Christendom College

  • Christendom College

    Front Royal, VA

  • Christendom College

    Front Royal, VA

  • Christendom College

    Front Royal, VA

  • Christendom College

    Front Royal, VA

  • Christendom College

    Front Royal, VA

550

Undergrads

100%

Catholic Faculty

99%

Catholic Students

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 model of 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 seven majors. Almost all of the students and professors 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, continuing their core courses in residences just 30 minutes from St. Peter’s Basilica.

Class time is set aside daily for Mass, which is celebrated with great reverence. 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. The medieval-style Christ the King Chapel will be a great addition in spring 2023.

All student residence halls are appropriately single-sex with no opposite-sex visitation to private rooms, and there is a nighttime curfew. There are nearly 30 clubs and activities in addition to 10 varsity sport 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 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 relatively small but a good size for maintaining a close-knit community, attending to students by name, and preserving fidelity and excellence among the faculty.

Visit Campus

Get in touch with Christendom College to schedule your campus visit:

540-636-2900

134 Christendom Drive
Front Royal, VA 22630

Christendom.edu

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Catholic Identity Special Recognition for Christendom College in The Newman Guide:

  • GOLD: Catholic Trustees

    100% of trustees are Catholic.

  • GOLD: Profession of Faith

    All Catholic faculty and president make the Profession of Faith at least once upon hiring, and all theology faculty have the mandatum.

  • GOLD: Theology and Philosophy

    At least 24 credits of study in Catholic theology and philosophy required for all undergraduates.

  • GOLD: Honors and Speakers

    Has policy prohibiting honors and speaking invitations to those who publicly oppose Catholic moral teaching and ensures that speakers do not call into question Catholic moral teaching.

  • GOLD: Spiritual Life

    Mass is offered every day on campus and there are scheduled opportunities at least three times/week for Confession & Adoration.

  • GOLD: Student Residences

    Student residences are single sex, and there is never opposite sex visitation in student residences.

  • GOLD: Catholic Faculty

    100% of faculty is Catholic.

  • GOLD: Catholic Students

    At least 95% of students are Catholic.

All of the colleges recognized in The Newman Guide are serious about faithful Catholic formation and education, but they are quite different in many important respects. Explore their websites, talk to faculty and admissions counselors, and visit their campuses to determine which is right for you!