By OCC Staff
March 2021
For Christian students looking for a pre-med program, choosing a college for their undergraduate degree is a huge decision. Many young Christians want a pre-health program that aligns with their personal values and professional and goals. That’s why Online Christian Colleges went on the hunt for the 30 best Christian colleges for pre-med.
Ranking Methodology
To come up with our ranking, we began by compiling a list of every accredited Christian college offering a pre-health and/or pre-med program. Over 60 schools later, we used the following system to allocate points based on things like cost, graduation rate, and return on investment.
Annual Out-of-State Tuition:
$10,000 or Less — 5 points
$10,001 to $20,000 — 4 points
$20,001 to $30,000 — 3 points
$30,001 to $40,000 — 2 points
$40,001 to $50,000 — 1 point
Annual Percentage of 20-Year Net Return on Investment (ROI):
9%+ — 5 points
7-8% — 4 points
6-5% — 3 points
3-4% — 2 points
1-2% — 1 point
Graduation Rate:
Above 90% — 5 points
Above 80% — 4 points
Above 70% — 3 points
Above 60% — 2 points
Above 50% — 1 point
Student-to-Faculty Ratio:
5:1 and more — 4 points
10:1 and more — 3 points
15:1 and more — 2 points
20:1 and more — 1 point
Note: In the event of a tie in points, the higher ranking has been awarded to the school with the lower annual tuition. All tuition numbers and other statistics have been taken from The National Center for Education Statistics, and are accurate as of March 2021.
#30. Crown College
Saint Bonifacius, Minnesota
Annual Tuition: $27,980
Total Points: 8
Crown College is a Christian college affiliated with the Christian and Missionary Alliance. The college offers a Bachelor of Arts in Health Sciences/Medical Biology suitable for anyone intending to advance towards medical school or other health-related postgraduate work. Required courses include Organic Chemistry and Calculus. A series of religious courses, such as Biblical Evangelism and Missions, are included in the curriculum. Students also have the opportunity to conduct a research project relevant to their interests.
#29. Grace College and Theological Seminary
Winona Lake, Indiana
Annual Tuition: $27,432
Total Points: 8
Grace College and Theological Seminary is an evangelical Christian college with a denominationally diverse student body. Grace’s College of Health Science offers both a B.A. and a B.S. in Health Science with a concentration in medicine. Required courses include Genetics and an Anatomy and Physiology lab, to name but two. Five religious courses, including Scripture and Interpretation, are also required. Before graduation, pre-med students must complete three credit hours of either a healthcare experience or observation.
#28. Baylor University
Waco, Texas
Annual Tuition: $49,246
Total Points: 9
“For Church, For Texas!” That’s the official motto of Baylor University. The Baptist research university offers a professional program for Pre-Medicine. This flexible program allows students to major in just about anything, then complete a series of specific courses that will prepare them for medical school applications. Said specific courses include Basic Principles of Modern Chemistry and Foundations of Medicine, to name but two. Research opportunities are also available. To ensure they are prepared for medical school interviews and beyond, students work with an advisor and attend multiple professional workshops.
#27. Biola University
La Mirada, California
Annual Tuition: $43,512
Total Points: 9
Biola University is a nondenominational evangelical Christian university located near Los Angeles. The university recommends two majors for those intending to head to medical school: a B.S. in Biochemistry or a B.S. in Biological Science. Regardless of degree choice, pre-med students at Biola have a ton of support. Every student has access to personal advising from the Biola Office of Health Professions Advising. A clinical shadowing program allows students to gain valuable clinical experience. No wonder Biola has a nearly 90% success rate when it comes to getting students accepted into medical schools!
#26. Gordon College
Wenham, Massachusetts
Annual Tuition: $39,230
Total Points: 9
Gordon College is a private nondenominational Christian college located about 25 miles north of Boston. Recommended majors for pre-med students at Gordon include kinesiology and biology. The college then offers a preprofessional studies program for those intending to go on to medical or dental school. Required pre-med courses include Biostatistics and General Physics, among others. An on-campus donor cadaver lab allows for research opportunities. The on-campus Center for Balance, Mobility, and Wellness is a great option for internships. Gordon also enjoys a partnership with Duke University to provide its students with valuable clinical experiences.
#25. George Fox University
Newberg, Oregon
Annual Tuition: $38,370
Total Points: 9
George Fox University is a private Christian university officially affiliated with the Northwest Yearly Meeting of Friends (the Quakers). The university maintains an 80% overall acceptance rate into medical school. From week one, students work with an academic advisor to choose the best possible major and coursework for their career goals. To beef up their medical school applications, undergraduates are routinely given the opportunity to conduct biology and chemistry research alongside distinguished professors.
#24. Olivet Nazarene University
Bourbonnais, Illinois
Annual Tuition: $36,950
Total Points: 9
Located about one hour south of Chicago, Olivet Nazarene University is a private college affiliated with the Church of the Nazarene. From the beginning of their college career, students work with an advisor to choose the right coursework for their career goals. Most students major or double major in biology and/or chemistry. They then complete a variety of coursework in the different sciences, including mathematics and physics. Research opportunities are plentiful, and often include advanced lab work using human cadavers.
#23. Covenant College
Lookout Mountain, Georgia
Annual Tuition: $36,710
Total Points: 9
Covenant College is a Presbyterian-affiliated liberal arts college located near Chattanooga, Tennessee. Most pre-med students at Covenant choose to major in a science. They then fulfill medical school prerequisites in subjects such as chemistry and psychology, among others. Students work with advisors and professors to set up valuable internships and shadowing opportunities. Uniquely, the pre-med program at Covenant College requires a research-based senior capstone project.
#22. Colorado Christian University
Lakewood, Colorado
Annual Tuition: $34,750
Total Points: 9
Colorado Christian University is an interdenominational liberal arts college. The school offers a Bachelor of Science in Pre-Medical Profession. Coursework is carefully arranged to meet all of the requirements for entrance into medical school. Potential classes include Biological Diversity, and Human Anatomy and Physiology, to name but two. Students work alongside professors to pursue research opportunities and internships that will make their medical school applications stand out.
#21. Lipscomb University
Nashville, Tennessee
Annual Tuition: $34,744
Total Points: 9
Lipscomb University is a private university affiliated with the Churches of Christ. The school offers a pre-med program for students who intend to continue their education to medical school. Students have their choice of major, then are guided through prerequisite requirements by knowledgeable professors and instructors. Classes cover a variety of scientific subjects, including organic chemistry and general biology. In addition to coursework, the pre-med program at Lipscomb provides opportunities for service learning and internships.
#20. Houghton College
Houghton, New York
Annual Tuition: $34,466
Total Points: 9
Houghton College is a Christian liberal arts college affiliated with the Wesleyan Church. Located about 63 miles southeast of Buffalo, Houghton offers a pre-med program to prepare students for admission to medical school. In addition to required prerequisites, the program emphasizes undergraduate research. Students have the chance to work alongside faculty on a variety of prestigious research projects taking place around the world. Students may also conduct independent study, or participate in the Summer Research Institute. Field experience is just as plentiful, and includes volunteering at an inner-city clinic or enrolling in a pre-health practicum.
#19. Corban University
Salem, Oregon
Annual Tuition: $34,188
Total Points: 9
Corban University is a private Christian university located in Oregon’s capital city. Corban offers a major in Biomedical Sciences that is popular amongst pre-med students. By completing coursework in subjects like human anatomy and microbiology (plus less common subjects like virology and immunology), students gain the foundation that medical schools look for. Research opportunities are open to undergraduate students, while hands-on experience is available in the form of internships and medical mission trips.
#18. Trinity Christian College
Palos Heights, Illinois
Annual Tuition: $32,075
Total Points: 9
Trinity Christian College is a private Christian school located in the suburbs of Chicago. The college offers a pre-med concentration that students can pair with another scientific major. Students complete courses in subjects ranging from anatomy to chemistry. Advisors work with each student to ensure they are well prepared for success on medical school applications.
#17. Dallas Baptist University
Dallas, Texas
Annual Tuition: $31,940
Total Points: 9
Dallas Baptist University is a liberal arts university affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas. Students may pursue any major, but should work closely with an advisor in order to meet all medical school prerequisites. Coursework making up the pre-med program include Genetics and Modern Concepts in Biology, to name but two. Students have access to research and internships, as well as MCAT test prep courses.
#16. Mount Vernon Nazarene University
Mount Vernon, Ohio
Annual Tuition: $31,610
Total Points: 9
Mount Vernon Nazarene University is a liberal arts college affiliated with the Church of the Nazarene. Future doctors at Mount Vernon Nazarene University typically pursue a Bachelor of Science in Biology with a pre-medical concentration. Students work through semester-by-semester coursework as they prepare for medical school interviews and applications. Classes include typical prerequisites such as Genetics and Bioethics, as well as classes such as Invertebrate Zoology and Cell Biology. Service and learning trips requiring travel make for an impressive addition to med school apps, as do the many research opportunities open to undergraduates.
#15. Huntington University
Huntington, Indiana
Annual Tuition: $26,846
Total Points: 9
Huntington University is a private Christian school affiliated with the Church of the United Brethren in Christ. Huntington has been preparing undergrads for medical school for more than a century! Students are free to major in any field, but must take a series of courses meant to satisfy medical school prerequisites. This includes coursework in chemistry and exercise science, among others. Students have access to research experiences both on campus and off, including medical mission trips. Volunteer work and internships are also made available.
#14. Messiah University
Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
Annual Tuition: $37,180
Total Points: 10
Messiah University is a nondenominational Christian university located near Harrisburg. The school offers a slew of pre-health programs, including pre-med. Students on this track complete coursework in various scientific fields, including biochemistry and psychology. Students pursuing medical school are well prepared at Messiah, which offers resources ranging from MCAT prep to research opportunities. Many Messiah pre-med students even travel to Central America and Africa to participate in medical missions.
#13. Hope College
Holland, Michigan
Annual Tuition: $36,650
Total Points: 10
Hope College is a Christian liberal arts school affiliated with the Reformed Church in America. The college offers a pre-medicine program which specifically prepares students for success on the MCAT. Coursework in biology and chemistry are recommended, though students work with advisors to come up with an academic plan that best suits one’s professional goals. Research is a big part of Hope’s curriculum, and this is especially true for pre-med students. Each spring, students present their research at the formal Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Performance.
#12. Samford University
Homewood, Alabama
Annual Tuition: $34,198
Total Points: 10
Samford University is a private Christian university located in a suburb of Birmingham. Students have a variety of bachelor’s degree options suitable for a pre-med program. These include Biology and Psychology, to name but two. Advisors work one-on-one with students to ensure medical school prerequisites are met. Meanwhile, many research and internship opportunities are arranged amongst Samford’s extensive alumni network. MCAT preparation courses are yet another way Samford University ensures its pre-med students are ready for success.
#11. Fresno Pacific University
Fresno, California
Annual Tuition: $33,452
Total Points: 10
Fresno Pacific University is a private Christian university officially affiliated with the Mennonite Brethren Church. The university offers a Bachelor of Science in Pre-Health Sciences, through which students become well prepared for admission to medical school. Coursework covers a range of scientific subjects, including physics and organic chemistry. A research capstone is also included in the curriculum.
#10. Belhaven University
Jackson, Mississippi
Annual Tuition: $27,025
Total Points: 10
Belhaven University is a private Presbyterian university. Students who choose to participate in the premedical program at Belhaven University work closely with an advisor to schedule coursework that best prepares them for acceptance into medical school. One year each of biology and physics is required, as are two years of chemistry. Students are able to add to their medical school applications with various research and internship opportunities.
#9. Waynesburg University
Waynesburg, Pennsylvania
Annual Tuition: $26,500
Total Points: 10
Waynesburg University is a private university affiliated with the Presbyterian Church. The school offers four pre-health programs, including pre-medical. Throughout their undergraduate career, students work closely with an advisor who is an expert in pre-med and medical school. The advisor assists students with choosing relevant coursework and preparing for the MCAT. They also help organize various research and internship opportunities for undergraduates both on and off the Waynesburg campus.
#8. College of the Holy Cross
Worcester, Massachusetts
Annual Tuition: $54,770
Total Points: 11
College of the Holy Cross is a Jesuit liberal arts college located about an hour outside of Boston. Though it does not have a formal program, the school offers Health Professions Advising for students who intend to enter medical school. In fact, College of the Holy Cross has one of the highest medical school acceptance rates in the country! Students work with advisors to plan out a competitive undergraduate career. In addition to the required science courses, students have access to a variety of internships and volunteer experiences. Research opportunities are also available both on campus and through the college’s extensive network of partnerships.
#7. Wheaton College
Wheaton, Illinois
Annual Tuition: $39,100
Total Points: 11
Wheaton College is an evangelical Christian liberal arts college located just 30 miles from Chicago. Students at Wheaton who intend to apply to medical school are free to choose a major that interests them. While pursuing major coursework, these students also work on a list of prerequisite courses in the various natural sciences. These include classes in the social and behavioral sciences, as well as anatomy and chemistry, among others.
#6. Point Loma Nazarene
San Diego, California
Annual Tuition: $38,300
Total Points: 11
Point Loma Nazarene is a private liberal arts college affiliated with the Church of the Nazarene. Pre-med students are free to major in any subject, but must complete the prerequisites for any medical schools they are considering. Advisors guide students in figuring out all that’s needed in one-on-one sessions. The advisors also help organize research and internship opportunities. Extra resources like a speaker series and medical school mock interviews add to the benefit of going pre-med at Point Loma Nazarene.
#5. Calvin University
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Annual Tuition: $37,806
Total Points: 11
Calvin University is a private Christian university affiliated with the Christian Reformed Church. Calvin’s pre-health professional program gives students the freedom to pursue any major that interests them. Advisors assist students in working through a set list of science prerequisites. Research and clinical experiences are available both on the Calvin campus and throughout the greater Grand Rapids area. Especially appealing is Calvin’s working relationship with University of Michigan. Each year, U of M offers a full tuition scholarship to an incoming Calvin student.
#4. Georgetown University
Washington, D.C.
Annual Tuition: $57,928
Total Points: 12
Georgetown University is a private Jesuit university. Like most universities, it allows students to join its pre-health studies program while majoring in any subject that might interest them. Required coursework covers a number of scientific subjects, including biochemistry and physics. As a top-ranked research university, Georgetown also offers a number of research opportunities. Pre-med students are also considered for Georgetown’s Early Assurance Program, which allows matriculation into the Georgetown School of Medicine.
#3. University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, Indiana
Annual Tuition: $57,699
Total Points: 12
Notre Dame is a highly respected Catholic university. Pre-med students are free to major in any subject from the College of Arts and Letters. Students then work closely with special advisors to plan coursework. These advisors also help to arrange internships and research opportunities. Speaking of research, pre-med students at Notre Dame are encouraged to conduct an original research project.
#2. Geneva College
Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania
Annual Tuition: $29,040
Total Points: 12
Geneva College is a private liberal arts college affiliated with the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America. Most pre-med students at Geneva are encouraged choose to major in biology. Students then work with advisors to plan additional coursework consisting of classes in subjects such as English and chemistry. This coursework is designed to efficiently prepare students for success on the MCAT. Research opportunities and internships are also made available to Geneva undergrads.
#1. Grove City College
Grove City, Pennsylvania
Annual Tuition: $18,930
Total Points: 16
Topping our list of the best Christian colleges for pre-med is Grove City College. It’s a nondenominational Christian liberal arts school. Students who intend to apply to medical school are free to choose whichever major that interests them, though most choose to major in a science such as biology or chemistry. Students complete a series of courses carefully designed to prepare them for the MCAT and medical school admission. Students work closely with advisors who help them to organize extra curricular such as medical missions trips and research opportunities.
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