Students interested in swimming at the collegiate level while attending a Christian college have several schools to choose from in various states. These schools offer unique degree programs, spiritual growth opportunities and other characteristics students should consider. Here we discuss some of these details for a handful of the Christian schools with swim teams.
School Comparison
The 4-year, Christian schools with swim teams are spread out from Massachusetts to California. Compare a few of the schools' denominations and tuition rates in the table below.
| School Name | Institution Type | Denomination | Location | Tuition (2019-2020)* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wheaton College | 4-year, private not-for-profit | Undenominational | Wheaton, IL | $37,700 |
| Gordon College | 4-year, private not-for-profit | Interdenominational | Wenham, MA | $38,650 |
| California Baptist University | 4-year, private not-for-profit | Southern Baptist | Riverside, CA | $34,882 |
| Texas Christian University | 4-year, private not-for-profit | Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) | Fort Worth, TX | $49,250 |
| Anderson University | 4-year, private not-for-profit | Church of God | Anderson, IN | $31,230 |
Source: *National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
Description of the Christian Colleges with Swim Teams
There are several Christian colleges with men's and women's swim and/or diving teams that range from NCAA Division I to III. These schools also vary in size, spiritual growth opportunities and the undergraduate and or graduate degree programs they offer. Learn about some of the Christian colleges with swim teams here.
Wheaton College
Wheaton College in Illinois had 2,401 undergraduates in 2018, according to the NCES. Students at the school can pursue undergraduate degree programs in areas like anthropology, pre-law, geology, urban studies, Christian education and ministry and Chinese- Mandarin or graduate degree programs in areas such as intercultural studies, Old Testament archaeology, clinical psychology and outdoor and adventure leadership. Wheaton is an NCAA Division III school that offers men's and women's swimming. In 2018, the college had five swimmers qualify to compete at the NCAA championships, according to the school's website. Students at Wheaton can also invest in their spiritual life by attending chapel services and/or Discipleship Small Groups, Family Groups (Asian and Asian-American small groups) or Strongholds, which are small groups for those struggling with issues of sexual sin.
Gordon College
Gordon College in Massachusetts offers undergraduate and/or graduate degree programs in areas such as music, education, leadership, French, kinesiology, computer science, social work, international affairs and Christian ministries. Students can attend chapel twice a week, as well as worship services, spiritual formation groups or small groups to deepen their faith. The college is also an NCAA Division III school and offers men's and women's swimming. In 2018, the college had eleven swimmers named to the New England Intercollegiate Swimming and Diving Association Fall All-Academic Team that requires a 3.5 GPA or higher. According to the NCES, the college had 1,618 undergraduate students in 2018.
California Baptist University
As of the 2017-2018 school year, California Baptist University was an NCAA Division II school with men's and women's swimming and diving. The same year both men's and women's teams were recognized by the College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) with the Scholar All-America Award for holding a 3.0 GPA or higher. The university as a whole had 7,855 undergraduates in 2018, per the NCES. Students can pursue undergraduate and/or graduate degree programs in areas like architecture, actuarial science, aviation, biomedical engineering, interior design, theatre, or nursing. Spiritual life on campus includes chapel services, small groups and local, national or global service/mission opportunities.
Texas Christian University
Students at Texas Christian University can further develop their faith through chapel services, faith communities, spiritual events and programs and/or taking advantage of pastoral care opportunities. In 2018, the NCES reported that the university had 9,445 undergraduates. The university offers Division I swimming and diving teams for men and women. The men's and women's teams where both named to the CSCAA's 2018 Spring Scholar All-America Teams, but this was the women's 48th semester in a row for the award. Students can pursue undergraduate and/or graduate degree programs in a range of subjects, including dance, biochemistry, engineering, education, business, neuroscience, nutrition, ranch management and sport psychology.
Anderson University
Indiana's Anderson University had 1,445 undergraduate students in 2018, per the NCES. The university is a Division III school that offers men's and women's swim teams. In 2018, the teams participated in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Swimming and Diving Championships' inaugural meet. Students at the university can earn graduate degree programs in music education, business or theology or pursue undergraduate study in areas like criminal justice, film production, sports medicine, journalism, nonprofit leadership, cybersecurity and biology. Spiritual life on campus consists of chapel services, service opportunities through Campus Ministry, focus groups in the residence halls, mentorship with faculty and staff and mission trips through the school's Tri-S program.
