If you’re considering Christian higher education for your next degree, you’re taking on the challenge of finding a school that reflects your values without breaking your budget. Choosing an online Christian college represents a meaningful investment, both financially and spiritually. Even for an online degree, the people who pour into you and guide you to commencement have a significant impact on your life, your faith, and your career.
With all of this in mind, choosing a college can be intimidating. But with the right strategies and processes, you can confidently navigate the college search and invest in a school that best fits you.
Why Choose an Online Christian College?
In the search for the right Christian college degree, considering an online option (even if you’re not planning to pursue an explicitly religious degree) could open the doors to a number of great benefits for your lifestyle and your finances. Whether you’re pursuing business, education, counseling, or any other career, choosing a Christian college online could maximize the return on your investment.
Online schools have the value of flexibility. Studying online allows you to continue investing in your home church community and current job while earning your degree. In the long run, an online degree will enable you to pour yourself into your education without sacrificing valuable connections in your life.
Online doesn’t mean disconnected, either. Some online colleges offer opportunities for connection to bring you closer to the rest of your learning community. Through experiences like mentorship, group projects, and virtual worship, students can experience the close-knit college community from their desktops.
Online colleges are distinctly more affordable. By saving on costs like housing, classroom fees, travel, on-campus dining, and more, online Christian education is a smarter investment for your finances. Plus, you can benefit from the same financial aid that an in-person college student would receive.
Choosing an online college does not mean opting for a lesser college experience; instead, it affords you more freedom to continue living your life at home while pursuing a faith-focused education.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a College for Your Christian Education
Whatever Christian college degree you’re pursuing, there are common factors you should consider when finding a school. Choosing a college is a complex decision, but Christian students have another layer of components to consider in the faith and values of the college they’re attending. Here’s a simplified list of things to factor into your college search.
Cost
Making smart financial decisions with your education can have a significant impact on your life down the road. Find a college you can afford by taking into account the various financial aspects of your degree, including tuition, textbooks, and any other associated fees.
Online tuition is discounted at some schools, which might make pursuing a college degree an affordable reality for you. Even if you’d prefer an in-person program, explore online options to compare prices and magnify your investment.
Modality
Degree modality refers to the method by which your coursework is delivered. Most in-person degrees have a synchronous classroom modality, meaning that all students work within the same timeframe and class schedule to complete a course. Online degrees often incorporate asynchronous learning, allowing busy students to learn at their own pace within the confines of a semester. If you need more flexibility in your degree, finding an asynchronous program could be the right choice for you.
Doctrine
As a Christian, your faith represents a considerable part of your life. The last thing you want to do is enroll in a Christian education that doesn’t wholly reflect your values and convictions. Most Christian colleges include some form of the following statements that detail their doctrine:
- Statement of Faith: A statement of faith summarizes the institution’s core beliefs, usually drawn from a particular Christian tradition or denomination.
- Mission Statement: A mission statement is a public-facing statement that articulates the institution's overarching goals, values, and purpose. It’s often focused on education, community, and service.
- Church or Denomination Affiliation: A church or denomination affiliation indicates an institution’s formal connection to a specific Christian denomination or church tradition. This affiliation can give you valuable insights into their history and beliefs.
Program
A key part of your decision is whether the college you’re looking at includes a Christian degree program you want to pursue. Not all online degrees are created equal: Research how your chosen program is taught online and what students say about the online experience.
Even if you’re not looking for a degree in Bible, ministry, or theology, a Christian program could still be an excellent fit for you. Many accredited online Christian colleges offer Christian degree programs in secular fields, such as business, pre-nursing, organizational leadership, education, and more. These schools emphasize a Christian worldview throughout all programs, but allow you to integrate your faith in subject matters that aren’t explicitly religious.
Graduate Outcomes
In your college search, it can be helpful to research program outcomes before you even apply. You don’t want to invest in a program that doesn’t align with your career goals or set you up for success. Find out the graduate outcomes and take a look at how the greater community views the college to explore whether it leads to the outcomes you’re looking for.
Choose an Exceptional Online Christian College: Toccoa Falls College
When it comes to an affordable online Christian college that doesn’t compromise on value and impact, Toccoa Falls College sets the standard. With degree programs ranging from education and business to psychology and history, Toccoa Falls strives to provide students with the same quality of education in an online format as in its in-person degree programs.
At TFC, an online modality enables professors to connect with students nationwide in a personalized format. Students receive all of the benefits and rigor of a residential college degree, complete with the invaluable faith-based integration of a Christian program.
“My time spent at TFC was a tremendous time of growth and fulfillment. Classes provided a phenomenal balance of unbiased facts, biblical perspective, and application, and opportunity for independent thought.” – Esther Snow ’19
TFC’s online tuition rate has been heavily discounted to make pursuing your degree an affordable reality. Over 50% of courses utilize open educational resources at no cost to students, and the online education format allows students to save on housing and commuting costs.
Want to learn more about Toccoa Falls’ online degrees? Explore our comprehensive downloadable resource—Faith First, Distance Second: Your Guide to Online Christian College at TFC.
If you’re interested in taking the next step toward your online education at TFC, you can request more information or submit your free application today.
