Christendom College

Christendom College was founded by Catholic scholars in 1977 as an alternative to secular trends in Catholic higher education. What was then a little-known secret in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia is now a national draw for faithful liberal arts education and Catholic formation.

Christendom provides a liberal arts education with an extensive, 86-credit core curriculum, including a very impressive six Catholic theology and six philosophy courses. Students can also concentrate in eight majors. Almost all the students are Catholic, all professors take the Oath of Fidelity and make the Catholic Profession of Faith, and theology professors have a mandatum from the local bishop. Many students study a semester in Rome, or they can earn credit through the three-week St. Columcille Institute, a summer program in Ireland.

Class time is set aside daily for Mass. Students have access to daily Confession, Adoration, Rosary, and Liturgy of the Hours. Feast days are often marked with special celebrations. Many alumni have found religious vocations, including more than 100 priests and religious sisters. The gothic-style Christ the King Chapel rises above the campus.

All student residence halls are single-sex with no opposite-sex visitation to private rooms, and there is a nighttime curfew. Students find plenty of opportunities for socializing in the student center and lounges. There are more than 100 clubs and activities in addition to 10 varsity sports teams and intramurals. Front Royal provides shops and entertainment, surrounded by mountain trails and the scenic Shenandoah River.

Christendom strives to keep tuition affordable despite refusing federal student aid to avoid government restrictions. The strong Catholic formation is an excellent value for any Catholic student.

What we really like:

Christendom College demonstrates an extraordinary commitment to faithful education and formation, refusing to compromise on things like opposite-sex visitation in residences and accepting government aid. Christendom is a good size for maintaining a close-knit community, attending to students by name, and preserving fidelity and excellence among the faculty.