What Is a Christian College and How Is It Different From a Secular College?

Updated

A Christian college is an accredited institution that combines standard academic programs with a religious mission, typically integrating faith into coursework, campus life, and community expectations. It differs from a secular college mainly in intent and environment rather than in the degrees it awards: you can earn the same bachelor's or master's credentials, but the surrounding experience is shaped by a faith tradition. Eastern University, for example, describes itself as a Christian university in Philadelphia whose purpose includes teaching, scholarship, service, spiritual formation, student development, and societal involvement. The right choice depends on whether you want that faith dimension to be part of your education or prefer it kept separate.

What "Christian college" actually means

The label covers a wide range of schools, so treat it as a starting point, not a category with fixed rules. What they generally share:

  • A stated religious mission. Faith is part of the institution's purpose, not just a student club. At Eastern, that mission is expressed through spiritual formation alongside academics and service.
  • Faith integrated into learning. Many schools look for ways to connect subject matter to religious or ethical questions, though how explicitly this happens varies by department and professor.
  • A community with shared expectations. Chapel, worship, or conduct commitments may be part of enrollment.
  • Standard academic structure. Degrees, majors, and accreditation work the same way as at other colleges.

Two schools can both call themselves Christian and feel completely different — one may require chapel attendance and a statement of faith, another may simply offer a faith-informed environment open to all students.

How it differs from a secular college

Dimension Christian college Secular college
Mission Religious mission stated in the institution's purpose Mission focused on academics, research, or career preparation
Curriculum May integrate faith or ethics into courses; theology or religion often required Religion studied as an academic subject, not a framework
Campus life Chapel, worship, faith groups, and conduct expectations common Clubs and religious groups exist but are optional and student-led
Community expectations May include a faith statement, chapel requirement, or lifestyle commitments Generally no religious requirements for enrollment
Degree value Regionally accredited degrees, same as secular peers Regionally accredited degrees

The academic credential is not the main difference. The difference is the environment you learn in and what the institution expects of you outside class.

What to check before you decide

Because "Christian college" is broad, verify specifics rather than assuming.

Accreditation and degree options

Confirm the school holds regional accreditation, which is what employers and graduate programs recognize. Then check whether your intended major is actually offered and whether online or graduate options exist if you need flexibility. Eastern, for instance, lists undergraduate, graduate, and online degrees.

Faith requirements

Ask directly:

  • Is chapel or worship attendance required, and how often?
  • Do students sign a statement of faith or a conduct code?
  • Are faculty required to be practicing members of the tradition?

The answers tell you how much the faith dimension will shape your daily life.

Admission expectations

Christian colleges vary from highly selective to open admission. Ask what the application requires — transcripts, test scores, essays, references, or a faith-related statement — since some schools weigh mission fit alongside academics.

Cost and financial aid

Do not assume a religious affiliation means lower tuition. Costs and aid packages differ by school, and some offer church-related or mission-based scholarships. Ask the financial aid office what aid is available and whether any awards carry faith or service conditions. The source material here does not list prices, so confirm current figures directly with each school.

Fit and outcomes

  • Visit or attend a virtual session and sit in on a class if you can.
  • Ask how faith is integrated in your specific major, not just in general.
  • Review graduation rates, job placement, and graduate school outcomes for your field.

A practical way to evaluate one

If you are comparing a Christian college against a secular option, run the same questions through both:

  1. Mission: What is this school trying to produce in graduates?
  2. Daily life: What will a typical week include outside class?
  3. Requirements: What must I agree to or attend to enroll and stay?
  4. Academics: Is my major strong here, and is the school accredited?
  5. Money: What is the real cost after aid, and what conditions apply?
  6. Outcomes: Where do graduates in my field end up?

Whichever school answers these in a way that matches what you want from the next four years is the better fit — the Christian label alone does not decide it.