Best Online Christian Colleges

Christian Colleges refer to any post-high school institution that grants degrees in courses that are based on Christian beliefs and Philosophy. A lot of Christian colleges offer courses that are concentrated on one denomination like Catholic, Presbyterian, Jesuit, etc while some others offer courses that are interdenominational.

There are several secular universities that offer degrees in Christianity- related fields for students who are interested. The difference between these secular colleges and Christian Colleges is that a Christian college requires all students to complete degree requirements that are in relation to the school’s faith.

The term “Bible College” and Christian College are often used interchangeably by some people, but the two terms are different from each other. Bible Colleges which are also known as seminaries, students are prepared for  Theology, Divinity, or Christian ministry. The professional roles a Bible College graduate can play are Reverends, Pastors, and other Church Leadership positions.

A lot of Bible colleges are not accredited, and programs offered there are mostly limited to undergraduate levels. The curricula of Bible colleges are deeply rooted in the New and Old Testament, vocational training, and biblical languages, students receive little or no education in liberal arts.

Christian Colleges on the other hand provide tracks that integrate liberal arts and Christian faith into their curricula. Christian colleges offer both graduate and undergraduate programs, these colleges usually hold regional, programmatic, or national accreditation. This article will highlight the Christian Colleges that offer the best online programs.

Best Online Christian Colleges

1. Liberty University

Liberty University’s campus hosts about 15,000 enrollees who take advantage of the wide range of undergraduate and graduate-level programs offered.  In addition to its physical campus, the college offers a large variety of online programs to over 100,000 students.

Liberty University’s distance education program started in  1985, making the school a pioneer in the field ever since, it also became one of the first Christian colleges to offer totally online degrees.

Liberty University is one of the world’s largest online Christian colleges, the online school boasts a vast selection of degree programs that cover diverse fields such as criminal justice, aeronautics, business, and education. Students can pursue online programs at all levels, be it undergraduate, graduate, or associate levels, the online program was designed to suit students who are working.

The college online offers all its online programs through Blackboard, an online learning platform. The online program is offered in an asynchronous format to help working students shuffle work and schooling.

2. LeTourneau University

LeTourneau University was established in 1946 in Longview, Texas. The college began as a technical institute dedicated to trading skills and technology programs.

The college mainly focused on professional and practical education through a wide range of online programs in aeronautics, aviation and arts and sciences, education, psychology/counseling, and business and technology. The school helps online students arrange practicums experiences in their own communities in fields like education, healthcare, and business.

LeTourneau is one of the top online Christian colleges in Texas, that offers a range of undergraduate and graduate degree programs, which includes criminal justice, health care administration, and business management.

LeTourneau also offers programs in aviation management and aviation studies, which prepares students for careers in the aviation industry, such as professional pilots airport managers, and aviation safety inspectors.

At LeTourneau, students benefit from a curriculum that integrates Christian faith into class discussions, course content, and professional preparation strategies regardless of their degree choices. The online classes are offered in an asynchronous manner through Canvas; an online learning platform.

LeTourneau holds accreditation from The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

3. Johnson University 

Johnson University Johnson has a main campus just outside of Knoxville and also maintains extension centers in Indianapolis, Louisville, Orlando, and Phoenix

The school was founded in 1893, making the school the second-oldest bible college in the country. Johnson’s distance education has been around for quite some time, it originally offered bible study courses through correspondence.

Today the school is ranked as one of the oldest Christian online colleges, with several online bachelor’s, associate, master’s, certificate, and Ph.D. programs available.

Johnson’s online program offers several religion-centered programs, such as biblical studies, bible translation, ministry leadership, pastoral care, and counseling.

Johnson offers professional degrees grounded in a biblical context, these degrees include business administration, nonprofit administration, and intercultural studies degrees with concentrations in marketing, sports management, and management.

Johnson also offers hybrid degrees through its Indianapolis, Louisville, and Knoxville campuses for students who are interested in combining the convenience of online courses and the interactivity of traditional classroom courses.

Online students benefit from a wide range of support services and resources, including academic coaching, course selections, and other academic advice offered by the school. Students are also given access to the virtual library, dedicated tutoring resources, technology services, and career services.

Live counseling sessions are also available and online learners have access to a large selection of academic resources related to distance education,  time management advice, proofreading, and writing help, including study skills training, and test-taking tips.

Johnson University holds accreditation from The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges and The Association for Biblical Higher Education.

4. Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion

Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion hosts more than 15,000 students, it is also the largest private college in Indiana and one of the largest Christian colleges in the nation.

Over half of all students are enrolled in online programs which makes Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion one of the largest Christian online colleges in the Midwest. IWU has several education centers scattered throughout Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio.

The school is an ideal choice for remote learners who want access to a physical campus. The College boasts over 80 programs at the graduate, certificate levels, and undergraduate; fully online and hybrid options are available.

Programs offered in this institution include criminal justice business, nursing, education, and counseling.

The school also offers accelerated courses that combine online learning with weekly intensive campus sessions for working professionals who are looking to finish their degrees quickly.

Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion gives online learners significant support in form of dedicated online advisors and access to off-campus library services.

Students also receive a personal academic advisor to assist with course and major selections, registration, and graduation. These advisors help students to communicate with the different departments at the school and identify other important services and resources a student may need.

The school’s library includes live research assistance from librarians and other staff, students also have full online access to a substantial collection of databases, periodicals, journals, eBooks, and other materials. Spiritual support is also offered to students via online platforms for digital devotionals and to post prayer concerns.

IWD holds accreditation from The Higher Learning Commission.

5. Mississippi College 

Mississippi College was founded in 1826, making it the oldest college in the Mississippi State and also the second-oldest Baptist college in the country. The college boasts a student body of more than 5,000.

Mississippi College is the largest private college in Mississippi and also one of the largest online Christian universities in the state. The school offers a wide variety of online degree programs at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Students can pursue any of the five bachelor’s degree programs available, including homeland security and loss prevention. There are also over 12 master’s degree programs available, such as intercollegiate athletic administration, cybersecurity and information assurance, educational leadership, and health informatics.

Mississippi College also offers an online doctorate program in professional counseling and a wide range of graduate and post-baccalaureate certificate programs.

Mississippi College offers a mix of asynchronous coursework that allows students to complete their coursework on their own schedules and synchronous coursework to allow students to have live interactions with peers and faculty. Synchronous courses typically meet in the evenings to allow working professionals to attend at their convenience.

Mississippi College is one of the most affordable private colleges in the country because the cost of attendance according to College Board’s Trends in College Pricing is the same as most state schools.

MC spends around $53 million every year in financial aid, from academic scholarships and need-based grants to awards specifically for transfer students.

MC being one of the best online colleges in the area boasts many notable alumni in the arts, politics, and sports, including author Barry Hannah, NFL player Fred McAfee, and Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant.

Mississippi College holds accreditation from The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

6. Dallas Baptist University

Dallas Baptist University operates a main campus near downtown Dallas, Texas, and campuses in locations in Plano and Hurst.

DBU boasts a sizeable distance education program that serves students all around the state, it originally began as the first two-year college in Texas.  Today, DBU offers several online degree programs at the associate, master’s, and bachelor’s levels, alongside graduate and undergraduate certificates.

The school enrolls over 5,100 students annually with an average class size of 11 students to allow for individualized attention from faculty.

Undergraduate programs offered by DBU include business administration, health care management, biblical studies, etc. Graduate students can choose from a wide variety of advanced religious degrees, such as children’s ministry, family ministry, and discipleship.

Dallas Baptist University also offers quite a number of accelerated bachelor’s/master’s degrees for students looking to graduate quickly and are also willing to take an increased course load. Options for the accelerated program include business administration, management, and Christian ministry.

In addition to its other offerings, the school also offers a wide variety of dual master’s degree programs combining two related disciplines, including management/student ministry, business administration/educational leadership, and business administration/children’s ministry.

The online courses are designed to suit working professionals, the courses are offered in an asynchronous manner with no required times for course meetings.

The school offers a lot of resources for online students, including comprehensive technical support, office assistance, a writing center to provide help with various assignments at all stages of the writing process, and a 24-hour helpline.

DBU holds accreditation from The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

7. Anderson University

Anderson University was founded in 1911 originally as a women’s college in the Southern Baptist Convention.

AU is a comprehensive coeducational institution that serves over 3,400 students, the school is committed to a strong liberal arts core that prepares students professionally and academically, but also places emphasis on church, community, and family commitments.

AU is one of the best online Christian colleges in the region, it has produced several notable alumni, including Tony Award-winning writer James Lee Barrett, South Carolina District Judge Timothy M. Cain, and bestselling author Sue Monk Kidd.

The school’s main campus in Anderson is situated at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Anderson University offers several online degree programs in disciplines such as criminal justice, allied health, education, and business.

Undergraduate students can choose from degrees such as organizational leadership, and behavioral sciences, homeland security/emergency preparedness. Graduate students can also choose programs in ministry, music education, and business administration.  An online doctorate program in ministry is also available. Most of the programs are available in a 100% online format, while others use a hybrid model that allows students to mix on-campus and online courses.

Anderson University pairs all online students with a personal and academic advisor, and a Journey Coach to help at all stages of the student’s academic process, which includes credit transfer, registration, course selections, financial aid, applications, and transcripts.

Anderson University holds accreditation from The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

9. King University

King University is rooted in the Presbyterian Church and the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. King University was established in 1867 and has provided religious and professional education since then.

Today, King hosts thousands of students at its main campus in Bristol, TN, a distance education program, and several satellite campuses and extension centers around Tennessee and southwest Virginia.

Though King University is a private school, it is ranked as one of the most affordable online accredited Christian Colleges in the nation.

King University offers a competitive tuition rate and generous financial aid packages to students. The college is respected both regionally and nationally, with several important alumni in business, politics, and the arts, including United States Senator William R. Laird, financial trader and writer Christian H. Cooper, and children’s author Katherine Paterson.

King offers about 11 bachelor’s degrees in professional and liberal arts subjects, this includes majors such as information technology, history, psychology, and religious studies. The school also offers two online graduate degrees in nursing and business administration.

Online programs are designed to suit working professionals to help them complete their degree programs as quickly as possible. King University holds accreditation from The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

10. Toccoa Falls College

Toccoa Falls College is based in Toccoa, GA, about 90 miles northeast of Atlanta. Toccoa Falls College is a small liberal arts college in the Christian and Missionary Alliance denomination, it is one of the top online accredited Christian colleges in the region.

TFC has a small enrollment of around 1,200 undergraduates to allow for an intimate student-faculty ratio of 14:1, and online learners receive personalized, one-on-one advising and mentoring.

The school offers about 10 bachelor’s degree programs in religious and secular subjects, which range from biblical studies and ministry leadership to counseling psychology and sports management.

There are three associate degrees available in general studies, criminal justice, and business administration, along with two certificates in biblical studies or cross-cultural studies.

TFC’s online students have access to online resources, such as tutoring services, career counseling, academic advising, and library support.

Toccoa Falls College holds accreditation from The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.