An Overview of Seventh-day Adventist Higher Education

The Seventh-day Adventist Church has about 118 tertiary schools around the world.¹ Though many of them are within North America, you’ll also find Adventist universities in countries across the world—places like Croatia, Austria, Brazil, Madagascar, and the Philippines.

Adventist higher education is perhaps best known for theology and medical training.

But by no means do the options stop there. Among the 118 schools, you’ll find programs in many fields, from aviation to sociology and culinary arts to music. These schools are committed to supporting young people in serving God through the interests, talents, and skills He’s given them.

Do you want to learn more about Adventist higher education and what it has to offer prospective students?

Here, we’ll break down:

• Programs offered in Adventist higher education
• The origins of Adventist higher education
• What makes Adventist education different
• Resources to learn more

Let’s dive in!

What programs does Adventist higher education offer?

Adventist higher education offers as many programs as secular universities—and then some! They offer accredited undergraduate and graduate programs with over 100 majors, depending on the school you attend.

These include programs in²:

• Accounting
• Agriculture
• Animation
• Archaeology
• Architecture
• Aviation
• Biology
• Business
• Chemistry
• Communications
• Computer science
• Culinary arts
• Education
• Engineering
• English
• Film
• Finance
• Fine arts
• Graphic design
• Health science
• History
• Language studies
• Law and legal studies
• Mathematics
• Mechanic and repair technology
• Music
• Philosophy
• Photography
• Physics
• Psychology
• Sociology
• Writing

Some schools have even begun to offer trade programs in auto mechanics, technology, and construction.³

While the programs available depend on where you go, almost every Adventist school has strong theology and medicine programs. And some schools specialize in these areas.

For example, Andrews University, home to the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary, is one of the most popular universities at which to complete a Masters of Divinity program. It also offers a Doctor of Ministry program.

Other Seventh-day Adventist seminaries include:

• HMS Richards Divinity School (La Sierra University, California)
• Bogenhofen Seminary (Austria)
• Belgrade Theological Seminary (Serbia)
• Seventh-day Adventist Maranatha Seminary (Bangladesh)

When it comes to schools with well-known medical programs, Loma Linda University has the most popular graduate program. Meanwhile, Southern Adventist University is known for its excellent undergraduate nursing programs.

And they’re not the only ones. The following schools are also known for their medical/nursing programs:

• AdventHealth University (Florida)
• Kettering College (Ohio)
• Washington Adventist University (Washington, DC)
• Walla Walla University (Washington)
• Adventist College of Nursing and Health Sciences (Malaysia)
• Adventist University of the Philippines
• Babcock University (Nigeria)

Wondering why Adventist schools emphasize theology and medicine?

The simple reason is that Adventists are mission-oriented, seeking ways to share the gospel and serve others. Both theological and medical programs offer clear opportunities for students to use their gifts in the mission field.

But Adventist schools don’t stop there.

They’re passionate about helping every student pursue their unique calling. They encourage everyone, regardless of major, to use their talents to honor God and serve others.

When did Adventist higher education begin?

Adventist higher education began when the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists created the Seventh-day Adventist Educational Society. In 1874, this society, with the help of some sponsors, established the first Adventist college—Battle Creek College in Battle Creek, Michigan.⁴

The college accepted both male and female students, which allowed women to pursue higher education at a time when educational opportunities were slowly becoming more available for them.

By its first year, the school enrolled 289 students.⁵

This school helped students pursue higher education under the guidance of Christian values. It also taught students how to spread the gospel by providing them with biblical teaching and a mission emphasis.⁶

As the years passed, Battle Creek College relocated to Berrien Springs, Michigan, where it changed its name to Emmanuel Missionary College.⁷ The college has since been renamed Andrews University, where over 3,500 students enroll for courses every year.⁸

Adventist education has come a long way since 1874. In fact, it’s now the largest Protestant education system in the world with over 5,000 schools across the globe.⁹

What makes Adventist education different?

Though Adventist schools have many similarities academically to other schools, what makes them different is how they’re shaped by the biblical values that Adventists hold.

The schools express these values through:

• Offering religious programs and worship opportunities unique to Adventism: These include times of morning and evening worship, weeks of prayer, vespers to begin and end Sabbath, and Sabbath services.
• Integrating faith into the curriculum: They present their course material from a biblical worldview. Teachers may also make time for prayer and devotionals in class.
  Forming partnerships with local Seventh-day Adventist churches: They may work with a local church to serve the spiritual needs of their students.
• Having university chaplains: They have chaplains who can provide mentorship and spiritual guidance for young people.
• Hiring Adventist staff and teachers: They hire Adventist staff to promote a Christian environment.
• Keeping Sabbath: The campus schedule fosters an environment of Sabbath keeping for students and staff from Friday evening to Saturday evening.
• Serving healthy (often vegetarian) food: Adventist schools promote healthy living through the food served in their cafeterias.
• Having community service and mission opportunities: Adventist schools encourage students to help their community and those in need. They also offer mission trips where students can serve others while gaining cultural experiences.
• Having work-study programs: They offer work-study programs so students can gain practical experience while paying off their tuition.

With the uniqueness of these schools come many advantages. We’ll look at some of those next.

What are the advantages of Adventist higher education?

The biblical emphasis and promotion of Christian values is one of the big advantages of attending an Adventist college. But there’s more.

Here are some key advantages:

• Smaller campuses: Most Adventist schools tend to be on the smaller side. This allows the campus community to become a more tight-knit group, making it easier for students to find friendships. It also helps students receive more one-on-one assistance from their teachers.
• Support from teachers and staff: Adventist teachers seek to encourage their students and mentor them. Some staff will even invite students to their homes on Friday or Sabbath evenings.
• A Bible-centered curriculum: Students receive instruction from a biblical perspective and learn how to apply their beliefs in practical ways.
• A whole-person education: Adventist schools aren’t just concerned about students getting good grades. They’re concerned with how students are growing in every sphere of life. They want students to grow spiritually, mentally, physically, and emotionally.

These wonderful advantages of Adventist education didn’t come about by chance. They were inspired by what Adventist pioneer Ellen White wrote about Christian schools.¹⁰

In her book Education, she emphasized that Christian education was never just about developing students’ intellect. It was about developing their entire being—for now and eternity:

“True education means more than the perusal of a certain course of study. It means more than a preparation for the life that now is. It has to do with the whole being, and with the whole period of existence possible to man. It is the harmonious development of the physical, the mental, and the spiritual powers. It prepares the student for the joy of service in this world and for the higher joy of wider service in the world to come.”¹¹

These advantages do come with a price tag, though. Adventist schools are often pricey today. But thankfully, the cost doesn’t have to stop any student who desires a Christian education. Many of these schools offer financial aid, scholarships, and other opportunities that we’ll cover in the following section.

Are there affiliated programs or sponsorship options?

Yes, Adventist schools offer affiliated education programs and sponsorship opportunities.

Affiliated education programs are formed between Adventist universities and other schools or organizations.¹² They allow students to build networks with other schools and often offer dual-enrollment programs.

Many schools also provide sponsorship opportunities for their students. Schools will often partner with local churches or organizations to sponsor students through grants or scholarships.¹³ This way, students, regardless of their financial abilities, can benefit from the education offered at an Adventist institution.

How to learn more about Adventist higher education

If you’re looking into Adventist education to see if it’s right for you, these resources will help you in your search:

• Adventist Education: This website provides general information about Adventist education.
• Adventist Colleges and Universities: Here, you’ll find links to Adventist college websites and a list of the majors Adventist schools offer. There’s even a page about financial aid.
• Adventist Education Department: This is the official website of the General Conference Education Department.
• Adventist Locator: This site provides the locations of Adventist schools in North America. Just type a area or school name in the search bar, and it’ll give you a map of its location.
• Adventist Directory: This site contains a list of every Adventist school in existence. Just click on the world divisions tab, select your division, and select the education tag under sub-entities to pull up a list. It’ll give you the names of schools in that area, their accreditation status, and website addresses for specific schools.
• Adventist Accrediting Association: This website lists all Adventist schools. It also provides regular evaluations of these schools’ accreditation status.
• Adventist Colleges Abroad: This site talks about study-abroad opportunities.
• Seventh-day Adventist Education Statistics: You can find enrollment data here. It will also tell you how many schools and educators there are on the primary, secondary, and tertiary levels.
• Adventist International Institute of Advanced Studies: This provides the philosophy of Adventist education.
• Adventist Archives: This page contains information about the development of Adventist education throughout history.

Adventist education is unique in that it prepares students not only for the workplace but also for a lifetime of following Jesus. It seeks to develop them mentally, spiritually, and physically.

If that sounds like something you’d be interested in, we encourage you to look into Adventist schools near you. God might be leading you to the school that will jump-start your career and grow your spiritual life.

Want to learn more about what the Adventist school system has to offer?