Browse some of our favorite Texas Christian schools of higher education in this collection of colleges and universities. Texas is a gorgeous place that features some of the most beautiful campuses in the country. Here we have collected some of the top Christian colleges in Texas for your convenience. We hope you learn more about the college options for Christians in the great Lone Star state!
"For the protection of wisdom is like the protection of money, and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of him who has it." - Ecclesiastes 7:12
Click through this slideshow to find 10 of the top Christian colleges/universities in Texas! (Listed in alphabetical order)
Photo Credit: acu.edu
Founded in 1906 as Childers Classical Institute, the school moved to its current campus in 1929 and changed its name from Abilene Christian College to Abilene Christian University in 1976. It resides on 262 acres in West Texas. Its student-to-faculty ratio is 15:1.
The university’s mission is to “educate students for Christian service and leadership throughout the world.” According to its website, that is achieved through: “Exemplary teaching, offered by a faculty of Christian scholars, that inspires a commitment to learning; significant research, grounded in the university’s disciplines of study, that informs issues of importance to the academy, church, and society; meaningful service to society, academic disciplines, the university, and the church, expressed in various ways, by all segments of the ACU community.”
Location: Abilene, Texas
Enrollment: 5,300
Denominational affiliation: Churches of Christ
Notable alumni: Max Lucado, Billy Olson, Ronnie Dunn, V.E. Howard.
Programs offered: Bachelor's degrees in Accounting, advertising/public relations, aging studies, agriculture business, animal science, art, Bible & Ministry, biochemistry, biology, chemistry, child and family services, communication sciences and disorders, communication, computer science, criminal justice, education, digital entertainment technology, engineering, English, environmental science, financial management, global studies, graphic design/advertising, history, interdisciplinary programs, interior design, journalism, kinesiology, management, marketing, mathematics, ministry and vocation, multimedia, music, nursing, nutrition, physics, political science, psychology, social work, sociology, Spanish, theatre, vocal performance.
Website: ACU.edu
The Baylor University campus in Waco. FELIX MIZIOZNIKOV / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM
Chartered in 1845 before Texas was a state, Baylor University is a Christian university in Waco, Texas with a mission is to “to educate men and women for worldwide leadership and service by integrating academic excellence and Christian commitment within a caring community.”
“Baylor continues to hold firm to the conviction that the world needs a preeminent research university that is unambiguously Christian, where such a commitment does not imply a lack of scholarly inquiry, but rather requires scholarship and creative endeavors at the highest levels of quality to complement and inform its teaching and service,” its website states.
Students, the website, says, “encounter a variety of beliefs on campus, and they are encouraged to broaden their understanding of the rich cultural diversity found throughout the world and reflected in the Baylor family.”
Location: Waco, Texas
Enrollment: 18,033
Denominational affiliation: Baptist General Convention of Texas
Notable alumni: Angela Kinsey, Chip and Joanna Gaines, Robert Griffin III, Howard E. Butt Jr.
Programs offered: Bachelor's degrees in: accounting, American studies, anthropology, apparel design and product development, apparel merchandising, applied mathematics, applied music, Arabic and Middle East studies, art history, Asian studies, astronomy, astrophysics, aviation administration, aviation sciences, biochemistry, bioinformatics, biology, business fellows, chemistry, child and family studies, choral music, church music, classics, clinical laboratory science, communication, communication sciences and disorders, communication specialist, computer science, computer science fellows, data science, earth science, economics, education, electrical and computer engineering, engineering, English, entrepreneurship and corporate innovation, environmental health science, environmental science, environmental studies, exercise physiology, film and digital media, finance, French, general family & consumer sciences, geology, geophysics, German, great texts of the Western tradition, Greek, Greek and Roman studies, health science studies, health kinesiology and leisure studies, history, human resource management, instrumental music, interior design, international business, international studies, journalism, Latin, Latin American studies, linguistics, management, management information systems, marketing, mathematics, mechanical engineering, medical humanities, music, music history and literature, music theory, neuroscience, nursing, nutrition sciences, philosophy, physics, piano pedagogy, political science, professional selling, professional writing and rhetoric, psychology, public health, recreation and leisure services, religion, risk management and insurance, Russian, science research fellows, Slavic and East European studies, social work, sociology, Spanish, statistics, studio art, supply chain management, theatre arts, theatre design and technology, theatre performance, theatre studies, university scholars.
Website: Baylor.edu
Photo Credit: concordia.edu
Founded in 1926 and affiliated with the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, Concordia University in Austin, Texas, offers more than 20 majors and gives students an intimate setting with a 12-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio. Every incoming student receives some sort of financial aid. It is situated on 389 acres in northwest Austin.
Concordia’s mission is to empower “students of all backgrounds to lead lives of critical thought, compassionate action and courageous leadership.”
“As a liberal arts university rooted in the Lutheran tradition and affiliated with the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, Concordia develops the mind, heart, soul, and body, preparing leaders for lives of service,” its mission statement says.
Its vision reads, “We are the premier university where the adventure of faith, learning, and life-changing experiences leads to meaningful work.”
Location: Austin, Texas
Enrollment: 2,500
Denominational affiliation: Lutheran Church Missouri Synod
Notable alumni: Richard John Neuhaus, Scott Linebrink
Programs offered: Bachelor's degrees in behavioral sciences, biology, applied business, business, business administration, chemistry, communication, computer science, criminal justice & criminology, English, environmental science and conservation, global public health, history, kinesiology, mathematics, multidisciplinary, music, nursing, political science, psychology, religious education, respiratory care, teacher education program, theatre studies, sociology.
Website: Concordia.edu
Photo credit: dbu.edu
Founded in 1898 as Decatur Baptist College, it moved to Dallas in 1965 and eventually became Dallas Baptist University. The university rests on 368 acres in Southwest Dallas and has an average class size of 13 students.
Its mission statement is to “provide Christ-centered quality higher education in the arts, sciences, and professional studies at both the undergraduate and graduate levels to traditional age and adult students in order to produce servant leaders who have the ability to integrate faith and learning through their respective callings.” Its vision is to build “a great Christian university that is pleasing to God by producing Christ-centered servant leaders who are transforming the world.”
Location: Dallas, Texas
Enrollment: 4,800
Denominational affiliation: Baptist General Convention of Texas
Notable alumni: Ben Zobrist, Kari Jobe
Programs offered: Bachelor's degrees in: accounting, art, art: commercial art, art: digital photography, art: graphic design, art: studio art, biblical studies, biology, business administration, camp/sport leadership, cell biology, Christian ministries, Christian studies, communication, communication: broadcast/digital media, communication: communication theory, communication: graphic design, communication: public relations, computer information science, computer science, computer science grades 8-12 teacher certification, core subjects early childhood-grade 6 teacher certification, criminal justice, cybersecurity, early childhood-grade 12 music education teacher certification (choral), early childhood-grade 12 physical education teacher certification (kinesiology major), early childhood-grade 12 special education teacher certification, English, English language arts and reading Grades 4-8 teacher certification (interdisciplinary academic major), English language arts and reading grades 7-12 teacher certification (English major), entrepreneurship, environmental science, finance, health care management, history, history grades 7-12 teacher certification (history major), hotel/hospitality management, intercultural studies, interdisciplinary studies, kinesiology, life science grades 7-12 teacher certification (biology major), macrobiology, management, management information systems, marketing, mathematics, mathematics grades 4-8 teacher certification (interdisciplinary academic major), mathematics grades 7-12 teacher certification (mathematics major), music, music business, natural sciences, philosophy, piano performance, political science; politics, philosophy and economics; psychology, science grades 4-8 teacher certification (interdisciplinary academic major), science grades 7-12 teacher certification (natural sciences major), sociology, Spanish, speech grades 7-12 teacher certification (communication studies major), sport management, theory, vocal performance.
Website: DBU.edu
Photo credit: etbu.edu
Founded in 1912 as the College of Marshall, East Texas Baptist says it “remains committed to Christ by helping students discover who God has called them to be.” It has a 15-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio, with 99 percent of students receiving some form of financial assistance.
Its mission statement reads: “As a Christ-centered institution, East Texas Baptist University educates students by integrating biblical faith and learning to develop mind, body, and soul through community engagement to prepare graduates to be Christian servant leaders in their calling to God and humanity.”
Its vision statement says, “The vision of East Texas Baptist University is to stand boldly as a committed Christ-centered institution of higher learning. In light of the distinct calling to Christian education, the University seeks to inspire and impact students through the renewing of minds and the transformation of hearts for the cause of Christ. The primary focus of the ETBU educational experience is the development of the whole student – intellectually, spiritually, emotionally, socially, and physically – in an unwavering commitment to the transformation of mind, spirit, and body.”
Location: Marshall, Texas
Enrollment: 1,600
Denominational affiliation: Baptist General Convention of Texas
Notable alumni: Cameron McCasland, Sam B. Hall
Programs offered: Bachelor's degrees in: 4 – 8 grade education major with language arts reading certification on the B.S.E., athletic training, behavioral sciences, biology, business administration, chemistry, child development, Christian ministry, Christian ministry and business, Christian ministry and mental health, Clinical lab science, criminal justice, digital arts; elementary education (EC-6) with English, language arts, and reading specialization for grades 4-8; elementary education major, English, English education plan III (secondary), English education plan II (secondary), finance/accounting, finance/economics, health science, history, international studies, kinesiology, leadership studies, management, marketing, mass communication, mathematical sciences, music, musical education, musical theatre, nursing, organizational communication, political science, psychology, public relations, rehabilitative science, social studies, sociology, speech communication, sport management, sports communication, theatre arts, university studies, worship studies.
Website: ETBU.edu
Photo credit: hsutx.edu
Established in 1891 as Abilene Baptist College, Hardin-Simmons University rests on 200 acres in Abilene, Texas, and has an enrollment of approximately 2,400. More than 98 percent of students receive financial aid, and the university has a student-to-faculty ratio of 12:1.
Its mission is to “be a community dedicated to providing excellence in education enlightened by Christian faith and values.” Its vision is to “be an innovative community of servant scholars engaging the minds and nurturing the spirits of future Christian leaders.”
Location: Abilene, Texas
Enrollment: 2,400
Denominational affiliation: Baptist General Convention of Texas
Notable alumni: Clyde “Bulldog” Turner, Harvey Catchings, Fess Parker
Programs offered: Bachelor's degrees in Accounting, art education, art program, athletic training, biochemistry & molecular biology, biology, business administration, chemistry, Christian studies, communication, computer science, criminal justice, economics, elementary education, English, English education, environmental science, exercise science, finance, fitness, recreation and sports management, forensic studies, geological sciences, history, history education, human services, human-computer interaction, information systems, legal studies, management, marketing, mathematics, mathematics education, music performance, music education, music business, nursing, philosophy, physics, political science, psychology, science education, social studies, social work, strategic communication, theatre education, theatre program.
Website: HSUTX.edu
Photo credit: hbu.edu
Launched in 1960 by the Baptist General Convention of Texas, Houston Baptist University has grown significantly since those early days and now has an enrollment of 3,700. It offers students an intimate environment -- the average class size is 25 -- and 95 percent of its students receive some sort of financial aid. The 100-acre campus is located on the west side of the city, minutes from downtown.
Its mission is to “provide a learning experience that instills in students a passion for academic, spiritual, and professional excellence as a result of our central confession, ‘Jesus Christ is Lord.’”
Location: Houston, Texas
Enrollment: 3,700
Denominational affiliation: Baptist General Convention of Texas
Notable alumni: Colin Montgomerie, Van G. Garrett
Programs offered: Bachelor's degrees in Accounting, art therapy, art with EC-12 certification, biblical languages, biblical studies, biochemistry-molecular biology, biology, chemistry, Christianity, Christianity + divinity, cinematic arts, classic, computer science, criminal justice, cyber engineering, electrical engineering, elementary education, English, English/language arts, family studies, finance, graphic design, great texts, history, interactive media and digital design, interdisciplinary studies, international business, kinesiology, Latin, legal studies, life science, management, marketing, mass media arts, mathematics, medical humanities, music, music education, music performance, nursing, philosophy, physical science, physics, political science, practical theology, psychology, RN to BSN, science, social studies, Spanish, studio art, theological studies, writing.
Website: HBU.edu
Photo credit: brownwoodbusiness.com
The university began as Howard Payne College when it was founded in Indian Creek, Texas, by the Pecan Valley Baptist Association in 1889. It merged with Daniel Baker College in 1953.
The university rests on an 80-acre campus in Brownwood, Texas.
Its mission statement reads: “Howard Payne University is a Christ-centered academic community dedicated to excellence by developing and equipping the whole person for intellectual inquiry, personal and professional integrity, and service to God and humanity.”
Its vision statement says the university “aspires to be a premier Christian university, intentionally engaging the life of the mind and the life of the Spirit.”
Location: Brownwood, Texas
Enrollment: 1,000
Denominational affiliation: Baptist General Convention of Texas
Notable alumni: Ken Gray, Ray Jacobs, Cynthia Clawson
Programs offered: Bachelor’s degrees in accounting, athletic training, Bible, biology, business administration, chemistry, Christian education, Christian studies, computer information systems, criminal justice, education, engineering science, English, finance, general studies, government/political science, history, kinesiology, liberal arts, and sciences, management, marketing, mathematics, music, nursing, practical theology, psychology, registered nurse, social science, social work, strategic communication, theatre, youth ministry.
Website: HPUTX.edu
Photo credit: UMHB.edu
UMHB traces its history back to 1845 when it was formed as the female department of Baylor University. It moved to Benton, Texas, in 1886, and in 1971 it became co-educational. It rests on a 340-acre campus in the heart of Central Texas with a student-to-faculty ratio of 18:1. More than 90 percent of students receive some form of financial aid.
Its mission is to prepare “students for leadership, service, and faith-informed discernment in a global society.”
“Academic excellence, personal attention, broad-based scholarship, and a commitment to a Baptist vision for education distinguish our Christ-centered learning community,” its mission statement says.
Its vision is to “be the university of choice for Christian higher education in the Southwest.”
Location: Belton, Texas
Enrollment: 3,900
Denominational affiliation: Baptist General Convention of Texas
Notable alumni: Miriam “Ma” Ferguson, Jerrell Freeman, Buddy Groom
Programs offered: Bachelor's degrees in accounting, art, art education, biochemistry, biology, biology for pre-health professions, business computer information systems, chemistry, Christian ministry, Christian studies, church music, clinical psychology, computer science, criminal justice, economics, education, engineering, English, exercise physiology, film studies, finance, graphic design, health science, history, interdisciplinary education, international business, journalism, management, marketing, mathematics, multimedia and information technology, music, music education, music performance, nursing, political science, psychology, public relations, social work, sociology, Spanish, speech communication, sport management, studio art, teaching, and coaching.
Website: UMHB.edu
Photo credit: sagu.edu
Southwestern Assemblies of God University was established in Waxahachie, Texas, in the first half of the 20th century after three Bible schools merged to form Southwestern Bible Institute (later changed to its current name).
Its ministry is to “equip students spiritually, academically, professionally, and cross-culturally for their God-given careers and callings.” The university’s vision is to “be a distinguished, Christian university that equips Spirit-empowered leaders with career and ministry skills by providing affordable education, hands-on training opportunities, and innovative academic programs.”
The university is distinctive in that it is “committed to an environment that encourages students to experience Spirit baptism according to Pentecostal theology.”
Location: Waxahachie, Texas
Enrollment: 2,000
Denominational affiliation: Assemblies of God
Notable alumni: Marlin Maddoux, Pamela Baird, John Hagee, Jerry Lee Lewis (did not graduate)
Programs offered: Bachelor's degrees in accounting, ancient studies, business, business administration, Bible and theology, biblical studies, child and family services, church leadership, communication studies, counseling, community care and counseling, criminal justice, criminal justice and law enforcement, digital media arts, education, elementary education, English, English language arts and reading, general ministries, history, instrumental performance, intercultural studies, interdisciplinary studies, jazz studies, management, marketing, math education, music education, music, physical education, piano performance, psychology, religion and philosophy, social work, social studies/history education, sport management, theatre, theatre education, theological studies, vocal performance, worship arts.
Website: SAGU.edu
This article is part of our larger Higher Education resource library centered around colleges and universities. We hope these articles help you narrow down your search for Christian colleges and universities.
Top 10 Christian Universities & Colleges in Florida
Top 10 Christian Colleges & Universities in California
Top 10 Christian Colleges in Tennessee
Top 10 Christian Colleges in Texas
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