Best Christian Colleges in Virginia 2024

Badge for BEST IN VIRGINIA CHRISTIAN COLLEGES

Published: May 5, 2021
Updated: Jan 18, 2024

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 Virginia.

Key Takeaways

The best Christian colleges in Virginia are well-known for their academic excellence, commitment to the Christian faith, close-knit community of students, faculty and staff members, and alumni. These Christian colleges propagate the faith, too, but welcome secular students.
These Christian colleges provide a wide range of benefits for their students, from quality education to spiritual formation. Students, however, don’t feel pressured to participate in religious activities but are encouraged to adopt an open mind.
Accredited Christian colleges offer financial aid options for qualified students, too. Regional and programmatic accreditations are a must among these institutions of higher learning.

Table of Contents

Liberty University
Virginia Union University
Regent University
Randolph–Macon College
Emory and Henry College
Roanoke College
Eastern Mennonite University
Marymount University
Mary Baldwin University
Shenandoah University

Liberty University 99%
Eastern Mennonite University 99%
Emory and Henry College 97%
University of Lynchburg 96%
Bridgewater College 90%
Randolph–Macon College 85%
Ferrum College 84%
Marymount University 81%
Virginia Union University 81%
Virginia Wesleyan University 81%

Regent University 21 to 1
Liberty University 18 to 1
Virginia Union University 17 to 1
Bluefield University 15 to 1
Virginia University of Lynchburg 14 to 1
Bridgewater College 13 to 1
Marymount University 13 to 1
Virginia Wesleyan University 13 to 1
Averett University 12 to 1
Emory and Henry College 12 to 1

Randolph–Macon College $46,460
Eastern Mennonite University $40,990
Bridgewater College $39,800
Ferrum College $38,320
Averett University $37,790
Marymount University $37,600
Virginia Wesleyan University $36,910
Roanoke College $35,350
Shenandoah University $35,170
Emory and Henry College $35,155

Randolph–Macon College $43,800
Shenandoah University $22,680
Marymount University $21,420
Bridgewater College $19,230
Regent University $16,028
Emory and Henry College $15,504
Eastern Mennonite University $15,000
Mary Baldwin University $13,000
Averett University $11,790
Virginia Union University $11,275

Bluefield University
Averett University
Virginia University of Lynchburg
University of Lynchburg
Mary Baldwin University
Ferrum College
Virginia Wesleyan University
Bridgewater College
Emory and Henry College
Eastern Mennonite University

Bluefield University
Averett University
Bridgewater College
Ferrum College
Virginia University of Lynchburg
Virginia Wesleyan University
University of Lynchburg
Shenandoah University
Mary Baldwin University
Marymount University

Regent University 32%
Bluefield University 63%
Averett University 76%
Shenandoah University 80%
Roanoke College 80%
Virginia Wesleyan University 81%
Virginia Union University 81%
Marymount University 81%
Ferrum College 84%
Randolph–Macon College 85%

Eastern Mennonite University 10 to 1
University of Lynchburg 10 to 1
Randolph–Macon College 10 to 1
Shenandoah University 11 to 1
Roanoke College 11 to 1
Ferrum College 11 to 1
Averett University 12 to 1
Emory and Henry College 12 to 1
Mary Baldwin University 12 to 1
Bridgewater College 13 to 1

Virginia University of Lynchburg $9,400
Virginia Union University $14,305
Regent University $19,680
Liberty University $22,511
Bluefield University $29,420
Mary Baldwin University $32,036
University of Lynchburg $34,500
Emory and Henry College $35,155
Shenandoah University $35,170
Roanoke College $35,350

Liberty University $7,893
Ferrum College $8,850
Bluefield University $8,910
Virginia University of Lynchburg $8,936
Virginia Wesleyan University $8,982
University of Lynchburg $10,485
Virginia Union University $11,275
Averett University $11,790
Mary Baldwin University $13,000
Eastern Mennonite University $15,000

Colleges and Universities in Virginia

Liberty University, a private Christian school in Lynchburg, is the largest school in Virginia, serving over 60,000 students. The largest public university, Virginia Tech, has a student population of about half that but offers many in-person degree programs as well as eight master’s programs and 19 certificate programs online. Students who attend Virginia Tech can pursue fields like engineering, criminal justice, education, and business.

Find college admissions consultants in your state.

The majority of Virginia’s universities and colleges could be considered small schools, serving populations of less than 5,000 students. Included on this list are public schools, like Christopher Newport University in Newport News, and private schools, like Hampton University, a historically black university in Hampton. Though most of its higher education institutes charge tuition fees above the national average, Virginia offers several loan forgiveness programs for qualifying attorneys and medical, dental, behavioral health, and pharmaceutical professionals.

Virginia is perhaps most famous for its rich history - but the state is also home to many unique museums and famous landmarks. For example, those who love the classics can visit the Edgar Allen Poe Museum in Richmond. Those who harbor romantic dreams of espionage and intrigue might visit the CIA Museum in McLean. And, if you like your attractions random, you could check out Virginia’s 300-yard-long natural tunnel or its 29-ton spinning granite ball. While you’re here, you might consider attending one of the 78 colleges located in the state.

Learn more about Virginia’s higher education opportunities by checking out the state’s many colleges and universities.

What are Virginia’s Colleges & Universities?

Virginia’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 17 Christian colleges in Virginia. 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.

Exploring Virginia’s Christian Colleges

Did you know that it wasn’t the Anglicans who were the first European colonizers of the modern-day Commonwealth of Virginia? Instead, it was the Catholics, particularly Spanish Jesuits under the leadership of Father Juan Baptista de Seguera, who established the Ajacan settlement in 1570. But it was the Church of England that became the established church of the colony when it was brought by settlers as early as 1607.

Today, the best Christian colleges in Virginia can thank the early settlers for introducing the Christian faith to the Old Dominion. The Commonwealth of Virginia is also the birthplace, so to speak, of the First Amendment. In 1786, Virginia passed the Thomas Jefferson-drafted Statute for Religious Freedom that established the clear separation between Church and State.

Such a rich history of the Christian faith has resulted in Christian colleges being crucial in Virginian society and economy!

Definition of a Christian College

Christian colleges are educational institutions that combine teaching and learning, research and development, and community engagement, among other aspects of higher education, with the Christian faith.

Many Christian colleges are owned and operated by. or affiliated with, a specific Christian denomination, such as Baptist, Anglican, or Roman Catholic. Unlike the standard liberal arts college, many Christian colleges, however, are non-denominational, meaning these institutions aren’t aligned with a specific organized religion and its leadership.

The best Christian colleges in Virginia usually have regional accreditation from one of the six regional accreditation agencies that are all US Department of Education-recognized. These include the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), and Southern Association of Colleges & Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

Most, if not all, of these exceptional Christian colleges offer a wide range of academic disciplines, from the liberal arts to health sciences, social sciences, and STEM fields like computer science. Many of these Christian schools also offer programs that prepare students for the Christian ministry.

There’s a misconception that Christian colleges only accept Christians as students to their undergraduate and graduate degree programs. This is hardly a fact as most Christian colleges in Virginia welcome students regardless of their religious affiliation and beliefs—or the lack of it.

But students must also be prepared for different levels of religious instruction incorporated into the curricula—some Christian colleges may have more Christian-centered courses while others may have less. Students may not even be strong-armed into attending religious services and other related activities!

Benefits of Going to Christian Colleges

Attending outstanding Christian colleges in Virginia provides numerous benefits, including:

Track record of academic excellence. The best Christian colleges in the Old Dominion provide students with rigorous programs of study in diverse disciplines that, in turn, ensure world-class academics. Liberty University, for example, is known for its online programs, that have made it among the best online colleges in the United States. Regent University is also known for academic excellence in its online undergraduate and graduate programs, particularly its online MBA program.
Combine passion and purpose in your studies. College students are in the prime of their lives in many ways, from exploring their unique identity to finding their place under the sun. When you attend a Christian college, you will find many individuals who share your passion for the Christian faith—or who can share theirs—and be inspired and be an inspiration to others.

Your purpose in life can become clearer when you’re in meaningful interactions with professors and peers, thanks to the tight-knit community that Christian colleges usually build.

Even better, accredited Christian colleges in Virginia offer a wide range of financial aid options that defray the costs of a private education. Look into the Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant, the FAFSA, and institutional scholarships.

If you are considering continuing your education beyond a bachelor’s degree from one of the best Christian colleges in Virginia, an online MBA program in Virginia could be a great career move.

How do we determine Virginia'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 Virginia 2023

Build Your Own College Rankings

Virginia’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 Virginia 2024

Key Takeaways

10 Best Christian Colleges in Virginia

Colleges and Universities in Virginia

What are Virginia’s Colleges & Universities?

Exploring Virginia’s Christian Colleges

Definition of a Christian College

Benefits of Going to Christian Colleges

Best Christian Colleges in Virginia 2023

Career Outlook for degree at Regent University

Most Influential Alumni

Regent University’s Online Degrees

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Career Outlook for degree at Liberty University

Most Influential Alumni

Liberty University’s Online Degrees

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Career Outlook for degree at Virginia Union University

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Roanoke College

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Marymount University

Most Influential Alumni

Marymount University’s Online Degrees

Degree Concentrations

Career Outlook for degree at Randolph–Macon College

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Shenandoah University

Most Influential Alumni

Shenandoah University’s Online Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at Eastern Mennonite University

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Emory and Henry College

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Bridgewater College

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Virginia Wesleyan University

Most Influential Alumni

Virginia Wesleyan University’s Online Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at Ferrum College

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Mary Baldwin University

Most Influential Alumni

Mary Baldwin University’s Online Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at University of Lynchburg

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Averett University

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for degree at Bluefield University

Most Influential Alumni

Virginia’s Best Christian Colleges in Your Area of Interest