Bryn Athyn College of the New Church

Bryn Athyn College traces its roots to 1877, when the Academy of the New Church opened to educate the children of a Swedenborgian religious community inspired by the writings of Emanuel Swedenborg. The college proper gained its charter in 2004, but it carries the legacy of a tight-knit denomination that built its own Pennsylvania village, Bryn Athyn, as a spiritual haven. You'll find a campus of intricate stone buildings, including a soaring cathedral, that reflect the church's emphasis on beauty and doctrine in daily life. Students who thrive here share a commitment to New Church teachings—often from church families—and seek a deeply integrated faith-and-learning environment. Those looking for secular diversity or big-city energy might find the niche focus and small scale limiting. The surrounding area offers quiet suburban living, with Philadelphia's museums and jobs about 30 minutes south.