Is College the Right Next Step—And How Do We Choose the Right One?

Watching your child stand at a pivotal fork in the road makes for weighty moments of parenthood. You have labored for years to train them in the ways of God, praying they would not depart from them in adulthood (Prov. 22:6). Now, as high school ends, the question becomes: “Is college the right next step?” If so, where is the place that will strengthen the faith you have sought to inculcate in them? Here are three considerations that can lend guidance.

Consider Their Calling

Before choosing a school, help your child get serious about what God may be calling them to do. Not every vocation requires a traditional college route, but many do. Explore degree programs that align with their gifting and calling, recognizing the Lord may redirect them. More than a specific degree program, look for a school where faculty and campus culture help students discern their calling. In all of this, help your son or daughter acknowledge Christ in all their ways so he will direct their path (Prov. 3:5–6).

Consider Their Worldview

A central question when exploring colleges is not just whether a school is academically rigorous, but whether it is spiritually faithful. At Spurgeon College, every course—from English literature to business, from math and science to the biblical languages—is taught through a biblical lens. Students don’t just engage subjects, but learn to connect every discipline to the Word of God. The goal is graduates who think Christianly, not just professionally.

Consider the Right Community

The right college is more than a catalog of courses. What happens in the dorm room can be just as formative as what happens in the classroom (cf. Prov. 13:20). At Spurgeon College, we don’t just offer a Christ-centered academic experience; we cultivate a campus community where students are known, challenged, and commissioned with both vocational skills and lifelong friendships.

The Bottom Line

While these considerations may not make the decision for you, they should help you start to ask the right questions. We recognize the formative time college is in a young person’s life and take it as a stewardship to help Christian men and women follow God’s call wherever it may lead. We would love the opportunity to explore this with you. With stakes this high, know you don’t have to figure it out alone.