Most Conservative Colleges in America

Ouachita Baptist University is a small liberal arts college in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, about 70 miles southwest of downtown Little Rock. Current and former Ouachita Baptist students are among the most likely in the United States to identify as politically conservative and also characterize their fellow students as conservative.

There is no greek life on campus, and like many schools on this list, Ouachita Baptist has a religious affiliation — Arkansas Baptist State Convention. In its mission statement, the school describes itself as a “Christ-centered learning community.”

North Greenville University is a small private school covering about 330 acres in Tigerville, South Carolina, about 18 miles north of Greenville. Affiliated with the Southern Baptist church, religion is a cornerstone of the educational experience at the university as being Christ-centered and biblically faithful are among the school’s core values. Alcohol is not permitted on the North Greenville campus, even for students of legal drinking age.

Anderson University, a small liberal arts school in western South Carolina, is one of three institutions on this list located in the state. Affiliated with the South Carolina Baptist Convention, AU describes itself as a “Christ-centered” institution, and lists a commitment to a Chritian community among its core values. The student body is predominantly white, and only about 5% black and 3% hispanic. Thomas Alexander, a Republican member of the South Carolina Senate, is among the school’s notable alumni.

Evangel University is a small, private, liberal arts school in Springfield, Missouri. Affiliated with the Assemblies of God Church, Evangel University tailors the education it offers to those who want to combine their Christain faith with all facets of their life. Former Republican Congressman Todd Tiahrt is among the school’s notable alumni.

Among students receiving financial aid from the federal government, business administration, management and operations is the most popular major, followed by teacher education.

Samford University is a private school founded in the Baptist tradition. The school’s student body is predominantly white and only about 6% black and 3% hispanic.

The school also has a large graduate school population, and notable alumni include dozens of Congress members, eight state governors, and two Supreme Court justices. Samford University’s Cumberland School of Law alumni include several Republican lawmakers currently serving on Capitol Hill, including Florida Rep. Charlie Crist and Alabama Rep. Robert Aderholt.

Southwestern Assemblies of God University is a small, private, Christian university in Waxahachie, Texas, about 30 miles south of Dallas. The school’s academic programs focus on both theological and professional studies. Among students receiving federal scholarships, pastoral counseling and specialized ministries is the most popular major, followed by religious education. The school’s alumni include former Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives, Gary Elkins, and the late conservaive talk radio pioneer Marlin Maddoux.

Maranatha Baptist University is a small private school in Watertown, Wisconsin, about 50 miles west of Milwaukee. Like a majority of the other most conservative colleges and universities in the United States, Maranatha Baptist’s curriculum has a heavy emphasis on religion. The school’s mission is to equip graduates to “serve God with competence in a church and in their chosen vocation.”

The school offers both Army and Air Force ROTC programs. Notable alumni include former Republican member of the Florida House of Representatives Daniel Davis.

LeTourneau University is a small Longview, Texas-based school with fewer than 2,000 undergraduates that bills itself as a Christian polytechnic university. The school was founded in 1946 as a male only institution by its namesake, businessman and devout Christian, R.G. LeTourneau. The school became co-ed in 1961 and now ranks among the most conservative universities in the country.

Former Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives Patricia Harless is among LeTourneau University’s alumni.

Biola University, a private evangelical Christian school located in La Miranda, about 20 miles southeast of Los Angeles, is the only California based institution to rank on this list. All students and staff are professing Christians, and the school’s curriculum is intentionally “biblically centered.” The school’s alumni include John Thune, a Republican senator representing South Dakota.

Unlike most schools on this list, Utah State University is relatively large, with an undergraduate population of more than 21,000. Utah State also stands out in that it is a public school with no official religious affiliation.

Based on surveys of current and former students, the school ranks among the most conservative in the country. Though the school has a number of notable conservative alumni — including Mike Simpson, an 11-term Republican congressman representing Idaho’s 2nd District, as well as two sons of former Republican President Gerald Ford — it also counts one prominent Democrat, Senate majority leader Harry Reid, among its alumni.

Oral Roberts University is a Christian, liberal arts institution based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Though the school offers over 150 majors, Christianity is a central part of the curriculum, as the university’s stated mission is “to develop Holy Spirit-empowered leaders through whole person education to impact the world.” Former U.S. Congresswoman and Republican presidential hopeful Michele Bachmann earned her J.D. at Oral Roberts.

When what is now Oklahoma Christian University opened in 1950, there were only 97 students enrolled. Today, there are nearly 2,000 undergraduates enrolled at the school, which is one of two in the state to rank among the most conservative institutions in the country.

Like most schools on this list, Oklahoma Christian has some conservative alumni who have gone on to careers in politics. They include Republicans Cliff Aldridge, a member of the Oklahoma Senate, and Dan Branch, a former member of the Texas House of Representatives.

Cornerstone University is a small private school in Grand Rapids, Michigian, with interdenominational religious affiliation. Like some other schools with religious affiliation on this list, alcohol is not permitted on the university campus, even for students of legal drinking age. One of the most conservative schools in the country, Cornerstone’s list of alumni includes Republican Reid Ribble, a former U.S. Congressman who represented Wisconsin’s 8th District.

Colorado Christian University, located in Lakewood, Colorado, just outside of Denver, is the only evangelical higher education institution in the Rocky Mountain region. The school, in which most students identify as conservatives has reported an increase in enrollment in each of the last 10 years. Colorado Christian’s alumni include Jon Becker, a Republican and former member of the Colorado House of Representatives.

Franciscan University of Steubenville is a private school in Steubenville, Ohio that is affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church. The institution was founded in 1946 by Franciscan Friars of the Third Order Regular. Not especially diverse, over 80% of the student body identifies as white. The school’s notable alumni include both Princess Alexandra and Prince Sébastien of Luxembourg.

Of the three South Carolina schools to rank on this list, Bob Jones University is the most conservative. It was established in 1927 and is named for its founder, an evangelist who was concerned that a traditional college education was shaking the faith of once-devout Christians. The school, located in the western South Carolina city of Greenville, offers a liberal arts education that teaches students “to view everything through the lens of a biblical worldview.”

The school’s notable alumni include Asa Hutchinson, a staunch conservative who helped conduct impeachment hearings against President Bill Clinton when he was a congressman. Hutchinson is currently serving as the governor of Arkansas.

Brigham Young University-Provo is one of the largest schools on this list with over 31,000 undergraduate students. Like most conservative schools, BYU has a religious affiliation, though it is the only school on this list — with the exception of the BYU campus in Idaho — affiliated with the Mormon Church. The school has a long list of notable alumni, including former Republican presidential nominee and current Utah Sen. Mitt Romney. Not especially diverse, BYU’s student body is 80% white and only 1% black.

Liberty University is a private, evangelical Christian school based in Lynchburg, Virginia. With over 45,000 undergraduate students, it is the largest school on this list and one of the largest in the country. Founded in 1971, it is also one of the youngest schools in the country. The third most conservative school nationwide, Liberty University’s commencement speaker for the class of 2020 will be Mike Pompeo, secretary of state under President Donald Trump.

Cedarville University is a private Baptist school located in western Ohio that was founded in 1887. The school’s alumni include Mark Keough, a Republican and former member of the Texas House of Representatives, as well as Joseph Stowell, who is currently serving as the president of Cornerstone University, another school on this list. Not an especially diverse school, Cedarville’s student body is nearly 90% white and less than 2% black.

Brigham Young University-Idaho, or BYUI, is located in Rexburg, Idaho, and is one of two schools, each bearing the Bringham Young name, owned and operated by the Mormon Church to rank on this list. Based on survey data from both current and former students, BYUI ranks as the most conservative college or university in the United States. The school’s stated mission is to “develop disciples of Jesus Christ who are leaders in their homes, the Church, and their communities.”

The school has a stringent honor code. Abstaining from alcohol, tobacco, coffee, or tea, as well as using clean language and remaining chaste, are among its stipulations.