Andrews University

Andrews University began in 1874 as Battle Creek College, the first higher education institution of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, before moving to Berrien Springs in 1901 for its fertile farmland and renaming in 1960 after church pioneer John Nevins Andrews. This small private school enrolls around 2,000 undergraduates, many from global Adventist families, creating a multinational community on a 1,300-acre campus dotted with woods and fields. Students who fit best seek a structured, values-driven environment that prioritizes spiritual growth alongside studies, often drawn to service and wellness.

The university radiates a calm, family-oriented personality shaped by church principles like Sabbath observance and healthy living. Berrien Springs, a village of under 2,000 amid Michigan's fruit belt, provides quiet surroundings with Lake Michigan beaches nearby, but its remoteness requires a car for trips to South Bend, Indiana, or Kalamazoo. Tradeoffs include limited off-campus dining and entertainment options in the small town, plus Midwest winters that bring snow and wind.