DURHAM, N.C., March 16, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — Leading Christian higher education resource, Christian Universities Online (http://www.christianuniversitiesonline.org/), has published a comprehensive guide of Christian Colleges and Universities with online graduate degree programs. Tuition costs and the number of degree programs were used to rank the schools. Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA claimed the top spot on the list, followed by Luther Rice University in Lithonia, GA and Tennessee Temple University in Chattanooga, TN in second and third respectively. The ranking can be viewed at http://www.christianuniversitiesonline.org/best-online-christian-graduate-schools-guide/.
Other schools making the list include (in alphabetical order):
* Abilene Christian University – Abilene, Texas
* Anderson University (AU) – Anderson, Indiana
* Anderson University, SC – Anderson, South Carolina
* Apex School of Theology – Durham, North Carolina
* Asbury University – Wilmore, Kentucky
* Azusa Pacific University – Azusa, California
* Baptist Bible College and Seminary – Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania
* Baylor University – Waco, Texas
* Belhaven University – Jackson, Mississippi
* Bethel College-Mishawaka – Mishawaka, Indiana
* Bethesda University of California – Anaheim, California
* Biola University – La Mirada, California
* Bluffton University – Bluffton, Ohio
* Bob Jones University – Greenville, South Carolina
* Bryan College – Dayton, Tennessee
* Cairn University – Langhorne, Pennsylvania
* California Baptist University – Riverside, California
* Campbell University – Buies Creek, NC
* Campbellsville University – Campbellsville, Kentucky
* Carson-Newman University – Jefferson City, Tennessee
* Cedarville University – Cedarville, Ohio
* Charleston Southern University – Charleston, South Carolina
* Colorado Christian University – Lakewood, Colorado
* Columbia International University – Columbia, South Carolina
* Concordia University Irvine – Irvine, California
* Cornerstone University – Grand Rapids, Michigan
* Crown College – St Bonifacius, Minnesota
* Dallas Baptist University – Dallas, Texas
* Dallas Theological Seminary – Dallas, Texas
* Eastern University – St Davids, Pennsylvania
* Eastern Mennonite University – Harrisonburg, Virginia
* Faith Evangelical College and Seminary – Tacoma, Washington
* Faulkner University – Montgomery, Alabama
* Franciscan University of Steubenville – Steubenville, Ohio
* Fresno Pacific University – Fresno, California
* Fuller Theological Seminary – Pasadena, California
* Goshen College – Goshen, Indiana
* Grace College & Seminary – Winona Lake, Indiana
* Grand Canyon University – Phoenix, Arizona
* Greenville College – Greenville, Illinois
* Hannibal-LaGrange University – Hannibal, Missouri
* Houston Baptist University – Houston, Texas
* Howard Payne University – Brownwood, Texas
* Huntington University – Huntington, Indiana
* Indiana Wesleyan University – Marion, Indiana
* John Brown University – Siloam Springs, Arkansas
* Johnson University – Knoxville, Tennessee
* Judson University – Elgin, Illinois
* King University – Bristol, Tennessee
* Lee University – Cleveland, Tennessee
* LeTourneau University – Longview, Texas
* Malone University – Canton, Ohio
* Messiah College – Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
* Missouri Baptist University – St. Louis, Missouri
* Montreat College – Montreat, North Carolina
* Mount Vernon Nazarene University – Mount Vernon, Ohio
* North Park University – Chicago, Illinois
* Northwest Nazarene University – Nampa, Idaho
* Northwest University – Kirkland, Washington
* Oklahoma Baptist University – Shawnee, Oklahoma
* Oklahoma Wesleyan University – Bartlesville, Oklahoma
* Olivet Nazarene University – Bourbonnais, Illinois
* Palm Beach Atlantic University – West Palm Beach, Florida
* Regent University – Virginia Beach, Virginia
* Roberts Wesleyan College – Rochester, New York
* Shasta Bible College and Graduate School – Redding, California
* Shorter University – Rome, Georgia
* Simpson University – Redding, California
* Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary – Wake Forest, North Carolina
* Southeastern University – Lakeland, Florida
* Southern California Seminary – El Cajon, California
* Southern Evangelical Seminary – Matthews, North Carolina
* Southern Nazarene University – Bethany, Oklahoma
* Southern Wesleyan University – Central, South Carolina
* Southwestern Assemblies of God University – Waxahachie, Texas
* Spring Arbor University – Spring Arbor, Michigan
* Trevecca Nazarene University – Nashville, Tennessee
* Union University – Jackson, Tennessee
* University of Mary Hardin-Baylor – Belton, Texas
* University of Northwestern – St. Paul, Minnesota
* University of Sioux Falls – Sioux Falls, South Dakota
* University of the Southwest – Hobbs, New Mexico
* University of Valley Forge – Phoenixville, Pennsylvania
* Virginia Baptist College – Fredricksburg, Virginia
* Virginia Beach Theological Seminary – Virginia Beach, Virginia
* Virginia University of Lynchburg – Lynchburg, Virginia
* Warner Pacific College – Portland, Oregon
* Warner University – Lake Wales, Florida
* Whitworth University – Spokane, Washington
* World Mission University – Los Angeles, California
The ranking considered all schools offering fully online graduate degree programs that are affiliated with either the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS), the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU), or the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI). Information on tuition and the overall number of online graduate degree programs was gathered through survey responses and official school websites to develop this ranking. Tuition cost was weighted at thirty percent, while the number of degree programs was weighted at seventy percent of the ranking score.
“Online education continues to bring new and exciting opportunities to graduate students across the globe,” said Michael Templeton, Editor of Christian Universities Online. “Geographical, financial, and stage of life barriers are being broken down through online education. Online education continues to exceed enrollment figures of traditional education and continues to gain credibility among institutional leadership. We hope this ranking serves to be a valuable resource for students and families researching Christian higher education for online graduate degree programs.”
Christian Universities Online (http://www.christianuniversitiesonline.org/) is an independent online resource for students and families researching Christian higher education. The site publishes rankings and reviews of the best Christian colleges and universities, information about Christian scholarships and financial aid, and many other resources prospective Christian college students and their families.