Private. Christian. Liberal Arts. Most people associate these three ideas with both higher education as well as an overwhelming financial commitment. While the cost of attending schools with such attributes is often staggering, the benefits reaped from the extra cost and effort may be more expansive than what meets the eye.

Some people are quick to defend investment in Christian, liberal arts institutions, especially parents making the adjustments in order to fit the bill, admissions counselors promoting the brand, and professors looking to recruit students to fill their classrooms. Just as frequently, some people are quick to critique a Christian, liberal arts education, saying that the cost is not worth it, the benefits are not visible, and the education is of no higher quality than any other school.

What do actual students earning the degree have to say, however? Three students at different points on their college journey weighed in and detailed just what pursuing a private, Christian, liberal arts education means to them.

Carly Archie, a rising freshman at Union University, is anticipating what the college experience will look like. She plans to major in accounting and minor in business.

When asked about her journey to choosing Union as the place she will spend the next four years, Archie said, "I have always dreamed of going to Union because of the Christ-centered environment it provides... Union's religious foundation had a huge role in my decision of attending the university."

Carly Archie, Union University student

Archie also detailed the expectations she has as she begins studying at a liberal arts institution. She said she anticipates "a focus on undergraduate students, significant amount of financial aid to cut the costs, close-knit relationships between students and professors, and the advantage of attending a private university".

Jake Cartwright, a sophomore molecular biology major at Lipscomb University, confirmed some of these ideas Archie has about college. He described attending a liberal arts institution as sometimes overwhelmingly challenging but by the end, also overwhelmingly rewarding.

Cartwright said, "Sometimes, studying at a liberal arts institution has made me so mad I could barely think. But that's the thing, it makes me think. I am getting a holistic education at my university... I see value in being more aware of what is going on in the world, and I am extremely thankful for a more diverse curriculum that has been incorporated into my education."

Jake Cartwright, Lipscomb University student

When asked about what benefits he has gained from studying at an institution with a Christian foundation, Cartwright said, "Everyone on Lipscomb's campus at any given point is there for the same purpose: to serve an almighty God. The biggest benefit of being at a Christian institution like Lipscomb is for that purpose."

Jeanette Morelan, a recent graduate of Belmont University where she was a double major in social entrepreneurship and mass communications with an emphasis in environmental studies, echoed a similar idea when reflecting on the Christian focus of her alma mater: "At any university, the goal is to get an education. But what is the purpose behind that education? I think studying at a Christian institution makes those answers really clear. While obtaining a college degree is an investment in one's self, it comes with the understanding that empowering yourself inadvertently helps you to empower others—through your career and beyond."

Jeanette Morelan, Belmont University Graduate

What may not be quite as obvious on the front-end, however, is the fact that studying at a Christian university opens one's eyes not only to the Christian faith many students have known and practiced since childhood, but also the different aspects of faith and spirituality that expand across Christianity and other world religions alike. Morelan outlined this when asked if Belmont's religious foundation had any influence on her personal spirituality.

Morelan explained, "As someone who was raised in a Christian home, Belmont helped to affirm my spiritual beliefs. However, it also opened my eyes to the diversity of faiths out there, even within the Christian community. My friends all come from different faith journeys, which definitely helped to broaden my perspective."

As easily understood through the words of Carly, Jake and Jeanette, students at Christian, liberal arts institutions are setting themselves apart in more ways than just one. The common trend? Students investing in such colleges and universities are growing holistically — academically, spiritually, and personally.

Morelan continued, "From the first week of college where every freshman goes out to participate in a service project, to the dozens of service-learning classes and extracurricular opportunities, there's a very strong impetus to learn, go, and serve."

Perhaps one could earn an education for a cheaper cost, with fewer sacrifices, and with more convenience, but one thing is perfectly clear: Christian, liberal arts education is unparalleled and worth the extra effort. Whether it is at Union, Lipscomb, Belmont, or any other similar institution, students like Carly, Jake and Jeanette are learning and serving not only for the sake of self, but for the sake of their constituents, their communities, God, and the world around them; not for the glory of self, but more importantly for the glory of the Kingdom of God.

Cartwright well stated, "A high school teacher once told me that it doesn't matter where you go to college because the education is the same wherever you go. Well, let me tell you, they were wrong... choosing to attend a Christian, liberal arts school has been the best decision of my life thus far."