Are you in search of a conservative college to attend and haven’t found one yet? You are in luck because you just landed on an article that has a wealth of information to share on the most conservative colleges!
Before I talk about what a Conservative College is, let’s have a proper overview of what it means to be conservative. Being Conservative means having an established style or standard of doing things, without accepting changes or new ideas. Another synonym for being Conservative is being Religious, and the antonym for being Conservative is being Liberal.
Being Conservative means that you resist change. Just like the old traditions of our forefathers that have resisted changing, it’s quite surprising that some of these traditions are being held unto and kept even in recent times.
This article on Conservative Colleges is coming your way to let you in on the colleges and schools that are resistant to change and therefore adhere to certain traditions and rules no matter what.
Christian colleges are often both politically and socially conservative. Many Christian colleges adhere to more traditional social views and rules that attract conservative Christian students and faculty.
Furthermore, conservative colleges are more strict and regimented than liberal colleges. Conservative religious colleges like Brigham Young University (BYU) and the College of the Ozarks have strict rules that all students must follow. (For instance, at BYU, male students can’t have beards or long hair.) These colleges are also much less tolerant of alcohol and drug use than liberal colleges.
Also, the armed service academies are known for being conservative. They have many more rules than the average college regarding personal appearance, behavior, and conduct
For religious students that are also International Students, and don’t have sufficient funds to enroll in colleges with high tuition fees, there are Cheap Bible Colleges in Canada for International students to enroll in and spend little money on.
Also for conservative students that are engaged in other activities, and as such, do not have the time to enroll in a physical college, there are online Christian colleges that one can enroll in and learn like others at your own pace and still juggle other life priorities.
We have written other related articles such as Colleges for aviation in the world for students who want to pursue the dream of becoming Pilots and you can also find Fashion Designing Colleges in India for citizens and International Students that are interested in diving into the fashion industry to bring famous brands to reality.
Without further ado, let’s find out the meaning of a conservative college.
What is a Conservative College?
A Conservative College is an institution that offers academic programs with religious and conservative values and is not open-minded and welcoming to different cultures.
In a conservative college, there is a code of conduct and either a dress code or uniform along with a rational grooming code. The curriculum is traditional too.
Conservative colleges tend to have strict guidelines around drinking, interacting with members of the opposite sex, and dress codes. Plus, some religious services or other activities are required of all students.
The best candidates to attend a conservative college are people who strongly identify with conservative values and want conservative values to be the driving force in their college experience.
Students with strong religious beliefs, particularly Christian faith, may feel at home at a conservative college that is affiliated with their religious group. Those who have very strong conservative opinions about issues such as drinking, premarital sex, and appropriate attire may prefer the campus culture at a conservative college.
20 Most Conservative Colleges
To create our list of the most conservative colleges, we researched over 70 colleges and universities across the U.S. and narrowed them down to this list of 20. We based our research off of the materials available online at each school’s website. The Conservative Colleges and schools are as follows;
- Liberty University
- Franciscan University of Steubenville
- Colorado Christian University
- Cedarville University
- Biola University
- Bob Jones University
- Brigham Young University
- Hillsdale College
- Oral Roberts University
- Grove City College
- Harding University
- Texas A&M University
- University of Dallas
- Maranatha Baptist University
- College of the Ozarks
- Regent University
- Cornerstone University
- The King’s College
- Thomas Aquinas College
- Pepperdine University
1. Liberty University
This is the first conservative college on the list. Founded in 1971 in Lynchburg, Va. The school has grown from a small college of 154 students into a university with a residential student body of over 15,000.
Preparing students to be doctors, educators, ministers, lawyers, aviators, counselors, engineers, and more, Liberty is committed to developing tomorrow’s leaders, men, and women of a character whose impact will extend beyond their professions to change the world around them.
The university’s honor code, called the “Liberty Way,” prohibits premarital sex, cohabitation, and alcohol use. Described as a “bastion of the Christian right”, the university plays a prominent role in Republican politics.
Location: Lynchburg, Virginia
Intelligent Score: 98.05
Average Tuition: $23,800 per year
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Student Enrollment: 46,646
2. Franciscan University of Steubenville
This is a small Catholic College and it is the next on our list of conservative Colleges. This conservative college educates, evangelizes, and sends forth joyful disciples empowered by the Holy Spirit.
They form men and women to serve God and one another so they can be a transforming Christian presence in the world.
Franciscan University is foremost an academic community. Their students are trained as professionals through rigorous courses built on the Catholic intellectual tradition. Together with expert faculty as mentors, they explore new ideas and participate in cutting-edge research across more than 80 graduate and undergraduate programs.
Location: Steubenville, Ohio
Intelligent Score: 97.64
Average Tuition: $29,720 per year
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
Student Enrollment: 2,064
3. Colorado Christian University
This is the next conservative college on the list. The University offers more than 200 academic program options in a variety of disciplines for traditional and adult students through its two colleges.
The College of Undergraduate Studies is home to more than 1,500 traditional undergraduate students, the majority residing on campus. The college’s core curriculum is ranked in the top 2% of colleges nationwide.
The College of Adult and Graduate Studies offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs to over 8,200 adult learners worldwide. More than 90% of CCU’s adult students complete their degrees online through CCU Online.
Location: Lakewood, Colorado
Intelligent Score: 97.36
Average Tuition: $34,936 per year
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
Student Enrollment: 8,579
4. Cedarville University
This is the next Christian College on the list of conservative Colleges. Cedarville College was established in 1887 by five godly men who envisioned a college that would provide Christian higher education.
The University emphasizes faithfulness to a biblical-theological position regarding doctrine. At the school, you don’t have to sacrifice academic quality to receive a truly Christian education. They have both! In every one of their 150+ academic programs, you’ll experience rigorous coursework taught by highly credentialed professors, with biblical integration in every course.
Location: Cedarville, Ohio
Intelligent Score: 96.91
Average Tuition: $33,174 per year
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
Student Enrollment: 3,936
5. Biola University
Being the next Christian College on the list of conservative Colleges, Biola University is a nationally ranked Christian university in the heart of Southern California. Founded in 1908, Biola offers biblically centered education, intentional spiritual development, and vocational preparation within a unique learning community where all faculty, staff, and students are professing Christians.
Biola prepares students to “think biblically about everything,” which is why all undergraduates complete 30 credits of Bible and theology classes qualifying most students for a minor in biblical and theological studies.
Location: La Mirada, California
Intelligent Score: 96.67
Average Tuition: $44,382 per year
Accreditation: WASC Senior College and University Commission
Student Enrollment: 4,225
6. Bob Jones University
This is an accredited Christian liberal arts university and it is the next on our list of Religious Colleges. The school offers a wide variety of undergraduate and graduate programs in 5 schools, a college, and a seminary.
The school exists to grow Christ-like character that is scripturally disciplined, others-serving, God-loving, Christ-proclaiming and focused above.
Location: Greenville, South Carolina
Intelligent Score: 96.32
Average Tuition: $19,100 per year
Accreditation: Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools
Student Enrollment: 2,404
7. Brigham Young University
This conservative college is next on our list and a private research university. It was founded in 1875 by religious leader Brigham Young and is sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).
BYU offers a variety of academic programs, including liberal arts, engineering, agriculture, management, physical and mathematical sciences, nursing, and law. It has 186 undergraduate majors, 64 master’s programs, and 26 doctoral programs.
Students attending BYU agree to follow an honor code, which mandates behavior in line with teachings of the church, such as academic honesty, adherence to dress and grooming standards, abstinence from extramarital sex, same-sex romantic behavior, and the consumption of drugs and alcohol.
The school seeks to develop students of faith, intellect, and character who have the skills and the desire to continue learning and to serve others throughout their lives.
Location: Provo, Utah
Intelligent Score: 96.24
Average Tuition: $6,120 per year for Latter-Day Saints; $12,240 per year for non-Latter-Day
Accreditation: Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
Student Enrollment: 31,923
8. Hillsdale College
This is a top-ranked conservative college known for the classical liberal arts and its independence from government funding. Fully accredited, it graduates students with the degree of Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science and prepares them for graduate study, professional schools, teaching, and many vocational and cultural pursuits. The College also offers online courses.
Hillsdale’s founders opened the doors to all, regardless of race or religion. In 1844, it was the first college in Michigan, and the second in the United States, to admit women on par with men. Its cosmopolitan student body is assembled from homes in forty-seven states and eight foreign countries.
Location: Hillsdale, Michigan
Intelligent Score: 95.62
Average Tuition: $28,730 per year
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
Student Enrollment: 1,431
9. Oral Roberts University
ORU is one of the largest, most influential Christian universities in the world, and the next on our list of most conservative Colleges. The college has over 150 majors, minors, and pre-professional programs ranging in every interest, from business and biology to engineering, nursing, ministry, and more!
Uniting a passion for academic excellence with the ability to hear God’s voice, thousands of ORU students from over 115 nations are being equipped and empowered to become leaders in their chosen fields.
Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma
Intelligent Score: 94.08
Average Tuition: $30,300 per year
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
Student Enrollment: 3,159
10. Grove City College
This is the next Christian College on our list. With over 60 majors, a renowned humanities core, and faculty who are personally invested in your development, Grove City College will guide you to discern and pursue God’s unique calling for your life.
Understanding the world and your place in it calls for professors and peers dedicated to the pursuit of Truth without ideological barriers.
Their faculty will encourage you to solidify your Christian worldview as you grapple with different perspectives. Inevitably, you will experience great joy as you discover enduring truths about yourself, your academic discipline, and the God who designed you.
Location: Grove City, Pennsylvania
Intelligent Score: 93.65
Average Tuition: $19,310 per year
Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Student Enrollment: 2,400
11. Harding University
This is the next conservative college on our list. The following Majors are offered by the school; 14 pre-professional programs 10 academic colleges 40+ graduate & professional programs and 110+ undergraduate majors.
Spiritual growth is central to Harding’s mission. With more than 120 academic and professional organizations along with more than 30 social clubs, there are numerous opportunities to get involved and explore your interests.
The Office of Student Life is responsible for the overview of student activities which includes residential life, personal and social wellness, academic efforts, and emotional and spiritual wellness. Other student needs are met through programs designed to assist students in choosing majors and planning careers, individual counseling, and specific health issues
Location: Searcy, Arkansas
Intelligent Score: 93.64
Average Tuition: $21,690 per year
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
Student Enrollment: 4,133
12. Texas A&M University
This is the next conservative college on our list. With 133 undergraduate degree programs, 175 master’s degree programs, 92 doctoral degree programs, and 5 first professional degrees as options for study, Texas A&M is full of possibilities.
Texas A&M University is dedicated to the discovery, development, communication, and application of knowledge in a wide range of academic and professional fields. Its mission of providing the highest quality undergraduate and graduate programs is inseparable from its mission of developing new understandings through research and creativity. It prepares students to assume roles in leadership, responsibility, and service to society.
Location: College Station, Texas
Intelligent Score: 93.22
Average Tuition: $13,012 per year in-state; $40,896 per year out of state
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Student Enrollment: 56,200
13. University of Dallas
This is a Catholic Christian College and the next on our list. The University of Dallas is dedicated to the pursuit of wisdom, truth, and of virtue as the proper and primary ends of education.
The University seeks to educate its students so they may develop intellectual and moral virtues, prepare themselves for life and work in a problematic and changing world, and become leaders able to act responsibly for their good and the good of their family, community, country, and church.
The University is especially dedicated to the pursuit of liberal education in both its undergraduate and graduate programs. In its liberal arts programs, the University is committed to the recovery and renewal of the Western heritage of liberal education.
Location: Irving, Texas
Intelligent Score: 92.46
Average Tuition: $43,326 per year
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Student Enrollment: 1,686
14. Maranatha Baptist University
This college is next on our list of most conservative colleges and it is a non-profit private institution aligned with its independent Baptist constituency. As such, it is governed by an independent board of trustees and is not part of any denominational hierarchy or structure.
The school maintains a strong set of spiritual and behavioral distinctive generally reflected in constituent churches. Faculty members, though diverse in academic backgrounds, share a common core of biblical values and consider themselves conservative, independent Baptists.
The school offers 39 undergraduate bachelor’s degree programs in seven academic units as well as six graduate degree programs in the seminary
Location: Watertown, Wisconsin
Intelligent Score: 92.11
Average Tuition: $16,800 per year
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
Student Enrollment: 516
15. College of the Ozarks
This College is next on our list of most conservative colleges. The mission of this college is to provide the advantages of Christian education for the youth of both sexes, especially those found worthy, but who are without sufficient means to procure such training.
The vision of the college is to develop citizens of Christ-like character who are well-educated, hard-working, and patriotic.
To achieve this vision, the College has Academic, Vocational, Christian, Patriotic and Cultural pillars. Even as College of the Ozarks has evolved through secondary and junior college stages to the present four-year liberal arts institution, the fundamental pillars have remained the same.
The institution provides the opportunity for full-time students to work at one of more than 100 campus jobs or industries to help pay for part of their tuition. The remaining portion of the student’s expenses is covered through scholarships provided by gifts and contributions from donors who believe in and support the programs and policies of the College.
Location: Point Lookout, Missouri
Intelligent Score: 91.79
Average Tuition: $19,500 per year
Accreditation: Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools
Student Enrollment: 1,499
16. Regent University
This is one of America’s Premier Christian universities and the next on our list of most conservative Colleges. From its inception, Regent University’s focus has been on transforming the world.
The motto of the school, Christian Leadership to Change the World, points to the r desire to impact lives across the globe. Regent is accomplishing this vision by consistently delivering excellent graduate and undergraduate programs both online and on-campus to prepare Christian leaders for lives of significant purpose and service.
With the university’s stature as an institution of excellence ever-increasing, they humbly but expectantly move to an even higher level of academic quality and global influence
Location: Virginia Beach, Virginia
Intelligent Score: 91.78
Average Tuition: $17,220 per year
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Student Enrollment: 4,494
17. Cornerstone University
This Christian University is the next on our list. They are committed to the steadfast teachings of Christ. They preach, teach and confess God’s word in all things. And they train and equip future leaders to do the same in whatever environment they are called to.
Cornerstone University offers over 75 academic programs taught from a Christian worldview that will both challenge and equip you to think critically and biblically about all things. Flexible scheduling and competitive tuition mean you have options in your pursuit of a degree.
Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan
Intelligent Score: 91.39
Average Tuition: $27,040 per year
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
Student Enrollment: 1,358
18. The King’s College
This conservative college is the next on our list and is a Christian liberal arts college in New York City’s Financial District founded in 1938. They chose to engage their culture at its heart, providing students with opportunities they won’t find elsewhere.
The College’s Core Curriculum gives students a robust intellectual foundation for principled leadership throughout society. Under the mentorship of their distinguished faculty, students learn to seamlessly integrate their faith and morality into their lives and careers.
Location: New York, New York
Intelligent Score: 90.26
Average Tuition: $37,000 per year
Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Student Enrollment: 538
19. Thomas Aquinas College
This is the next on our list of most conservative colleges and it is a Catholic Christian College that came into being in the late 1960s and early 1970s, during a time of great tumult in the United States that deeply affected the country’s institutions and its mores.
Amid this great turmoil and disintegration, and despite the dominant relativism and skepticism in higher education, Thomas Aquinas College came to life. The college is dedicated to renewing what is best in the Western intellectual heritage and is conducting liberal education under the guiding light of the Catholic faith.
Location: Santa Paula, California
Intelligent Score: 89.19
Average Tuition: $26,000 per year
Accreditation: WASC Senior College and University Commission
Student Enrollment: 439
20. Pepperdine University
This is the last on our list of most conservative colleges and is a Christian university committed to the highest standards of academic excellence and Christian values, where students are strengthened for lives of purpose, service, and leadership.
George Pepperdine’s founding vision was that of a university committed equally to academic excellence and Christian values. The students, faculty, and administration of Pepperdine University today affirm this vision and advance the University’s standing as a cutting-edge educational institution by growing in knowledge, as well as spirit.
Location: Malibu, California
Intelligent Score: 88.44
Average Tuition: $59,450 per year
Accreditation: WASC Senior College and University Commission
Student Enrollment: 5,928
Conclusion
These conservative colleges discussed above are ever ready to accept conservative students who wish to enroll and join their community of Christians and religious groups both to learn academically and spiritually.
We will go ahead and answer some frequently asked questions about conservative colleges to wrap up this article!
Most Conservative Colleges – FAQs
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