Choosing a college is hard enough; but these days, that difficulty is compounded for those trying to choose a school that supports traditional values.
Superficial statistics and generic facts do little to reveal whether a school leans conservative or liberal. One must learn to watch for more subtle signs, but they do exist. It is often the cultural aspects of a college that are indicative. On their websites, investigate their curated art, student clubs, and books and articles published by faculty members. Check out the school on social media, but skip official accounts in favor of those by current students. Insider videos and posts can give you a more realistic feel for the school’s environment.
The “Pandemic” hit right when my daughter was embarking on her college search. In a way, it was a blessing; because we never realized just how far academia had strayed from…well…from normal. The good news is that a traditional college education is still possible. Read on, and you will learn how to weed out “problem” schools, and find a place where your child can thrive as you raised him.
P. S. – If you want a liberal institution, don’t be offended – Read on, anyway! The factors revealed here that conservatives wish to avoid will help you find what you’re looking for, as well!
Eyewash: tours, pamphlets, and US News
The first look you have at a school is often a flyer that arrives in your mailbox. For the most part, these pamphlets are pretty generic- The obligatory quartet of kids (each of a different race), shown on the quad, on the stage, in the lab, using the computers, at the Saturday game.
If you see anything that deviates from the usual images, do not take it lightly. Colleges are putting their very best foot forward when they choose those images. If you see any single thing in a pamphlet that goes against your values, be very wary of that school.
One tour essential is to see the facilities for your child’s desired major. This is where he will be spending a large chunk of the next four years; and failure to show that area reveals that academic area (and its students) as a low priority at that school. While small departments can be good, they shouldn’t be so far off the radar as to not be acknowledged on the tour.
Some schools have tours that are targeted to specific majors. My daughter’s ultimate choice had a schedule of separate tours for separate majors. We took a generic tour; but even that had break-out sessions during the last hour of the tour, during which she was able to visit the Biology building, visit a lab, and even speak one-on-one to two professors.
At another school, she was able to meet with the person who would’ve been her academic counselor, had she gone there. While this is not quite as good, it certainly beats the tours where the guide waved vaguely in the general direction of the lab building.
At another school, the guide made sure we noticed the Bee el Em mural that graced the entire length of a hallway; but we had to ask to see the biology lab.
The best use for the US News website is to set up their college comparison tool. That way, you can start getting an idea of the financial picture ahead. US News, however, doesn’t really reveal much about whether a school is a good fit for a conservative student.
Religious Doesn’t Always Mean Conservative
Once I started exploring colleges more closely, the biggest revelation was that some religious schools are really quite liberal. One example of this is Brandeis University. Brandeis has always had an excellent reputation as a Jewish institution of higher learning.
Brandeis is also the school that sent, unsolicited, an expensively-done booklet to my daughter, letting her know that Brandeis is the place to go for girls who – how to put this delicately? – play for the other team.
At one Christian school that we toured, Gordon College, the guide tripped all over himself trying to point out all the things for which the school uses their stately chapel, besides, you know, all those cringy worship services.
Even if your family is not particularly religious, a school’s lack of commitment to worship is a good sign that they have strayed far from their roots in other ways, as well. You’re likely to find that there are things far worse awaiting your child than a little church-going.
Listen for the Buzzwords
The Language of The Left is alive and well at most American colleges. In fact, much of it was invented there! If a college’s advertising is filled with lefty buzzwords, you’ll get a good idea what that school is all about. Here’s a sample of such verbiage:
- vibrant
- diversity
- equity
- justice
- feminist
- inclusive
- tolerant
- environmental impact
Conservative schools’ websites are often noticeable by their lack of buzzwords; but you will notice a uplifting tone of honor, confidence, and fun.
What are They Proud Of?
Pay close attention to anything a school is particularly proud of, whether it’s on the website or on the tour. It’s the unique things that often demonstrate the most about the prevailing campus environment.
On the flip side of that idea, you should also pay attention to anything that seems to lack priority, or is missing, that you feel should be there.
We saw both sides of this concept on our visits to Providence College and Stonehill. Both are Catholic institutions, are very expensive, and included a visit to the chapel on the tour.
The PC guide led us reverently into a beautiful chapel, and spoke in a hushed tone about available daily Mass. A beloved weekly touchstone at PC, she said, is a Sunday night Mass, where the kids arrive in their PJs, worship, and then enjoy a snack together.
By contrast, the “chapel” at Stoneham appears to be a repurposed room, tucked away in a corner of, ironically, a large mental health counseling building. The guide pointed vaguely in the chapel’s general direction, without missing a beat or lowering her voice. The chapel itself had a perfunctory air about it. I’ve seen better chapels in hospitals and nursing homes.
…and why, at Stoneham’s website, do I have to scroll down five times, before I see any “white” students, at a school that is 83% white? Shouldn’t the promotional images reflect reality?
So, how do a Stoneham and PC each rate for their conservatism? Stoneham is one of many schools that has a veneer of religion draped over quite a bit of wokeness. PC has some of the trappings of wokeism, but there is also enough conservative tradition left for a conservative student to feel comfortable.
What does the Campus Art Look Like?
In this era of tearing down statues- which are the work of artists – a college’s art can show you whether or not they lean conservative. A school that displays classic art is more likely to share your family’s values.
Most colleges have a curated art collection, which is separate from the work of their art students. In addition to investing in significant artwork, they may obtain pieces through commissions, bequests, loans, and donations.
A quick search of art at Liberty University’s website proudly displays several online galleries of oil paintings from a variety of eras and nations, including those by prominent Virginian landscape artists.
The same search, done on Brandeis University’s site shows the usual leftist “art” efforts – The obligatory gargantuan hunk of shapeless scrap metal, the obligatory “light sculpture” of various lengths of LED strips from Auto Zone, the obligatory oil paint offerings that appear to be a donation from a local educational institution of very young children. Although there are also several very good sculptures, they share website space with the obligatory apologies for their presence on Native American land (not that they’re sorry enough to return any of it) and a completely out-of-context link to their Bee El Em statement.
Our college kids pass by their campus’ art every day. Call me old-fashioned, but I prefer that my kids are exposed to works that are beautiful and spiritually uplifting.
Publish or Perish (Faculty Publishing that will make your Child’s Soul Perish)
One thing that is universally important to a college is the literature generated by its faculty. A school’s authors can, literally, bring fame and fortune to the institution. Learning what the faculty is publishing will not only help you discern whether or not a school is conservative; it will give you valuable insight into the minds of the people who will be teaching your child.
Here are some titles published by faculty at conservative schools:
- A Pilot Study on the Effects of Exercise on Depression Symptoms (Liberty U)
- Liberty and Learning: The Evolution of American Education (Hillsdale College)
- “‘He Died on the Field of Glory’: Felix Kirk Zollicoffer and the Confederate Defeat at Mill Springs” (College of the Ozarks)
Note: it took me a lot longer to dig up any titles from liberal schools, because their web pages consistantly took forever to load. That’s another thing about conservative schools- Their websites run more efficiently.
- “What Body-Shaming Tells Us about Gender Roles and Society’s Expectations” (Wheaton College – Massachusetts, not IL)
- “Congruence Between Leadership Gender and OrganizationalClaims Affects the Gender Composition of the Applicant Pool:Field Experimental Evidence.” (Columbia U)
- “Implementation and evaluation of a culturally grounded group-based HIV prevention programme for men who have s_x with men in Ghana” (Yale U)
Note to those who may accuse me of cherry-picking: while there were some respectable publications coming out of the lib schools; all of the publishing coming out of the conservative schools dealt with substantial, useful, important topics, without the constant litany of race, sex, and general victimhood….in other words, thought-provoking, not just provoking.
Do They Separate Men and Women?
There is no surer way to discern a conservative college from a liberal one than their respect for students’ privacy. A school that fails to separate men from women in intimate spaces is surely not conservative.
I was very impressed by the sunny, new dorms at U Mass. Dartmouth. They were bright, clean, and looked very Pinterest-y. My daughter likely would’ve commuted, had she gone there; but during that tour, I was enjoying a little dream that she might get enough scholarship money to enjoy one of those rooms.
My balloon landed – hard – as soon as I saw the bathrooms; the “gender neutral” bathrooms, that is. Conservatives typically do not want their daughters encountering grown men, while on a midnight trip to the lav, or coming out of the shower in the morning…
…not to mention the fact that part of the freedom of living in a dorm is that you don’t have to get all wrapped-up just to go to the bathroom, because you’re just going to run into others of the same sex, anyway.
Granted, UMD was housing men down one end of the hall, and women down the other; but, remember, those rooms are assigned by people who have decided that they don’t know what a woman is. Plus, thanks to the Obama administration, one has the right to live among the gender with which one identifies.
Which means, girls, a quote from Arnold Schwarzenegger applies here: “Screeew your freedom.”
A Note re. Housing: on-campus vs. off-campus
Some very conservative schools require on-campus housing for all four years. Look at your long picture before settling for this, and make sure it won’t hamper your child’s future.
Sharing an off-campus apartment for the last couple of years can help your child save thousands of dollars. If the apartment is in a safe area, and transportation to campus is not a problem, you may want to keep this option open.
Off-campus housing can also help your child to establish in-state residency, in case he wants to attend grad school there, and it’s not your state. This, too, can save an enormous amount of money.
Either way, learn what the local neighborhoods look like. It doesn’t matter what’s available, if it’s not safe for a newly-minted adult.
For example, Providence College has tons of off-campus housing, but it’s all in dangerous territory. Even back in the days when I used to sublet there, it was the kind of place where one had to be careful. In fact, a man tried to break into my apartment while I was home.
More recently, I took my daughter to PC for a tour; and the surrounding area had further degraded, to the point where it looked like the state prison had emptied itself out, onto their streets.
Revealing Freshman Seminars
Colleges often require incoming freshman to take a required course to get them used to college-level writing expectations and broaden their thinking (funny, I thought that was the purpose of high school). There is often a choice of topics, and browsing these choices will give you an idea to which side a college leans. Here are a few examples of topics from the freshman course lists of conservative schools:
- Developing a Christian Mind (Dallas Baptist)
- Foundations of Academic Discourse (Grove City College)
- The Virtues (Samford U)
Now, here are some freshman offerings from the other side:
- Getting Even: the Plots and Principles of Revenge (Princeton)
- Self: Aspiration (U Penn)
- How to Be an Antiracist Teacher: Identifying and Challenging Racist Teaching Approaches (UC Davis)
My personal opinion on required courses aside, their topics will reveal whether or not you are looking at a conservative school.
Check Out Their Clubs and Activities
Both liberal and conservative schools have a good variety of organizations and clubs. Liberal schools, however, tend to have some that you would never see at a conservative school. Can you imagine your child dedicating a significant chunk of his time to any of these groups?
- Mother Nature’s Gift Chapter of Hunter College: I’ve heard it called a lot of things, but “Mother Nature’s Gift?” Never. Anyhoo, I’ll let Hunter College’s website describe this one, since I have no words… “We are an organization dedicated to eliminating the stigmatization of periods by supplying students with the support and supplies they deserve. We intend to use this club as a way to produce the actual packages we send out and educate others on menstruation.”
- Climate Justice Coalition: two words out of a three-word title, dripping with leftism (Mount Holyoke)
- The Language Accessibility of Northeastern Guidelines Initiative: a school with an 80% rejection rate has a club to translate the school’s webpages into other languages, for those who were accepted, even though they can’t read English well enough to navigate a webpage. Hopefully, Northeastern has a chapter of Mother Nature’s Gift with a translated webpage, in case any non-English speakers haven’t figured out what to do when Aunt Flo visits. (Northeastern U)
Covid Policies Tell You a Lot
No one knows what will be the next chapter in the Covid saga; but reading a school’s Covid info is a good way to tell if the school will be a good fit for your children. Generally, the more a school champions health freedom, the more conservative they lean.
Keep in mind, some of what you read may reflect the mandates of the state where the school is located; but the language they use can still tell you a lot.
Speaking of state mandates, that may be another thing worth considering. You may wish to completely avoid any state that cracked down heavily on college kids during Covid. It certainly figured into our decision. Until Covid happened and our governor fully enjoyed power he thought he’d never have in his lifetime, we assumed our daughter would be going to school in-state, possibly even commuting. It was never in our plan to send her off to a school that’s 12 hours away.
In retrospect, today’s price of gas would’ve crippled her as a commuting student. One school sent her a “welcome” box that contained a face mask and a lanyard with a hand-sanitizer dispenser dangling from it, so she lost interest in that one instantly. Every school she considered in our state ended up requiring mandatory testing and The Shots, boosters and all. Regarding a local school where she was considering living on campus, she recently told me, “Mom, I wouldn’t even have made it through the first semester.”
Explore their Calendar: masquerade balls vs. letting it all hang out
Looking at a school’s calendar of events is a quick way to catch the pulse of the campus atmosphere. After all, events cost money; schools only put on what they think will be attended.
Another thing to take note of is whether the calendar is kept current. A school with an up-to-date calendar and website is less likely to be the one losing your child’s documents later.
For example, compare the topics of the next three events at the University of California Berkeley (queerness, Covid, and communism) versus those for Oral Roberts University (two leadership events and a masquerade ball sponsored by an honor society). Is it really a toss-up?
Reviews: scratching the next layer
Below you can read a real student quote from each of the conservative schools I feature…but don’t stop there. Read all the reviews you can find about a place.
Beyond that, read the reviews critically. For example, one of the most typical reasons for a 1-star review on a conservative school is “a lack of diversity.” I attended a graduate program with people from 23 countries, and was the only American to get a seat in my specialty (the other one went to a guy from China).
OK, we’re diverse. Now what?
For all of the vibrant diversity at my school, do you know what there was very little of?
Friends.
I make friends easily, but most of my classmates were stranded in their own little bubble, unable to find any commonality with which to connect. Those who were friends tended to be from the same culture. So much for diversity!
Remember that the students writing the reviews are newly-minted adults with almost zero life experience; and, for many, the one question that never enters into their thinking is “what then?” They have had the theme of “diversity” beaten into their heads all their lives. It must factor into everything; and, in their brains (which are still years away from full development), a lack of diversity is “bad.”
Once they encounter diversity, they have no idea what to do with it, just that it’s “good.” Sadly, these same kids seem to look upon their “diverse” classmates as some kind of prop, an entitlement that’s included in their tuition as a tool for their educational advancement.
Insider Videos: see it their way
Poke around on YouTube for student-made videos from prospective schools. Many students love to vlog their college life. I watched many of these videos, made by kids at Liberty University, and they really did give a good representation of life at the school.
Visit with an Open Mind
Whenever possible, visit the school together with your spouse, and any older children you have that may be interested in the school. This will save you a trip later, sure; but that’s not my main reason for this idea. The more eyes you have to take in everything on the tour, the more you will learn; and different people, even in the same family, observe different things.
Keep your phones out and take pictures of anything you want to discuss with your family later; because you will forget significant, little details once you start talking.
Starting your Search: quick peeks at real conservative schools
Speaking of snapshots, the section below gives you a list of conservative schools to get started on your search. For each, I have included a quote from a real student, that sums up why that school is worthy of your consideration. Each title links to its school, so you can go back and forth for quick comparisons.
Please share this article, and spread that word about colleges that are worth your money…and how to stop feeding our savings and our children to those that are not.
Liberty University: checks a lot of boxes
“If you just want to be brainwashed and follow the rest of the crowd, don’t attend Liberty. They will ask you the hard questions like, WHY are you Pro-Life? WHY don’t you believe in Euthanasia? WHY do you think the Bible says this?” Mikayla Stath
Hillsdale College: obsessively honorable
“Here, we have a tendency to obsess over honor. Tour guides brag about how students can leave their laptops out in the library. Men usually hold doors for women. Professors and students greet each other on campus. These are precious customs, not often found at other schools.” Nic Rowan
Patrick Henry College: homeschoolers haven
“This school not only is excellent in its academics but also in helping students with their faith and understanding of what it means to be a virtuous human being. With a world full of confusion, fear, and hatred, we tend to forget the value of freedom, respect, and unity, and Patrick Henry College has taught me these things.”
Regent University: all this, and the beach, too!
“The out-of-class scene is great as well, there are not any parties or anything of that sort on campus, however; there are many gatherings and activities going almost every week. Overall Regent is a nice structured college that still offers the freedom and fun of most universities.” Marc Anthony
Thomas More College (NH): a tiny gem
“It’s a very small Catholic college, and they’re really big on community here. There are only about 100 students altogether, so you get to know everyone well while you’re here. The professors are really invested in your intellectual growth and there is a big emphasis on participation in class…I would recommend Thomas More to anyone who is interested in a solid education and who dislikes the huge numbers of students and the routine and somewhat rushed nature of many large colleges and universities today.”
Oral Roberts University: less peer pressure
“I had the freedom to exercise my faith freely in a setting that did not include the pressure to act inappropriately to be accepted.” A. Laymon
Brigham Young University (UT): not just for Mormons
Both Brigham Young Universities I mention here are highly Mormon; so check into the religion and the schools rules, to decide whether you’d feel comfortable there.
“Everyone is super nice and respectful. There is always something going on and everyone there either shares the same religious beliefs or respects your beliefs.” Adrian
Brigham Young University – Idaho: good, clean conservative school at a great price
Note: BYU-I is not affiliated with BYU.
“Warning it is very cold, but it is the best environment you could ever hope for. Very nice apartments and great people. Get close to the lord! Much cheaper than most other schools. So fun!”
College of the Ozarks: “Hard Work U”
“They hold both students and staff to high moral standards. Students are provided with a full tuition scholarship for four years. In return, students work 15 hours per week and two 40 hour weeks per semester at an assigned campus job. The college is known as “Hard Work U” for a very good reason. The university’s goal is to build high moral character and work ethic while providing students with a top-notch post-secondary education.”
Bob Jones University: 100% acceptance rate
“There are a lot of rules, but many of them have good reasons behind them. I came from public school so the strict nature is somewhat foreign to me. However, the education is astounding and the community you can build is worth every moment. God is truly the focus of all of the faculty and many of the students. Bob Jones makes it very easy to grow in your Christian walk and find opportunities to serve in your faith if you so choose.”
Cedarville University: set in a peaceful village
“Everyone is wonderful and every professor is genuine and cares about their students. It is expensive but if you need it there is plenty of scholarships and financial appeal oppurtunities. The school is very christ-centered and true to its Baptist roots. I am a non-denom Christian and have only grown in my faith while at Cedarville. If you are looking for an amazing school for academics, professors, and Christian life pick Cedarville.”
Colorado Christian University: small and friendly
“The smaller size of the school leads to better student interaction both in and out of class. It’s nice to be walking the campus and seeing familiar faces, even if you don’t know everybody by name.” Sean
Lee University: lots of outdoor activities
“Life at Lee University is like being adopted into a big family that is full of traditions and it gives it’s students pride in being apart of something so fulfilling and life-changing.” Maddy
Grand Canyon University: an oasis in the desert
“Grand Canyon University embodies the idea of what the perfect college should be and feel like. From the new dorms and buildings, on-campus food selections, and the exciting sports atmosphere, GCU, fully captures the spirit of freedom and fun.” Leah
Palm Beach Atlantic University: you either love it or you hate it?
Note: I actually didn’t add any schools that had too many negative reviews to this article; but the mix of reviews for this particular school was worth noting. It almost sounds as if they have a subset of students who expect it to be a haven for liberal concepts and a big party scene, just because it’s located in Florida. Then, they’re resentful when they realize that’s not the case, even though there’s eight-gazillion other schools where they can get that kind of lifestyle. Whatev.
“I loved the culture of the school. From the moment I stepped on campus, I just knew that this was the place that God was calling me to be at. It truly is a place full of the Lord’s spirit.”
Samford University: where people say hi to you
“It is not abnormal to walk by two people on a bench sharing their testimony or praying for one another–one of my personal favorites about Samford. There is something so heart-warming about the visible love and care exchanged between students on campus.”
Dallas Baptist University: Texas nice
“Safety of DBU’s students is also another big priority. I have always felt safe while on campus, and the DBU security and police are fun to get to know as well.” Alexis
Harding University: supportive staff and faculty
Note: Many students note how easy it is to get help with your schoolwork, should you hit a rough patch. This kind of support is essential, and not all schools do this well.
“Everyone is so friendly, and while the classes can be crazy hard, the teachers are very easy to work with, and help you with anything you need.” Bethany
Taylor University: easy to make friends here
“Every person who comes here quickly finds a group of students that they connect with and feels unified with the entire student body, as well, as with professors. The student/teacher relationship is outstanding and unlike any other college I have visited. They care about where you are at in life mentally, spiritually, physically and emotionally. This makes attending classes much more enjoyable and when you are enjoying your time in class, you learn a lot more than if you were there grudgingly.” Sierra
Franciscan University of Steubenville: a small, Catholic school with big hearts for humanity
“My favorite class I EVER took in college was Human Embryology at Franciscan, which I took to fulfill a basic science credit. I love the fact that such a random class for an English student became my favorite, and I know I wasn’t alone–at the end of the last class of the semester, everyone stood up and applauded the professor. Learning about life before birth in so much depth was fascinating, challenging, and inspiring.” Lisa Kirk
North Greenville University: “Christ makes the difference”
“While preparing for college throughout high school, I was afraid that I would struggle in college because I tend to learn best getting one on one help from my teachers. However, as soon as I came to NGU, that worry soon subsided. The professors here care so much about their students. They are available for extra help at convenient times and even develop a personal relationship with their students. They are always ready and willing to help their students be the best that they can be.” Jessica
Anderson University: moved on with grace and common sense
“We will not tolerate anyone being mistreated for simply wearing a mask or choosing to be vaccinated. Our campus community should reflect the values on which we were built, and that includes showing great hospitality to those who feel differently than you do about the pandemic—or the proper response to it.”
“We are making the courageous choice—backed by science, expert counsel, prayer, and both the physical and emotional health of the campus community—to do what we can to get COVID-19 off the front page of the newspaper. That is not the only consideration. But it is an important one.” Anderson’s website, February, 2021
Cornerstone University Lets You be You
“At Cornerstone University I can be me.”
Note: I love this comment, because it gets to the heart of why I wrote this resource in the first place. You want a school where your child can just be himself, instead of a composite of the current ideation. That alone is the cause of more misery, neurosis, and depression among our youth than anything else.
Marantha Baptist University: Great for self-starters
“Basically, if you want it, it’s there. If you want an internship, they will help you find one. If you want a job, they’ll help you find one. Maranatha won’t drag you through your degree and make you successful. You have to want it and ask for it, then you’ll have it.”
Grove City College (PA): includes lessons in managing debt
“The college is also less expensive than most other private schools, and has mandatory debt seminars to teach students how to wisely handle their educational debt.”
The King’s College (NY): old-school ethics in the heart of The City
“Student life revolves around ten Houses named for consequential historical figures, and is governed by an Honor Code pledge not to lie, cheat, steal, or turn a blind eye to those who do. Not for the fainthearted, King’s encourages bravery, commitment, and action.” From a Q & A done by the Classical Difference website.
