Higher education has fallen on hard times, with many Americans dismissing college as simply not worth the cost.

In a 2022 survey of U.S. adults by the research group Public Agenda, 51% questioned the value of a college education. Among respondents aged 18–34 without a degree, the share was 70%.

The cost of college education has indeed increased, but so have the advantages of a degree. The benefits are even greater with Christian education, especially in our Assemblies of God context.

Learning has long been a priority in the Assemblies of God. Despite negative stereotypes to the contrary, most early Pentecostals did not reject education. What they rejected, and were rightly suspicious of, was teaching that treats God, faith, and morality as relics of a superstitious past.

Seeking to offer Pentecostal Christian alternatives, the Assemblies of God quickly established postsecondary educational institutions.

Through the years, these AG institutions have produced many graduates who rose to positions of national and global leadership, both within and outside the Church.

Today, AG colleges and universities offer an array of accredited degree options.

An Assemblies of God education provides a number of benefits to students, society as a whole, and the Church.

Benefits to Students

To begin, there is a significant financial benefit for college graduates. Earning a college degree can be expensive, but it is worth the investment.

Even after adjusting for the cost of education, the average lifetime earnings for a person with a bachelor’s degree is $400,000 greater than the expected average with only a high school diploma, according to College Board’s Education Pays 2023 report.

Income levels grow even more as individuals acquire advanced degrees.

Despite concerns over college debt, students enrolling at age 18 will earn enough by age 34 to offset the direct and opportunity costs of a four-year degree, the College Board report indicates.

During times of high employment, some may wonder whether taking on college debt makes sense. However, economic change is inevitable. And data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows unemployment most affects those without college degrees.

Even more important than the financial advantages of a college degree are the transformational benefits students experience through AG higher education.

During the formative undergraduate years, young adults ask and often answer key questions that will shape their lives profoundly:

• Who am I when my parents are not around?
• What kind of person do I aspire to be?
• What do I truly believe about God and the world?
• Whom will I marry?
• Where will I live?
• What do I want to do with the rest of my life?

Pentecostal Christian education is about guiding students toward transformation, not just information. AG colleges and universities seek to shape lives spiritually, intellectually, socially, morally, and vocationally.

Assemblies of God educators understand the interplay between the head, heart, and hands and take time to mentor students as well as teach them.

AG colleges and universities prepare young adults to serve and make a positive difference in their world, whether
through ministry
or marketplace occupations.

There is incalculable value in having students wrestle with their deep, existential questions within an environment that both affirms and centers genuine, life-giving faith.

Every AG college and university focuses on producing God-honoring, Christ-centered, Spirit-empowered graduates. Built into the mission, vision, curriculum, and fabric of each institution is an intentional emphasis on these outcomes.

For example, consider the mission statements from some of our AG schools.

I serve as dean of the School of Theology and Ministry at Vanguard University in Costa Mesa, California. At the core of its mission, Vanguard strives to “pursue knowledge, cultivate character, deepen faith, and equip each student for a Spirit-empowered life of Christ-centered leadership and service.”

The mission of Evangel University in Springfield, Missouri, is “educating and equipping students to become Spirit-empowered servants of God who impact the Church and society globally.”

Similarly, North Central University in Minneapolis describes itself as “a dynamic Christian learning community educating students for lives of service throughout society, the marketplace, and the church.”

North Central’s mission statement goes on to say, “In keeping with its Pentecostal heritage and beliefs, NCU models and expects excellence in both academic practice and Christian faith.”

The results of such emphases are graduates who, instead of feeling confused about their faith and place in the world after four or more years of education, are prepared for their roles in society and the Church.

Graduates of AG colleges and universities have had considerable mentorship and support during their educational journeys, which gives them greater opportunity for answering the above key questions in God-honoring, healthy, and holistic ways.

Benefits to Society

In terms of broader societal benefits, an AG higher education serves important Great Commission functions.

Students who are nurtured in a discipling environment are better equipped to disciple others.

Graduates with specialized training can become reliable witnesses of the gospel in areas where traditional churches might have limited access.

AG colleges and universities prepare young adults to serve and make a positive difference in their world, whether through ministry or marketplace occupations.

Faculty members often hear from public and private employers who say things like, “We cannot get enough of your graduates. There is something special about them. They show up, exceed expectations, and are mature beyond their years.”

Benefits to the Church

The benefits of an AG higher education extend naturally to the Church itself.

Congregations benefit from the contributions of educated lay leaders who have been trained in our Fellowship’s history and theology by faculty members with a Pentecostal worldview.

Such leaders are valuable assets to church and parachurch volunteer ministries across the country and around the world.

Further, many graduates who did not begin in ministry eventually pursue credentials and advanced degrees in Bible and theology because of the foundation they received in our AG colleges.

Moreover, graduates from our colleges and universities become representatives of the Church in their marketplace professions.

Benefits for a Lifetime

The benefits of an Assemblies of God higher education speak for themselves.

Over the years, our AG schools have matured into regionally and nationally accredited institutions of quality and influence, providing a range of affordable program options.

For generations, AG institutions of higher education have produced influential graduates. Our alumni include pastors, missionaries, district and national leaders, attorneys, business executives, military officers, teachers, physicians, nurses, engineers, musicians, scientists, and more.

Students, parents, and pastors should seriously and prayerfully consider attending and supporting our AG colleges and universities.

Having attended two Assemblies of God universities and taught at three, I am convinced of the benefits providing by our postsecondary educational institutions.

I truly believe in AG higher education.

This article appears in the Winter 2024 issue of Influence magazine.