Grace College is an evangelical Christian college located in the historic resort town of Winona Lake, Indiana. The college is associated with Grace Theological Seminary and the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches. Grace began as a two-year college in 1948, and is currently categorized as a four-year liberal arts school by The College Board. Its mission statement reads, “Grace College is an evangelical Christian community of higher education which applies Biblical values in strengthening character, sharpening competence, and preparing for service.” Grace has been ranked on the U.S. News and World Report list of “Best Baccalaureate Colleges in the Midwest.”
Grace is one of the first colleges in the nation to offer a three-year accelerated degree option for students in every major. In order to help students graduate more quickly, the school’s academic calendar was redesigned in Fall 2011. Each semester is now divided into two 8-week sessions. Grace students typically take 2-3 courses per session, allowing them to take up to 20 hours per semester. Students who opt for the three-year degree can reduce the cost of their education by 50% (save a year of tuition, room and board, and potentially earn an extra year of income by graduating early).
Every student at Grace completes a series of general education courses and thus enjoys a common experience that stretches across all the disciplines. In addition, Grace College offers degrees in more than 50 areas of study spanning a variety of fields in the arts and sciences, business, education, and ministry. Each program is geared toward giving every student a biblical foundation and practical experience. The student-to-faculty ratio is 20:1, and over 70% of full-time faculty hold doctoral or terminal degrees.
Grace College teaches biblical creation in their Bible and science departments. It is one of the few colleges remaining where there is widespread agreement on this issue. Dr. Don DeYoung, president of the Creation Research Society, is Chairman of the Department of Physical Science at Grace. He has been teaching physics, astronomy, and mathematics there since 1972. He has also written over a dozen books on Bible-science topics, including Thousands not Billions: Challenging the Icon of Evolution. His latest book, Discovery of Design: Searching Out the Creator’s Secrets, is an exciting look at cutting-edge scientific advances that highlight incredible examples of God’s design.
Grace students often get involved on campus by participating in groups, sports, or other activities. The Student Activities Board regularly plans special events both on and off-campus. Some favorites include: Price is Right night, Pizza Hut night, and themed semi-formal events. Intercollegiate athletics include: Volleyball, Golf, Soccer, Cross Country, Tennis, Basketball, Cheerleading, Baseball, Softball, Track and Field. Intramural sports include Basketball, Soccer, Frisbee, Softball, Volleyball, Dodgeball, and Flag Football. The college newspaper, “The Sounding Board,” is published weekly.
Many students also participate in SERVE teams, which are student-led volunteer groups. Grace has more than 20 SERVE teams, which participate in volunteer work on and off-campus. Some popular SERVE teams include: Boys and Girls Club, College Mentors for Kids, Our Father’s House (serving at a local soup kitchen), and Grace Village (visiting the elderly in a local retirement home). Throughout the year, students on Global Opportunities Teams (GoGrace teams) have the opportunity to take short-term missions trips to various countries.
Grace students are required to attend mandatory chapel sessions on campus. The chapel services are led by students who use their gifts to serve in the areas of media/tech, as worship leaders/coordinators, and as members of the Worship Band, which is led by a student band director. The college also offers a variety of other opportunities for vocalists and musicians to perform at various events, school musicals, and in the community.
According to the Grace College website, “we place a high value on students who have been educated at home. One of every five students at Grace College has been home schooled.” Grace College also offers home school juniors and seniors (at least 16 years of age) the opportunity to take college classes on campus for credit at a reduced rate through the Jump Start Program. For more information, visit the Grace website: www.grace.edu.