Some people believe that Christian colleges offer a second-rate education, but the reality is quite different. There are varying standards of academic excellence across all factions of higher education, and if a Christian school appeals to you, picking a religious institution over a secular doesn't have to equate to abandoning career ambitions that lie outside the realm of religious practice and study.

Faith-Based Communities

This is the most obvious benefit of a Christian school, and it's what makes this option attractive to most students and their parents. Regardless of what you choose to study, you'll come away with a much deeper understanding of your faith than you possessed prior to enrollment, and being surrounded by like-minded Christians will only serve to strengthen your personal faith.

The downside to this is that certain colleges will only attract other Christians, and that can leave you unprepared for the challenges posed by other faiths and philosophies. That knowledge will be essential whether you plan to run a church or work in the corporate world. This only represents a small number of religious institutions, but make sure that if you choose a school within that subset that you supplement your education with rigorous debates and a diverse social group outside the campus.

Lower Cost

In general, religious institutions and colleges that have a historical affiliation with a particular church will cost you less per year than private or state colleges. Centre College in Danville, KY is highly rated by Forbes, and the average student can expect to pay $2,600 out of pocket once scholarships, grants, and other forms of financial aid are accounted for.

It also provides a very high standard for excellence. As Forbes states,"In addition to maintaining its historic affiliation to the Presbyterian Church, Centre has maintained its historic academic prowess by producing 17 Fulbright scholars, five Goldwater scholars, a Rhodes scholar and a Truman scholar in the last decade alone." It also opens its doors to everyone regardless of creed or cultural background, giving Christian students the best of both worlds when it comes to their broader education as well as growing into their own faith.

Religious Institutions Aren't Just for the Religious

There are more religious colleges out there than you might realize, and the vast majority of them–nearly every single one that's held as a paragon of excellence–provide a quality education that doesn't push faith onto anyone, even though the communities within and near the campuses are usually quite religious. If a particular religious school provides exactly what you need to fulfill your academic and career ambitions, it's worth considering it along with other competing schools. For Christians, there are plenty of schools that provide the best of all worlds, so if you are looking for a strong faith-based community and you want an education that will give you a competitive edge, you have a lot of options to choose from regardless of where you are located.

Lorraine Wright blogs about higher education, including Christian colleges. Be sure to check out the best Christian colleges online if you are considering attending a Christian institution.