
Young Americas Foundation is pleased to release its third
annual Top Ten Conservative College list in response
to the frequently asked question of which colleges we recommend
to those seeking conservative colleges.
Each year, hundreds of thousands of students begin their college
search. Admission guides, seminars, advice from friends, and help
from advisors all offer different perspectives. Presented with so
many options, confusion often clouds this important decision-making
process. Given the requests for Young Americas Foundations
recommendations, and to aid in making the right decision, we are
proud to release our third annual Top Ten Conservative Colleges
list.
A wide variety of rankings exist for the market of American colleges
and universities. Each year, U.S. News & World Report
releases its Americas Best Colleges edition. The
magazine grades each institution based on factors including peer
assessment, graduation and retention rates, faculty resources, and
student selectivity. Yet, U.S. News does not rank the overall
experience that colleges offer. That is why Young Americas
Foundation presents the following list of ten institutions that
offer a conservative experience for students. Young Americas
Foundation deemed these ten institutions the best, and they are
listed in alphabetical order. We are also pleased to list additional
colleges we feel deserve honorable mention.
Many conservative students seek alternatives in higher education,
but they may not be fully aware of institutions that fit these criteria.
The 2006-2007 Top Ten Conservative College list features
ten institutions that proclaim, through their mission and programs,
a dedication to discovering, maintaining, and strengthening the
conservative values of their students.
The listed colleges offer an alternative to the liberal status
quo, because they allow and encourage conservative students to explore
conservative ideas and authors. They offer coursework and scholarship
in conservative thought and emphasize principles including smaller
government, strong national defense, free enterprise, and traditional
values. Furthermore, they avoid trends in academe by continuing
to study Western Civilization instead of straying toward the study
of Marxism, feminism, sexuality, postmodernism, and other modern
distractions that do not give students a complete understanding
of our country, our culture, and its founding principles.
Young Americas Foundation highly recommends service academies
such as West Point and Annapolis for people interested in serving
their country and receiving a top-notch education. However, these
schools do not appear in the top ten. They are not liberal arts
colleges but rather military colleges that follow a training model
for future officers. There is nothing more honorable than serving
our country, and we strongly encourage interested and able students
to consider this option.
This is not an exhaustive list of conservative institutions and
should not be taken as such. Nor should it be the only source consulted
in a college search. Young Americas Foundation recommends
that this list serve as a starting point. Parents and students should
seek several information sources, read admissions materials thoroughly,
consult with friends and counselors, and make visits. Additionally,
Young Americas Foundation is not a college rating organization;
we decided to publish this list to help address a frequently asked
question.
For more information, please contact the listed colleges, or feel
free to call Young Americas Foundation at 800-USA-1776.
[Jump to review of Thomas Aquinas College]
Christendom College
Front Royal, Virginia
The college was founded in 1977 by a group of Catholics concerned
with the direction of higher education, especially within the Catholic
church. Only an education which integrates the truths of the
Catholic faith throughout the curriculum is a fully Catholic education,
stated the founders. Led by Dr. Warren H. Carroll, the visionaries
also envisioned how, the only rightful purpose of education
is to know the truth and to live by it. The purpose of Catholic
education is therefore to learn and to live by the truth revealed
by Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
The original vision of Christendom lives today through the institutions
devotion to Catholic theology and way of life. The core curriculum
reinforces a Catholic worldview and teaches students to distinguish
truth from error or distortion, and then to communicate truth accurately,
effectively, and convincingly to others. Required courses
include Literature of Western Civilization, Introduction
to Philosophy, and Fundamentals of Catholic Doctrine.
For more information, contact Christendom College at:
Christendom College Admissions
134 Christendom Drive
Front Royal, Virginia 22630
(800) 877-5456
admissions@christendom.edu
http://www.christendom.edu
College of the Ozarks
Point Lookout, Missouri
The College of the Ozarks is a unique Christian college with about
1,400 students, located in Point Lookout, Missouri. Dubbed as Hard
Work U. by The Wall Street Journal, it has a special
work-study program in which students work in lieu of paying tuition.
In addition to the 34 majors, 38 minors, and eight pre-professional
programs it offers, the College of the Ozarks has an extensive character
education program. As soon as students arrive for freshman orientation,
they begin character education programs and abide by a dress code
and an honor code.
A core liberal arts curriculum is required of all students and
an optional character-based curriculum is available but not required.
The general education curriculum is purposefully complemented
by an emphasis on the development of vital competencies, such
as writing, critical thinking, and interdisciplinary connections.
Overall, the College of the Ozarks offers a robust array of programs
and excellent opportunities to receive a well-rounded education.
One of the most distinctive features of the College of the Ozarks
is the work-study program. All students work 15 hours per week instead
of paying tuition. Many students find interesting jobs at the college
such as working at the colleges own airport, in the print
shop, as a campus landscaper, or on the farm. Two 40-hour weeks
are also required during longer breaks, including Christmas or Easter.
Some students also work during the summer to get ahead on their
tuition or to cover their room and board costs.
For more information, contact College of the Ozarks at:
College of the Ozarks Admissions
P.O. Box 17
Point Lookout, Missouri 65726
(800) 222-0525
admiss4@cofo.edu
http://www.cofo.edu
Franciscan University of Steubenville
Steubenville, Ohio
Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio is a dynamic Catholic
university with 1,982 undergraduate students and 405 graduate students.
Majors are available in 35 undergraduate subjects, and the college
offers 33 undergraduate minors and seven graduate programs. As a
devoutly Catholic institution, Franciscan lives by a conservative
intellectual and social philosophy based on the strong liberal arts
tradition and the teachings of the Catholic church.
Many of Franciscans programs are devoted to obtaining a deeper
knowledge of the history, philosophy, and culture that shaped Western
Civilization. For example, the university offers five specific programs
in which students learn directly about Western Civilization and
the role of the Catholic church in its formation. Franciscan also
offers an honors program devoted to great books of the Western world.
Furthermore, many faculty members have distinguished themselves
in conservative scholarship. Political science professor Dr. Stephen
Krason penned books about the founding fathers and the Constitution.
Legal Studies program director Brian Scharnecchia authored a three-volume
work outlining and advocating a conservative approach to family
issues.
Campus life at Franciscan is different than most colleges. Many
students choose to live in a household, a mix between
a fraternity and a faith-sharing group. Through sports, Bible study,
prayer, and other social activities, households provide an essential
bonding experience that parallels the mission of the university.
A large portion of the student bodys free time is spent serving
the community and attending Mass held on campus.
A factor that distinguishes Franciscan is the student bodys
devotion to activism on traditional religious values. Public policy,
civic participation, and conservative activism groups remain popular
among students.
For more information, contact Franciscan University at:
Franciscan University Admissions
1235 University Boulevard
Steubenville, Ohio 43952
(800) 783-6220
http://www.franciscan.edu
Grove City College
Grove City, Pennsylvania
Grove City College is a Christian college located north of Pittsburgh
with 2,300 students. It offers 55 majors and has no graduate program.
Its mission states: While many points of view are examined,
the College unapologetically advocates preservation of Americas
religious, political, and economic heritage of individual freedom
and responsibility.
As a liberal arts institution, its mission also states: Rejecting
relativism and secularism, [Grove City College] fosters intellectual,
moral, spiritual, and social development consistent with a commitment
to Christian truth, morals, and freedom. The atmosphere created
at Grove City College through its policies encourages the
spiritual, moral, intellectual, and character development
of its students and staff.
Grove City has a commitment to conservative scholarship in various
fields. For example, Dr. Paul Kengor (political science) recently
wrote another best-selling book entitled The Crusader: Ronald
Reagan and the Fall of Communism and is an expert in the American
presidency. Dr. Tracy Miller (economics) is an expert on international
economics who has written on the subject. Many of Ludwig von Mises
papers are housed and researched at the college. In addition, Grove
City boasts a strong department of religion and a major in entrepreneurship.
Given its legal and financial independence from the federal government,
Grove City Colleges tuition fees are surprisingly low. Annual
tuition is about half the national average, thanks to the colleges
generous scholarship and loan program. As a result, Grove City is
ranked as a great value among comprehensive colleges in the northeast
United States by U.S. News & World Report.
For more information, contact Grove City College at:
Grove City College Admissions
100 Campus Drive
Grove City, Pennsylvania 16127
(724) 458-2100
http://www.gcc.edu
Harding University
Searcy, Arkansas
Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas is a robust Christian college
with 6,100 students. Seventy-eight majors, twelve pre-professional
programs, and fifteen masters degrees encompass the academic
offerings. As the largest private university in Arkansas, Harding
offers a well-rounded intellectual experience in a Biblical context.
The Honors College also offers in-depth and supplementary study
for accelerated students.
Majors from all programs are required to fulfill liberal arts requirements
that include seven categories: spiritual and moral values, communications
and critical thinking, the individual and social environment, the
natural world, the creative spirit, the historical perspective,
and global literacy. A moral code signed by all students creates
an atmosphere where everyone is held to high standards.
Each year, Harding students participate in a variety of programs
from the American Studies Institute, including the Distinguished
Lecture Series. Young Americas Foundation is proud to co-sponsor
several lectures each year that expose students to the ideas of
leaders including Margaret Thatcher, William F. Buckley, Jr., Sean
Hannity, Zell Miller, Lech Walesa, and J.C. Watts.
Hardings American Studies Institute puts a strong emphasis
on its entrepreneurial development programs. For example, the Belden
Center for Private Enterprise Education, led by noted scholar Dr.
D.P. Diffine, educates students on the importance of freedom and
private enterprise in relation to the success of business.
For more information, contact Harding University at:
Harding University Admissions 900 E. Center
Searcy, Arkansas 72149
(501) 279-4407
admissions@harding.edu
http://www.harding.edu
Hillsdale College
Hillsdale, Michigan
Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, Michigan is a strong liberal arts
college with 1,250
students. Offering 32 traditional majors, six interdisciplinary
majors, and nine pre-professional programs, Hillsdale consistently
ranks highly nationwide in U.S. News & World Report,
among other publications. Its core curriculum exemplifies the tradition
of a classic liberal arts program. All students, regardless of major,
are required to take courses in humanities, natural science, and
social science during their first two years. Highly respected conservative
professors teach at Hillsdale including Dr. Burt Folsom (history)
and Dr. Mickey Craig (political science).
Students at this southern Michigan campus hear from one of the
largest and most distinguished lecture programs in the country.
Hillsdales Center for Constructive Alternatives (CCA) has
sponsored over 1,100 speakers since 1971, including conservative
luminaries such as Ronald Reagan, Margaret Thatcher, and Walter
Williams. Students are required to attend two hours of CCA seminars
in order to graduate.
Independence is an important theme at Hillsdale. Upon its founding
in 1844, it was the nations first college to prohibit discrimination
based on race, sex, or religion in its charter. Ever since, the
institution has not taken a penny from the federal government. When
some students received federal loans in the 1970s, Hillsdale quickly
reacted by maintaining independence and rejecting government quotas.
Even given the absence of government funding, Hillsdale remains
a great value because it continually provides privately funded financial
aid packages.
Hillsdale provides students with a well-rounded education that
focuses on liberty. Students learn what liberty means and the moral
conditions of its preservation. They develop the skills to be productive
citizens and the character to be good ones. The mission statement
sums up the college well. It reads: The College considers
itself a trustee of modern mans intellectual and spiritual
inheritance from the Judeo-Christian faith and Greco-Roman culture,
a heritage finding its clearest expression in the American experiment
of self-government under law.
For more information, contact Hillsdale College at:
Hillsdale College Admissions
33 East College
Hillsdale, Michigan 49242
(517) 607-2327
admissions@hillsdale.edu
http://www.hillsdale.edu
Indiana Wesleyan University
Marion, Indiana
Indiana Wesleyan University is a Christian university located in
Marion, Indiana with about 2,500 students at the main campus and
more than 9,500 others through the internet and satellite locations.
Twenty-five associate degrees, sixty-five bachelors degree
programs, and several graduate degrees are offered, mostly at the
Marion campus but also at satellite locations state-wide and online.
Indiana Wesleyan University is a Christ-centered academic
community committed to changing the world by developing students
in character, scholarship and leadership, states the mission.
The bachelors degree curriculum at Indiana Wesleyan University
(IWU) revolves around a core of several requirements, including
studies in Biblical literature and world civilization. The university
also is home to several prominent scholars in conservative and libertarian
thought. Both Dr. David Bartley, professor of political science
and history, and Dr. Ivan Pongracic, associate professor of economics,
are experts in conservative and libertarian philosophy.
Academic Convocation speakers have included Attorney General Ed
Meese, M. Stanton Evans, and Dr. James Dobson. Conservative authors
highlighted in the curriculum include Friedman, de Toqueville, Bastiat,
Hayek, and a course that discusses Ronald Reagans autobiography
An American Life. In addition, the university has cooperated with
student organizers to bring in Young Americas Foundation speakers
including Dinesh DSouza, Star Parker, and Oliver North.
Lifestyle expectations at IWU promote a Christian atmosphere on
campus. The primary values center around Christ likeness,
and include commitment, learning, serving, and stewardship. A major
part of IWU is the goal of producing world changers
through an integrated experience of intellectual challenge,
spiritual growth, and leadership development. All first-year
students take a course called Becoming World Changers,
which provides a common experience that directs students toward
fulfillment of IWUs mission.
For more information, contact Indiana Wesleyan University at:
Indiana Wesleyan University Admissions
4201 South Washington Street
Marion,Indiana 46953
admissions@indwes.edu
http://www.indwes.edu
Liberty University
Lynchburg, Virginia
Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia is an evangelical Christian
university with about 8,700 on-campus students, and 12,000 in off-campus
learning. Overall, Liberty offers 38 undergraduate majors and 29
minors, as well as 15 graduate programs, Liberty Baptist Theological
Seminary, a law school, the Liberty Bible Institute, and the English
Language Institute. Even though it claims to be the largest Christian
university in the world, it plans to continue expanding.
Liberty is directed by a solid Christian vision that is found throughout
the institutions programs and led by Rev. Jerry Falwell. Students
at Liberty receive a conservative education because the doctrinal
statement of the college is based on
an absolute repudiation
of political correctness, a strong commitment to political
conservatism, total rejection of socialism, and firm support for
Americas economic system of free enterprise, among other
things. In addition, the faculty is committed to a Christian worldview
and interested in furthering the doctrinal statement of the college.
All academic programs revolve around a Christian worldview and
strive for excellence. Liberty also maintains distance learning
that allows students to pursue one of several degrees from home.
More than one hundred courses are offered in multiple subjects.
Many of the participants have a traveling vocation such as the military
or missions. A special program entitled Home School Advantage
is a specially designed Bible study program for home-schooled students
that accelerates their transition into the university.
The Christian experience at Liberty does not stop with the classroom.
Dormitories are supervised by Spiritual Life Directors (SLDs),
older students that foster a Christian lifestyle and atmosphere.
Many extracurricular programs are designed to further the mission
of the college, including an annual Christian music festival called
block party, Bible study, and chapel programs. The central
Virginia campus also offers NCAA division I athletics, a national
champion debate team, Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) programs,
and special conferences devoted to Biblical issues.
For more information, contact Liberty University at:
Liberty University Admissions
1971 University Boulevard
Lynchburg, Virginia 24502
(434) 582-2000
admissions@liberty.edu
http://www.liberty.edu
St. Vincent College
Latrobe, Pennsylvania
St. Vincent College is a traditional Catholic college in rural
Pennsylvania, just outside Pittsburgh. With almost 1,700 students,
it offers a comprehensive liberal arts program in the Benedictine
tradition.
Archabbot Wimmer, the founder of St. Vincent College, noted that
students should learn first what is necessary, then what is
useful, and finally what is beautiful and will contribute to their
refinement. The college continues that vision with a strong
core curriculum promoting hard work and the study of philosophy.
The Alex G. McKenna School of Economics and Government highlights
conservative ideas through its programs including the Center for
Political and Economic Thought, where internationally recognized
guests interact with students and faculty through lectures and events.
A focus on philosophy and principles instead of current events and
polling data, especially in political science, allows students to
learn more deeply about the importance of Western civilization.
For more information, please contact St. Vincent College at:
St. Vincent College Admissions
300 Fraser Purchase Road
Latrobe, Pennsylvania 15650
(724) 537-4540
admission@stvincent.edu
http://www.stvincent.edu
Thomas Aquinas College
Santa Paula, California
Thomas Aquinas College is a small Catholic college located in southern
California with 351 students. No majors or minors are offered since
all students participate in the prescribed great books curriculum.
The somewhat secluded location in the hills of rural southern California
provides a metaphor for the unique nature of this fine institution.
The great books of history comprise the entire curriculum
of Thomas Aquinas College, and all students graduate with a Bachelor
of Arts in Liberal Arts. Books on many subjects are included in
the program, including music, mathematics, and science as well as
philosophy, language, and theology. Faculty members serve less as
lecturers and more as facilitators using the Socratic method. Catholic
faculty members publicly take the Oath of Fidelity and make a Profession
of Faith at the beginning of their terms in office.
Campus life at Thomas Aquinas follows with traditional Catholic
morality and teaching, and there are many groups in which students
participate. For example, the St. Genesius Players is a drama group
that puts on productions, the choir often performs, and the bushwhackers
maintain local trails and organize hiking trips. Student groups
are also involved with activism on issues related to traditional
religious values.
For more information, contact Thomas Aquinas College at:
Thomas Aquinas College Admissions
10000 North Ojai Road
Santa Paula, California 93060
(800) 634-9797
admissions@thomasaquinas.edu
http://www.thomasaquinas.edu
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