Rochester College

Rochester College cultivates academic excellence, principled character, servant leadership, and global awareness through a rigorous educational experience that integrates liberal arts and professional studies within an inclusive Christian heritage.

Through our mission we affirm the following:

• A quality education stresses excellence and trains students to perform scholarly research, to think critically and creatively, and to be able to write and speak effectively.
• An educated person reveres God and is committed to truth and justice.
• An educated person is able to connect coherently the spiritual truths of God with the wisdom of humanity embodied in the arts and the sciences.
• A Christian education demonstrates that a vibrant faith compels a life of personal virtue and social responsibility.
• An educated person is not afraid to pursue truth through open investigation and is able to assess and evaluate all truth claims through well-developed skills for critical thinking.
• An educated person possesses a lifelong desire to grow intellectually and spiritually.
• An educated person views a vocation as an opportunity for service and stewardship, rather than a passport to privilege.

• In 1954, members of the Churches of Christ formed a Board of Trustees to establish an educational institution in the North Central region of the United States. In the initial college catalog, the institution’s leaders affirmed their dedication “to the task of leading students toward higher academic achievement.” The founders also stated their belief “that the development of Christian ideals in the life of an individual is highly important.” Leaders of Rochester College remain firmly committed to those ideals.

  The college changed its name from Michigan Christian College to Rochester College in 1997. The change in name signaled a broadening of the college’s vision as a liberal arts Christian college. The values-based and values-driven curriculum of the college provides a great educational experience in today’s culture. Men and women educated at Rochester College embrace challenge, apply problem-solving skills, serve their communities, and provide leadership for challenges yet to come.