In a recent BrokeScholar article, we provided a breakdown of some of the most liberal colleges in the United States. With America’s political and social spheres so divided and only increasing in their polarization, many Americans, including prospective college students, may want to pursue going to a school that aligns with their political and social convictions. Hence, for this article here, we’ll be covering some of the most conservative colleges in the US.
Although many colleges and universities in the US are known for their liberal and progressive values, there are also a number of institutions of higher education that are considered to be among the most politico-socially conservative in the nation. These colleges and universities tend to be affiliated with conservative religious groups or organizations, and often have a strong focus on promoting conservative political and social views.
Read on to find out some of the most commonly cited conservative colleges in the US and analyze some of the factors that contribute to their conservative culture.
Hillsdale College
Hillsdale College is a private liberal arts college in Michigan that is often cited as one of the most conservative colleges in the United States. The college was founded in 1844 as an abolitionist college and has a long history of promoting conservative values and classical liberal arts education.
One of the key factors that contribute to Hillsdale's conservative culture is its commitment to the principles of the Constitution and Western civilization. The college's mission statement includes a commitment to "preserving the blessings of civil and religious liberty," and promoting "the principles of the Constitution and Western civilization."
This commitment is reflected in the college's curriculum, which includes courses on the Constitution, Western history and literature, and free market economics. The college also has a strong focus on promoting traditional family values, and its student code of conduct includes restrictions on alcohol, drugs, and premarital sex. All that being said, Hillsdale College is academically rigorous and easily one of the best colleges in Michigan to get into.
Liberty University
Liberty University is a private, evangelical Christian university in Virginia that is one of the largest Christian universities in the world. Not only that, but Liberty University is also one of the largest colleges in the US. The university was founded by Jerry Falwell Sr., a prominent conservative evangelical leader, and has a strong focus on promoting conservative Christian values.
A major contributing factor that shapes Liberty University's conservative culture is its commitment to Christian principles and values. The university's mission statement includes a commitment to "training champions for Christ," and promoting "biblical values and principles."
This commitment is reflected in the university's curriculum, which includes courses on Christian theology, apologetics, and biblical studies. The university also has a strong focus on promoting traditional family values, and its student code of conduct includes restrictions on alcohol, drugs, and premarital sex.
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University (BYU) is a private university in Utah that is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). The university has a strong focus on promoting conservative Mormon values, and students are required to follow an honor code that includes restrictions on alcohol, drugs, and premarital sex.
One of several factors that influence BYU's conservative culture is its affiliation with the LDS Church. The university's mission statement includes a commitment to promoting "intellectual and spiritual growth," and helping students "live a balanced and purposeful life."
This commitment is reflected in the university's curriculum, which includes courses on Mormon theology, scripture, and history. The university also has a strong focus on promoting traditional family values, and its student code of conduct includes restrictions on alcohol, drugs, and premarital sex. However, BYU also is one of the best colleges for your money, featuring a higher-than-average graduation rate combined with a cheaper-than-average cost of tuition.
Grove City College
Grove City College is a private Christian liberal arts college in Pennsylvania that is known for its conservative political and social views. The college was founded in 1876 by a group of Presbyterian ministers and has been described as a "bastion of conservatism."
Like several of the colleges already mentioned, a major factor that contributes to Grove City's conservative culture is its commitment to promoting Christian values and principles. The college's mission statement includes a commitment to "educating students to pursue truth and righteousness," and preparing them to "live purposeful lives for service to God and humanity."
This commitment is reflected in the college's curriculum, which includes courses on Christian theology, philosophy, and ethics. The college also has a strong focus on promoting traditional family values, and its student code of conduct includes restrictions on alcohol, drugs, and premarital sex. Grove City College also ranked as one of the best colleges in Pennsylvania in a BrokeScholar study, with an impressive overall graduation rate of 88%.
Patrick Henry College
Patrick Henry College is a private Christian college in Virginia that was founded specifically to train conservative Christian students for careers in government and public policy. Named for the famous American Revolutionary Patrick Henry who said, “Give me liberty or give me death,” the name is deliberate because Patrick Henry was an avid defender of states’ rights versus a federal constitution. The college has a strong focus on promoting conservative values and principles and has been described as a "breeding ground for the next generation of conservative leaders."
What makes Patrick Henry College one of the most conservative colleges is fairly straightforward. The school’s focus is on promoting conservative values and principles in its curriculum. The college offers courses in political science, government, and economics that are designed to promote conservative views on issues such as limited government, free markets, and traditional family values.
The college also has a strong focus on promoting Christian values and principles, and its student code of conduct includes restrictions on alcohol, drugs, and premarital sex. Notably, Patrick Henry College is also one of the best colleges for political science in Virginia, with a high proportion of bachelor’s degrees being awarded in political science, not to mention a solid graduation rate of 71%.
Factors That Make These Colleges Conservative
The factors that contribute to making colleges rank among the most liberal are more diffuse than the factors that make these colleges conservative. In many cases, the most conservative colleges in the US explicitly state that they are conservative, espouse conservative values, and shape their curriculum to reflect socio-political conservatism.
Religious affiliation is one of the most significant factors contributing to a college’s conservatism. Many of the most conservative colleges in the US are affiliated with conservative religious groups or organizations and promote conservative values and principles in their curriculum and campus culture.
An additional factor is a commitment to traditional values and principles. Many of these colleges and universities promote traditional family values, such as abstinence before marriage and restrictions on drug and alcohol use, as well as conservative political principles such as limited government and free markets.
Finally, there is a strong focus on promoting conservative leaders and ideas. Many of these colleges and universities are known for their active political involvement and strong alumni networks, which promote conservative values and principles in government and public life. Many conservative politicians or pundits often teach classes or conduct guest lectures at these universities and colleges.
Criticism of Conservative Colleges
While many students and faculty members at conservative colleges and universities value the conservative culture and values of these institutions, there are also critics who argue that this culture can be exclusionary and limiting. There are also criticisms of America’s most liberal colleges as well, so critiques are not unique to the country’s most conservative colleges.
Some argue that the conservative culture of these colleges and universities can create a narrow worldview that limits critical thinking and intellectual diversity. Others argue that the focus on traditional values and principles can be overly restrictive and limit students' exposure to different perspectives and ways of thinking. These criticisms need to be balanced by the fact that college and college curriculums are not deterministic; they can certainly influence students, but they don’t necessarily mold students into an unchangeable automaton.
The Bottom Line on Conservative Colleges
Just like there are many colleges and universities in the US that promote liberal and progressive values, there are also a number of institutions that are considered to be among the most conservative colleges in the country. These colleges and universities tend to be affiliated with conservative religious groups or organizations and promote conservative values and principles in their curriculum and campus culture.
Factors that contribute to the conservative culture of these institutions include religious affiliation, a commitment to traditional values and principles, and a focus on promoting conservative leaders and ideas. While many students and faculty members value the conservative culture and values of these institutions, there are also critics who argue that this culture can be exclusionary and limiting.
Ultimately, the choice of whether to attend a conservative college or university is a personal one, and depends on a number of individual factors, including academic interests, personal values, and career goals. Indeed, many of these conservative colleges have comparatively affordable tuition rates relative to some big-name liberal arts colleges. So, if all these factors align, one of these conservative colleges could be the right college for you.
