Bethany College is one of the many Christian Colleges in West Virginia offering graduate and undergraduate degree programs to its students. Generally, all Bible Colleges in West Virginia offer a blend of traditional faith-based curriculum as well as hardcore secular education. The purpose of good West Virginia Bible Colleges is to protect the integrity of the Christian heritage while preparing their students for life. The most fundamental ideas are debated at all levels, helping the students to form a Christian Worldview so they will be able to defend their faith. West Virginia Wesleyan College is one of those traditionally based Colleges seek to strengthen the character and resolve of its graduates. Together with the Online Christian Colleges in West Virginia, these schools seek to better their students through undergraduate and master’s programs with majors that rival secular schools. Each degree program is carefully evaluated for its potential and then rooted in biblical doctrine that keeps the focus on faith in God. Wheeling Jesuit University is another Christian College that seeks to have a well-balanced program offering for its students.
Students at these and other faith-based schools have the opportunity to take religion courses, attend campus-based church services and devotionals, and enjoy the spiritual growth that comes with living and learning in a supportive community of faithful students. If you are looking to start your college career in an environment where you can strengthen your faith and deepen your spirituality, then finding the right institution is an important step. There is a level of comfort found in attending a college that supports your fundamental values, and surrounding yourself with other students who believe and live their beliefs only makes it easier for you to continue living and believing yours.
The integration of religious and secular education offers many benefits. Learning opportunities include study-abroad programs, service-based learning experiences, and faith-focused activities. Religion courses are required at many Christian schools as part of their general education requirements. These programs are proving to be top-notch, and Christian schools consistently rank among the top educational institutions in the country.
Wheaton College – Illinois
Founded 1860 in the beautiful town of Wheaton, Illinois, just 25 miles from Chicago, this school is a non-denominational, private Christian institution that emphasizes uniting faith with scholarship. Wheaton is a co-ed liberal arts school where English, Managerial Economics, and Health Service Preparation majors are popular. A few notable Wheaton alumni include the late Reverend Billy Graham and former Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert, and Wheaton Thunder, the school’s athletics department, is part of Division III of the NCAA. As part of a Wheaton tradition, four cornerstones are viewed as the key to a successful “Wheaton” experience: class participation, chapel service attendance, extracurricular activities, and on-campus living.
With an acceptance rate of about 85%, Wheaton’s student population totals at just over 2,300. Tuition and fees for one school year total to around $30,000, but approximately 90% of undergraduates receive financial aid. Students are required to live on campus but have the choice of dormitory living, campus apartments, or campus houses — room and board at the college averages $10,100 per year. For students who prioritize faith and education, Wheaton upholds a renowned Christian legacy of learning and scholarship.
Luther College
Luther College was founded in 1861 by Norweigan immigrants in rural northeastern Decorah, Iowa. It is an undergraduate liberal arts college whose principles align with the teachings of the Lutheran church. With an acceptance rate of 60%, Luther averages a student population of 2,000, and the student-to-faculty ratio is 11 to 1. Tuition and fees are approximately $43,000 per year, and the housing costs average at $10,000, but 98% of students receive financial aid. Out of 60 majors offered, the most popular include Business, Music, and Biology. Close to 70% of students study abroad while earning their degree, and over 47% of seniors participate in professor-mentored projects outside of class. The majority of seniors also participate in different academic and community internships before graduating.
Alumni earn salaries averaging $47,000 per year, and when surveyed after graduation, 87% reported current job satisfaction. Within six months of graduation, over 75% of alumni are employed. Luther College’s foundational principles of Community leadership, faith-based engagement, and academic integrity foster lifelong values within students and enable them to achieve lasting success.
Messiah College
This private Christian college was established in 1909 just 12 miles from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, by scholar and philanthropist R.S. Smith. Messiah College is a private liberal and applied arts and sciences school. Messiah College was founded on Anabaptist, Pietist, and Wesleyan Christian teachings. The school’s academic and community mission emphasizes service and leadership in both religious and worldly aspects of life. Students have a wide variety of local, national, and international service opportunities and can participate in academic problem-solving projects to provide service to non-profits, government agencies, and global businesses. Students are required to sign a Community Covenant, promising to uphold academic integrity, Christian-based faith practices, and responsible decision-making.
With an acceptance rate of 77%, enrollment sits at upwards of 3,300 students. The faculty-to-student ratio is 1 to 12. Tuition, fees, room, and board costs are approximately $47,000, but most first-year students receive around $26,000 in financial aid to help offset expenses. Students’ frequently-selected majors include Engineering and Business, but there are over 80 available. Messiah has a completion rate of approximately 80%. Alumni’s average post-graduation income is $47,000 per year with employment two years after graduation averaging 95%. Of current students, over 85% believe they will find satisfying employment within their field of study.