Higher Christian Education: Part 1

On August 15, my daughter begins her junior year of high school.  We have discussed colleges she prefers with possible road trips to visit a few.  In addition to the traditional public and private institutions, Christian colleges were being considered.  

As we looked at different schools and what they offered, we found Christian schools were more expensive, not a smidgen but "that must be a joke" more expensive, relatively speaking of course.  I was shocked at some, well, actually most Christian colleges offer less, much less value than non-Christian schools.  Why the higher cost?  Is it justified?  

I chose The Ohio State University as a benchmark to compare the value of all public, private, and Christian colleges.  This process, my process, is subjective at best and flawed at worst.  Why use The Ohio State University (tOSU) as the benchmark?  

1. We are Ohio residents and every state has a state university system.  
2. I am an alumnus.  
3. We are confident she will be accepted.  
4. I have attended three schools in my academic life:  A junior college of 800 students; A NC public university of 4000 students; The Ohio State University with a 56,000+ enrollment.  Of those three, my Buckeye education and experience was far more valuable. 

Christian schools have guaranteed scholarships based on the student's academic performance. This is the rule. Standard practice on a massive scale. The scholarship value was determined by the student's academic performance.  The better the student, the more money the school offered (in the form of a scholarship).  I understand they want to compete for quality students and if this is their best strategy, they will fail to consistently attract quality students.  Here's why:  

1. Students with a 3.7+ GPA, graduate in top 10%, and have impressive test scores aren't likely to enroll in a small Christian school, in an out-of-way-location.  
2. The don't have the ability to offer diverse opportunities to excel.  
3. The cost, even after the maximum scholarship(s) amount, remains higher.  

How do such schools justified its high price tag especially when a high percentage of students borrow money to attend?    

1. Is the extra expense due their unique ability to foster the growth and maturity of a student's faith?  
2. Do they provide a uniquely Christian experience not found on other college campuses?   
3. Are those guaranteed scholarships unique to Christian campuses?  

Those scholarships, based on their high school performance, are offered (albeit not guaranteed) at just about every state university system.  (Even without a scholarship to Ohio State, the cost of a Buckeye education is still below the tuition of most Christian colleges.) 

Does one need to attend a Christian school to find a Christian environment?  Aren't Christian communities found on college campuses everywhere with active vibrant Christian support structures?  Small groups.  Bible study.  Sunday worship.  Religion classes. 

Henry Beecher said, "If a man cannot be a Christian in the place he is, then he cannot be a Christian anywhere."  Ohio State, as well as other universities, provide an environment where students can develop and strengthen their faith.  Daniel continued with his faith as did Shadrach, Meshach, and Abedego despite being taken from their culture, given new names, and commanded to worship false Gods.  The student's faith, or the lack thereof, is dependent on the student and not the college, youth group, church, or environment.        

In addition to the Christian environment, Christian colleges often cite the advantages of smaller class size and personal attention from professors.  The truth is small classes and caring engaged professors are moot points, non factors because:

1. Success in the classroom is like faith... always dependent on the student.
2. Professors have office hours at larger universities, despite claims to the contrary.
3. As a Buckeye undergrad, I never had a problem getting time with a professor. 

Textbooks are textbooks.  Professors are professors.  Calculus is Calculus.  Whether at MIT or a community college.  Why pay more, sometimes laughably more for a degree?

What do Harvard and Stanford provide that other universities do not?  What makes Harvard or Stanford worth dropping $250,000 when quality alternatives exist?  The value is found in large active alumni networks and quality internship opportunities.  They give graduates a boost, a head start no other school offers.  Alumni provide contacts and references.  Quality internships build vital experience. The better the internship, the better the references, the more attractive the graduate.  

I'm aware smaller schools provide internships, but who is more likely to provide three students with internships at the New York Federal Reserve Bank versus an internship at the local branch of a regional bank?  An academic consultant for the NY Fed prior to joining the Ohio State University as the Dean of Accounting.

“Olivet does not seek to be the cheapest option available in higher education, but rather to offer a high-quality experience for our students with a commitment to excellence.”  Olivet Nazarene University. 

I had, yes had, to unplug my laptop, flip it upside down, and wait for it to dry after I choked, drooled, and spit lime Kool-Aid all over the place as I read that opening sales pitch from Olivet Nazarene University, a Christian school.  They offer their education for $36,000 each and every year.  

But, wait... they have those guaranteed scholarships to reduce the financial burden.  How much financial help can they provide?  I don't know.  Why?  I simply, quite honestly, just between us... became exhausted with their online form asking for name, address, phone, academic data, test scores, social security, FBI fingerprint cards (in duplicate), retina scan, ten years of residence history, and one stool sample for the privilege to be contacted... yes called... to discuss the possible value of a scholarship.  All I wanted to know was how much the scholarship might reduce the expense. Now, I will never know. My loss?   

Wheaton College is the highest rated Christian University (59 on Forbes) where one steadfast Christian who believes God is good all the time, Jesus will return, and the flood was global, can attend if they pony up ~$40,000 each and every year.  Now, I am sure Wheaton is a nice school... ranking 59th is an achievement of which they should be proud, but is it twice a nice, twice as valuable as a Buckeye education?  

1. A Buckeye education $20,000/year.  $80,000 total.
2. Wheaton College $40,000/year.  $160,000 total.  
3. Olivet Nazarene $36,000/year.  $144,000 total.  

$60,000 and $80,000... that's a lot of extra debt, unnecessary debt.  What does a graduate expect to receive for the extra expense?   

1. Higher earning potential that otherwise wasn't possible with a degree from another university?
2. Possess an advantage other universities can't provide to their graduates to compete and obtain coveted jobs?
3. Placed in a better position to be successful?  

Olivet and Wheaton are confident the answer is "yes, yes, yes" despite the mountain of debt that places the graduate at a significant disadvantage, tucked neatly behind eight ball, and under the thumb of $60,000 - $80,000 frivolous student debt. Beginning life or a career with that amount of debt is not a prescription for success. What's the monthly debt service (payment) for a student loan that size?  
  
The natural question to ask next, would God approve spending $144,000+ at Olivet Nazarene University when an better option... a less expensive option exists?  I can think of ten alternatives that are infinitely better than starting life with an Olivet diploma and at minimum a $100,000 student loan balance. A Buckeye degree versus an Olivet degree? No contest which will serve the graduate better.No contest which is more valuable in the world.

Dare I say steering young Christians to attend Christian schools is negligent at best and ungodly at worst. They deserve better.  And the Church wonders why young people leave the faith; why they abandon the church?  Maybe it's because we, as their Christian leaders, elders, pastors, teachers, parents and mentors don't appear to be any different than those who don't believe.  

I'll step off my soapbox for now.  Have a good and godly day.