we first determine the influence of scholars and professionals based on the number of citations and publications they have had over the past 10 years. In addition to publications and citations, we consider the web links to and from these sources, and the page views of those sources. We then match the influential people to their alma maters and institutions of employment, so that their influence is attributed to those schools. Our machine-learning Influence Ranking algorithm produces a numerical score of academic achievements, merits, and citations across Wikipedia, wikidata, Crossref, Semantic Scholar and an ever-growing body of data. If you are interested in exploring how and why we rank by influence, explore our methodology in more depth.

Best Christian Colleges in Indiana 2023

Build Your Own College Rankings

Indiana’s Best Christian Colleges in Your Area of Interest

2021 Ranking Archive

Many of our 2022 undergraduate focused rankings look considerably different than 2021. That’s because we took a fundamentally different apporach. For 2021 we utilized our Concentrated Influence algorithm, designed to take away the size advantage larger schools have when we rank their faculty and alumni’s academic influence. Concentrated influence highlights smaller schools that are proportionally as successful as larger universities at cultivating influential alumni and faculty.

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Best Christian Colleges in Indiana 2024

10 Best Christian Colleges in Indiana

Key Takeaways

Discovering Faith-based Colleges for Christians in Indiana

Living and Studying in Indiana: Pros and Cons

Advantages

Disadvantages

Colleges and Universities in Indiana

What are Indiana’s Colleges & Universities?

Best Christian Colleges in Indiana 2023

Career Outlook for degree at University of Notre Dame

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Valparaiso University

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Earlham College

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at University of Evansville

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Manchester University

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Indiana Wesleyan University

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Goshen College

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Saint Mary's College

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Taylor University

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Hanover College

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Anderson College, Indiana

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Marian University

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Franklin College

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Huntington University

Career Outlook for degree at University of Indianapolis

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Holy Cross College

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Grace College & Seminary

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Oakland City University

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at University of Saint Francis

Career Outlook for degree at Calumet College of St. Joseph

Indiana’s Best Christian Colleges in Your Area of Interest