The term “liberal arts” describes a certain philosophy of education in which we seek to broaden the knowledge of each of our students while they specialize in a particular area. Our president says that we seek to “create whole people in a fragmented world.” We believe that the liberal arts, with its emphasis on exposing our students to courses and programs they may not have considered, is a great way to go about creating whole people in the diverse world that God has placed us in.

Each student at Houghton will pick a major (some may pick two or even three). Along with that major, students will also take a variety of courses in literature, philosophy, Bible, religion, theology, art, music, the sciences and so forth. The liberal arts is about exploring connections between disciplines, and many students discover a passion for art, pre-med, philosophy, pre-law, or a variety of our 70 areas of study that they would not have known about otherwise.

If you find yourself to be a person of diverse interests or still struggling to hone in on where exactly you feel led, the liberal arts approach is a great way to gain exposure to a variety of disciplines.

Houghton University integrates academic rigor and Christian commitment within a close-knit community and global context. Besides our liberal arts approach, we provide an inherently Christian education. We seek to be a community in which spiritual growth and dialogue integrates and develops along with preparation for going out into the world. We like to say that you will be challenged in your faith just as much as you will be in the classroom.

Houghton is known for our academic strength and unique programs, such as pre-med, education, intercultural studies, art and pre-law, to name a few.  For example, recent Canadian graduates have gone on to to medical schools at the University of Toronto, Dalhousie, the University of Texas, the University of Florida and many other schools in North America and abroad. An 85 percent placement rate into medical school is hard to match elsewhere. Students at Houghton can be assured of a top-notch education that will prepare them for that next step – whether it be as a teacher, doctor, business person, missionary, pastor or a combination thereof.

Finally, the community at Houghton is truly unique. When students visit, they are usually struck by the welcoming environment and by how approachable the other students, faculty and staff are. Learning and living in this environment where students can truly feel as though they are invested in as people and Christians adds an incredible value to a Houghton education. Find out more about the difference we believe a Houghton education makes.

At Houghton University, the “sticker price” is rarely the amount that students pay to attend. With roughly 90 percent of students receiving financial aid in the form of grants, scholarships and other aid, a Houghton education is not just for the elite few.

Canadian students can quality for a variety of scholarships and grants. In particular, we have financial aid available specifically for Canadian citizens to address things like the exchange rate difference. Many students find that the cost of attending a Canadian university compared to Houghton is not as different as they had thought. At the end of the day, however, we believe that a Houghton University education is worth every dollar and that your investment will pay off in the form of personal and spiritual development as a Christian and preparation for your future.

The I-20 process is very straightforward. When you decide to enroll at Houghton University, you will be sent all of the appropriate paperwork for your visa application. Once submitted, Houghton will handle the necessary paperwork and mail your I-20 the summer prior to your enrollment. We have an International Student Programs Office that assists you with the process of becoming a Houghton student. There will be an immigration workshop when you arrive on campus, and you’ll learn the ins and outs of immigration, crossing the border, studying outside of North America, and obtaining employment on campus.

Intercultural Student Programs Office (ISPO)

One resource that is available to all Canadian students is the Intercultural Student Programs Office (ISPO). The ISPO exists to help international students, MKs, and TCKs adjust to life at Houghton, as well as to provide cultural, social, educational, and spiritual programs for Houghton’s intercultural population. While the differences between U.S. and Canadian culture are much smaller than other international cultural differences, there are still some cultural gaps to bridge. The ISPO aims to help Canadian students make a successful transition to living and studying in the U.S. For more information visit the ISPO webpage.

A Houghton education provides superb training for the job market and further education. Our Canadian alumni serve in many different job sectors, with the most popular areas being education, medicine/health services, and business/finance. Marketing communications, ministry and public service careers are also popular job sectors for Canadian graduates. Around 75% of our Canadian graduates go on to graduate programs after Houghton. Below is a list of some of those programs that our Canadian graduates have attended.

• Carleton University
• Dalhousie School of Medicine
• Laurentian University
• McGill University – Medical School
• Queen’s University in Kingston
• University of British Colombia
• University of New Brunswick
• University of Ottawa
• University of Toronto
• University of Toronto – Law School
• University of Western Ontario