A Look at Adventist Colleges and Universities

On the outside, Seventh-day Adventist universities may not look much different than other college campuses. But the real differences are beneath the surface.

Adventist Universities are all about helping each student have a fulfilling educational journey on a Christ-centered campus. Lifelong friendships are forged. Pivotal career decisions are made. And the supportive spiritual environment can help students grow in immeasurable ways.

Let’s take a closer look at what makes Adventist universities so loved by both their alumni and their surrounding communities.

• The story of the Adventist college
• What is the mission of Adventist universities?
• Why would someone choose an Adventist university?
• Adventist universities in East-Central Africa

We’ll start with some history.

The story of the Adventist college

Courtesy of the Ellen G. White Estate, Inc.

The first Adventist college was born in 1874 with Battle Creek College in Michigan, USA (present-day Andrews University). The Adventist Church was exceptionally committed to quality education, especially coming out of a time when the United States was more industrially focused than scholastically focused.

These campuses also provided a place to formally train pastors and teachers, as well as other professions that were in high demand for mission service.

A few years later, Pacific Union College’s forefather, Healdsburg College, opened in 1882 in California, USA.

This was closely followed by the Battle Creek College Training School for Nurses within the Battle Creek Sanitarium, which spurred the development of Adventist nursing schools, hospitals, and eventually, medical schools.

In 1895, the Sanitarium began the first Adventist medical school, American Medical Missionary College.

In 1893, Claremont Union College in South Africa became the first Adventist college outside the United States. Soon after, Adventist universities opened in Australia, South America, and Europe, respectively.

Today, Adventist universities have blossomed everywhere. There are currently 117 Adventist colleges dotting the globe including nine in the East-Central Africa Division,¹forming the second-largest Christian school network in the world.²

What is the mission of Adventist universities?

Originally, Adventist education began with the purpose of training denominational workers and providing children with a higher quality education than was typically available at the time.³

Today, the goal isn’t much different: Adventist universities equip students with the necessary skills for today’s workforce, while also teaching them how their faith can be woven into everything they aspire to do.

Adventists believe that education is key when it comes to being good stewards of our minds and our talents. This echoes the Bible’s emphasis that pursuing knowledge and getting to know God goes hand in hand (Proverbs 9:10).

With this in mind, Adventist colleges operated with an emphasis on each student being a unique individual with God-given gifts.⁴ Students were to be encouraged to use the abilities God gave them, so they can become cheerful contributors to their communities.

That’s why Adventist universities provide a well-rounded education to promote spiritual, mental, physical, and social health, intellectual growth, and service.⁵
Along with serving, Adventist universities promote excellence, intelligence, engagement, and community. All these support the umbrella of faith, to best equip students to relay the gospel to the world.⁶

And if anyone is considering a career in health care, an Adventist university can be a terrific fit due to the special emphasis Adventists place on the need for caring, quality medical care.

Let’s take a look at some of the specific reasons people choose Adventist colleges.

Why would someone choose an Adventist university?

Photo by Keira Burton

A number of things set Adventist universities and colleges apart.

• Variety of quality programs: Adventist universities offer competitive programs in a wide range of majors—both undergraduate and graduate.
• Diversity: Attracting students from all over the world causes Adventist campuses to be diverse places, which can enrich the educational experience. As of 2018, Andrews University in the United States ranked #1 in campus ethnic diversity. That year, 20% of their students came from other countries.¹² Adventist universities in Africa tend to also be diverse in that they’re intercontinental, attracting students from many different countries within Africa. Adventists are not the only students who attend, either. In some cases, the schools even have more non-Adventist than Adventist attendees. For example, the Adventist University of Central Africa (Rwanda) had 2,530 non-Adventist students and 1,024 Adventist students in December of 2021.⁷

Photo by Wallace Chuck

• Close-knit campuses: Adventist colleges tend to have a smaller student body. Their schools in East-Central Africa range from 79 students (Adventist University of Central Africa) to 4,948 (University of Eastern Africa Baraton).⁸ Compare this to the numbers of all other African universities, such as the University of Nairobi, which had 36,251 students in the school year of 2022-2023.⁹ Students at large universities can feel like just a number, while smaller universities help students feel like a meaningful part of the community.

• Biblical emphasis: Throughout all parts of the college experience, students learn how the Bible can be part of every aspect of their lives. This is even woven into the class structure. It’s common for professors to offer prayer before class and sometimes share a Bible text or relevant devotional thought.

How can I attend an Adventist university?

Attending an Adventist university is relatively easy. You don’t have to worry about a massive number of students also applying for the same program.

A quick search can tell you which Adventist university is closest to you, or you can look up several of them to see which ones have the programs you’re interested in. You can schedule a visit first, or you can dive right into the application process.

Yes, Adventist schools are private institutions and tend to have a heftier price tag. However, most schools offer scholarships to help ease the financial burden. Other financial aid is also available. Be sure to check out what each Adventist university offers.

Adventist universities in East-Central Africa

In the East-Central Africa Division, nine universities and colleges serve their students. These are:

• Adventist University of Africa, Kenya
• Adventist University of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo
• Adventist University of Central Africa, Rwanda
• Adventist University of Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo
• Bugema University, Uganda
• Ethiopia Adventist College, Ethiopia
• University of Eastern Africa Baraton, Kenya
• Adventist University of Lukanga, Democratic Republic of Congo
• The University of Arusha, Tanzania

The church also operates a number of other universities around the world:

• North and Central America: 29
  • Belize
  • Canada
  • Costa Rica
  • Cuba
  • Dominican Republic
  • Haiti
  • Jamaica
  • Mexico
  • Puerto Rico
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • United States of America
  • Venezuela
• Pacific Ocean Islands: 15
  • Fiji
  • Papua New Guinea
  • Philippines
• South America: 18
  • Argentina
  • Bolivia
  • Brazil
  • Chile
  • Colombia
  • Ecuador
  • Peru
  • Uruguay

Some of the most noteworthy universities around the world include:

• Loma Linda University: Loma Linda is a large California university best known for its robust graduate medical programs.
• Adventist University of Africa: From Kenya, this institution was built to educate post-graduates in Africa. It offers theological, business, leadership, public health, and computer science degrees.
• Adventist University of France: Also called Campus Adventiste du Salève, this university is the only French-speaking Adventist institution in Europe.
• Adventist University of the Philippines: Based in Puting Kahoy, Silang, Cavite, Philippines, this school offers degrees ranging from the arts to medicine.
• Avondale University: Australia’s university in New South Wales offers a variety of programs and has a well-known nursing program.
• Andrews University: One of the most culturally diverse universities in the United States, Andrews attracts students to its campus in Berrien Springs, Michigan. It is particularly known for its theological seminary.
• Newbold College: Situated in Binfield, Great Britain, students can earn a variety of religion, liberal arts, and business degrees. The school is part of Adventist Colleges Abroad.
• University of Montemorelos: One of five Adventist universities globally that grants degrees in medicine, this college in Nuevo León, Mexico, offers a large selection of programs.

Adventist universities are not only a place to earn a degree. They prepare the student for being a good citizen in their community and serving others. As Colossians 3:23-24 says, all of our work should be done well, as if for God. And this underlying principle fuels the pursuits of each Adventist higher learning institution.

1. Adventist Universities.com, Accessed July 14, 2022. [↵]
2. “About Seventh-day Adventist Education,” Adventist Universities, https://adventistuniversities.com/adventist-education/. [↵]
3. “The Birth of Adventist Education,” Lineage Journey, https://lineagejourney.com/read/the-birth-of-adventist-education/. [↵]
4. Ibid. [↵]
5. Ibid. [↵]
6. Taylor, John Wesley V, “What is the Special Character of an Adventist College or University?” The Journal of Adventist Education, https://jae.adventist.org/2017.2.5. [↵]
7. “World Report 2021: Adventist Education Around the World,” General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists Department of Education, Dec. 31, 2021. [↵]
8. Ibid. [↵]
9. Mutua, John, “Low Enrolment Hits University of Nairobi, Moi and Kenyatta,” Business Daily, May 8, 2023. [↵]

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