most beautiful christian college and university campuses in the world

The original Pentecostal liberal arts school in the country, Evangel University began life in 1955 on the site of a former army hospital in Springfield, Missouri. Since then, the Assemblies of God affiliated institution has built up an exceptionally pretty campus on its 80 acre property. Conceived by Missouri s Sapp Design Associates Architects and dedicated in 2009, the eye catching Ralph M. Riggs Administration Building succeeded the final remains of the hospital and serves as the face of the campus. Elsewhere, the 50th anniversary clock tower, completed in 2005, is another attractive feature overlooking the university s lawns. Evangel runs over 100 liberal arts and science programs across ten academic departments for some 2,490 students. What s more, these students are never far from gorgeous lakes and the Ozarks.

Abilene Christian University s campus doesn t just dazzle during the day; it also does so at night. This is thanks to its iconic 150 foot tall Tower of Light, which when darkness arrives glows a vivid white not to mention purple, the school s other color, on special occasions. Next to the tower on the 250 acre university grounds is the beautiful stained glass edifice of the Chapel on the Hill, which features a total of 280 hues in its west and east facing windows. Elsewhere, original schoolhouse the Zona Luce Building marks a more traditional and arguably elegant presence on campus. The Churches of Christ affiliated school dates back to 1906, when it was set up as Childers Classical Institute. It relocated to its current site in Abilene, Texas in 1929 and later switched its name to Abilene Christian University in 1976. Both undergraduates and graduates make up the university s some 4,460 strong student body.

Roberts Wesleyan College apparently holds the honor of being the first Free Methodist Church affiliated school founded in North America; this was back in 1866, when it was still the Chili Seminary. Today, the liberal arts institution also hosts the Northeastern Seminary a graduate theology center on its greenery filled 75 acre campus in Rochester, New York. One of Roberts Wesleyan s most notable landmarks is the modern B. Thomas Golisano Library. The work of New York state based SWBR Architects in conjunction with international firm Leo A Daly, this facility was dedicated in 2007. The library can be seen from virtually everywhere on campus and has garnered several accolades, including the Rochester branch of the American Institute of Architects Citation of Merit Award. Eco friendly touches such as geothermal heat pumps and the utilization of natural light have also seen the building receive a LEED Silver certificate.

Southwestern Assemblies of God University s undergraduate and postgraduate students get to enjoy a tree lined, naturally beautiful campus. The institution traces its origins back to 1927, with the formation of the Southwestern Bible School in Enid, Oklahoma. It later combined with two further bible schools and in 1943 as Southwestern Bible Institute relocated to its current setting in suburban Waxahachie, Texas. The university finally earned its current name in 1994. Easily one of the 73 acre campus most impressive architectural sights is the Blake L. Farmer Administration Building. This grand and attractive construction dates back to the early 20th century and today hosts conference halls, classrooms and the university s McCafferty Hall as well as faculty and admin offices.

Wayland Baptist University has 14 U.S. campuses in all, but perhaps the prettiest is its main Plainview, Texas location. This campus plays host to lush lawns and foliage but it s green in another way, too. For one, from 2009 to 2010 it received a complete lighting overhaul set to save a significant amount of energy. Recycling has been made a priority as well, and a community garden is even being considered for the 80 acre site. Architectural highlights of the Southern Baptist Convention affiliated school include the elegant Gates Hall, which was built in 1910, two years after the university was founded. Inside, this facility houses an auditorium, classrooms, faculty offices and meeting spaces. And with its Greek Revival style columns and facade of red brick, the building s exterior presents a handsome sight for Wayland s student body.

Gordon College has existed as a nondenominational Christian liberal arts institution on its current Wenham, Massachusetts campus since 1955. However, the college traces its origins back to 1889, when Baptist minister Reverend Adoniram Judson Gordon founded its predecessor, the Boston Missionary Training School. The college campus is presently home to more than 2,100 undergraduate and postgraduate students combined. This attractive green locale stretches over 450 acres and is charmingly set next to a pond. Formerly the mansion of investor Frederick H. Prince, the grand Frost Hall completed in 1911 now functions as the college s administrative center. And one of the site s more recent buildings is equally eye catching: the state of the art, red brick Ken Olsen Science Center, which was built to a design by Boston architects Payette and dedicated in 2008.

Arguably one of Hope College s most beautiful features is its fine looking Dimnent Memorial Chapel, which has pride of place on the school s Holland, Michigan campus. Clad in gray Bedford stone, the building is an impressive adapted example of the American Gothic architectural style. It was constructed to a design by Chicago architect William K. Johnston and formally opened in 1929. The liberal arts college shares its pretty 120 acre campus with the Western Theological Seminary and is itself linked to the Reformed Church in America. What s more, if the charm of the setting weren t enough to attract the school s undergraduate student body, Hope can also boast of being located in the second best city in the country for well being according to a 2010 survey by Gallup and Healthways.

Dallas Baptist University s 293 acre main campus sits in the undulating hills to the southwest of Texas third biggest city, offering students nice views of the nearby Mountain Creek Lake. The school first opened in 1898 as Decatur Baptist College, on acreage bought by the affiliated Baptist General Convention of Texas; later, in 1965, it relocated to its current site following a donation of land. Today, some of the university s buildings are heavily influenced by historic structures in entirely different states. Among the most prominent is the Georgian look John G. Mahler Student Center. Dedicated in 1992, this project from Texas based firm BMA Architects is a reproduction of Philadelphia s Independence Hall. The elegant looking center features a wood and stone esque bell tower actually made from hardwearing architectural fiberglass. Other recent buildings that nod to the past include 2009 s striking white Patty and Bo Pilgrim Chapel and 2011 s Joan and Andy Horner Hall.

The beauty of Erskine College s campus lies in its elegant old architecture and it is this, along with other buildings in the Erskine College Due West Historic District, that has earned a portion of the campus a spot on the National Register of Historic Places. Among Erskine s most attractive features is Philomathean Hall, which is home to the college s Philomathean Literary Society and holds the prestige of being the oldest building in the entire historic district. Complete with Corinthian columns and interior frescoes, the Italian Renaissance Revival style structure was built in 1859 under architect Thomas Veal s supervision. Moreover, design wise the building bears some similarity to the White House in Washington, D.C. Established back in 1839 by the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, Erskine was the first private Christian school set up in South Carolina. Today, it has a relatively small student body of 575 on its undergraduate liberal arts plus graduate theological programs.

Rhodes College s 100 acre campus is not only handsome, but a notable landmark, too, as 13 of its beautiful stone Collegiate Gothic buildings are on the National Register of Historic Places. Several of the structures at Rhodes date back to 1925, including Palmer Hall, one of the first buildings to be constructed at the Memphis, Tennessee based institution. Palmer Hall was designed by U.S. architects Henry Hibbs and Charles Klauder and was supplemented by the 140 foot tall Halliburton Tower in 1962. Other subsequent architecture has also featured a similar look for example, the student dormitory, West Village, which was completed in 2012 and echoes its predecessors with its stone facade. The Presbyterian Church affiliated liberal arts school originated in 1848, although it didn t move to its current location until 1925. Today, it mostly caters to undergraduate students.