photo by Matt McLelland
Covenant College was ranked third most beautiful college in the U.S. in Online Christian College's 50 Most Beautiful Christian Colleges list.
Officials said, "Boasting ocean views, stained-glass windows, and enchanting cathedrals, Christian college campuses are some of the most beautiful in the country — good news for those college-bound students in search of a college experience that is beautiful both academically and aesthetically. Ranging from mountain-top retreats and beach-side hangouts, to urban jewels and rural havens, the 50 colleges and universities on this list are some of the most beautiful of their kind. Best of all, each school on this list is a highly-respected institution built upon the tenets of the Christian faith."
Schools were chosen and ranked based upon the following criteria:
- Awards & Recognition (Two points for an international accolade; ne point for an American accolade; one for appearing on the National Register of Historic Places): Whether a national award or an honor bestowed by a group or organization, any recognition a campus has received played a large part in its placement on this list. Generally speaking, the greater and more recent the honor, the higher the college was placed.
- Student Enjoyment (One point per notable feature): While most of the features described in this article can be appreciated visually by both students and visitors, those campuses with features that can be physically enjoyed by the school’s student body (such as botanical gardens or hiking trails) were given higher priority.
- Number of Notable Features (One point each): Campuses with more than one significant or celebrated building or feature were ranked higher than those with a single notable feature.
- Other (One point each): Those campuses with other notable characteristics, such as historical significance or environmental friendliness, were also considered.