The CAFF College Guide

From the Center for Academic Faithfulness & Flourishing (CAFF)

What do many parents really want to know about a college these days? Along with cost, size, and other basic factors, it often comes down to paideia. They want to know: What sort of person does this college want my child to become? This can be difficult to answer, but CAFF is trying to help.

Why Was This Guide Created?

According to Dr. Jesse Rine, executive director of CAFF, the main goal is to provide “just the facts” about Christian colleges and universities. “Many Christian families are searching for college options that align with their values but are unable to find comprehensive and trustworthy information. The CAFF College Guide addresses this need by providing a free and intuitive online directory that empowers prospective students and their parents to compare institutions across a wide range of shared characteristics.”

The information on this list is gathered using an objective methodology that independently verifies a common set of facts about all CCCU, IACE, and ABHE member colleges. Colleges have an opportunity to review and comment on their data when each profile is updated annually by CAFF.

Find the College Guide at https://www.christiancollegeguide.com/. 

How Do I Search The Directory?

After you create a free user account, you gain access to over 250 Christian college profiles. Using various filters, you can narrow the results, and then save your favorite colleges to your account.

Here is how you might search for the following information using the directory’s basic, standard, and popular filter groups:

Goal: I want a college that is located in a city but does not have a campus diversity office or officially recognized LGBTQ student club.

  1. Scroll down to the Standard Filters option in the vertical menu on the left.
  2. Select “City” from the Campus Setting option.
  3. Scroll down to the Popular Filters option in the vertical menu on the left.
  4. Select “No” from the Diversity Office option.
  5. Select “No” from the LGBTQ Student Club option.

Goal: I want an engineering degree from a smaller college in the Presbyterian tradition.

  1. Click on the Basic Filters option at the top of the vertical menu on the left.
  2. Select “Engineering” from the Areas of Study option.
  3. Select “1,000 to 2,000 Students” from the Total Enrollment option.
  4. Select “Presbyterian” from the Theological Tradition option.

Goal: I want a large college that offers men’s varsity basketball and requires at least 15 credits in Bible, theology, or church history. 

  1. Click on the Basic Filters option at the top of the vertical menu on the left.
  2. Select “Men’s” and “Basketball” from the Varsity Sports option.
  3. Select “Over 4,000 Students” from the Total Enrollment option. 
  4. Scroll down to the Popular Filters option in the vertical menu on the left.
  5. Move the left-hand slider in the Bible Credits option to the right until it shows 15 as the minimum value.

Photo courtesy of Unsplash.