Baylor (baylor.edu) is widely regarded as one of the best universities in the country, Christian or otherwise. But the religious ties of the school and required religion courses for all students make this Texas university a top choice for church-centered students. In between rooting for Big 12 athletic teams and completing 150,000 hours of annual community service, Baylor students take part in an active "community of faith" through worship services and Bible study groups. While Baylor offers more than 150 undergraduate degrees, it is most notable for programs focusing in engineering, science, theology, philosophy, music, law and business.
From 2008 to 2010 George Fox University (georgefox.edu) landed among the elite of Forbes' "America's Best Colleges" list. In another measure of academic worthiness, George Fox is the only Christian college in the Pacific Northwest to make U.S. News & World Report's 2010 list of "Best National Universities." In the classroom, George Fox offers more than 90 majors, minors and pre-professional programs.
Established in 1860, Wheaton College (wheaton.edu) has a long history of providing students with a well-rounded education comprised of both academics and religious studies. With an interdenominational approach, Wheaton encourages students to pursue their own personal path to faith and a greater understanding of truth. Students from all 50 states and more than 40 countries take part in Wheaton's 40 majors, with a heavy emphasis placed on the sciences. Wheaton is also known for producing students who go on to attain higher master's and doctoral degrees.
From the 2009-10 to the 2010-11 academic year, Westmont College (westmont.edu) jumped more than 140 spots up the Forbes list of best colleges, landing in the top 100. Located in Santa Barbara, California, Westmont applies a liberal arts academic approach to its students' sense of Christian commitment. Strong programs in Literature and foreign languages engage students with a central message of faith and stewardship. When students aren't busy in classrooms, internships, volunteer positions or student groups, the Southern California location of Westmont's campus means ample access to sunny beaches.
The few schools highlighted here represent only a small sample of the quality Christian schools available for high school students to consider. To learn more about Christian colleges that offer programs and courses in your desired area of study, look to resources such as the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (cccu.org). National rankings from Forbes and U.S. News & World Report also offer the chance to compare schools head-to-head in statistics from class sizes to majors offered to cafeteria quality.