4 Benefits of Attending a Christian College

“Your college years will be the most formative years of your life.” Maybe you’ve heard this from a parent or family member, but is it true? For many students, college is not only where they get a degree—it’s where they form friendships, experience academic and personal growth, and make connections that could lead to a job after graduation.

So your family is probably right when they say college will be an important part of your life. And if you’re a follower of Jesus, the friends and mentors you’ll find at a Christian college or university could be among the people who disciple you along your journey.

If you want to spend your college years learning and growing in faith, find out more about a college’s opportunities for spiritual enrichment and development. It’s also likely that you’ll get a sense of a college’s Christian commitment when you make a visit to campus.

Here are a few reasons why you might benefit from attending a college that’s intentionally Christian:

You’ll have easy access to spiritual resources.

Although you can be a Christian at whichever college you choose, attending a Christian college gives you the option to practice your faith through on-campus chapel services, small-group ministries and service opportunities. At Northwestern College, students worship together up to three times per week, and many choose to participate in weekly D-groups (discipleship groups) in the dorms.

Many of your classmates and professors will share your faith and values.

College is a life season marked by big changes—including moving away from home. It can be inspiring to live and learn in a place where others share your core beliefs. At a Christian college, you’ll meet students who want to grow in their faith (just like you!), and your Christian professors, coaches and other staff mentors will be able to support you throughout your college experience. You’ll find that to be true at Northwestern. We strive to be a Christian academic community that cares about your personal and spiritual growth in the classroom, in the dorms, on the court or stage, and beyond.

You’ll find plenty of opportunities to serve others.

If you enjoy high school mission trips, attending a Christian college might be a way to have similar short-term mission experiences. Most Christian colleges or universities have connections to local churches, mission organizations or nonprofits—many of which LOVE student volunteers! Northwestern’s Justice + Service team participates in service projects, packages food for families impacted by natural disasters, and raises funds for organizations that combat injustices like human trafficking. Northwestern also sends teams on 10-day Spring Service Partnerships and 6- to 8-week Summer of Service experiences, opportunities that take our students around the world to partner with missionaries and serve God’s people.

You’ll develop a biblical worldview.

For colleges that are intentionally Christian, faith is central to the student experience. You’ll likely hear the truth of the gospel message in chapel or an introductory religion course, but you’ll also encounter people who strive to be more like Jesus in their daily lives. Your professors will bring a Christian perspective to the subject matter, and your coach or director will inspire you to perform for God’s glory. Attending a Christian college can support you in making faith a priority in your life and can help you to see the world through the eyes of Christ.

College is an exciting time to discover more about who you are and what God is calling you to do. We think Northwestern College is the perfect place to do that! Here you’ll spend four years getting to know more about who God is and how you can participate in God’s redeeming work in the world in whatever profession you pursue.