


Andrews University is a private Seventh-day Adventist university whose origins date to 1874, when the denomination founded Battle Creek College in Battle Creek, Michigan. The institution moved to Berrien Springs in 1901 and became Emmanuel Missionary College, reflecting its emphasis on preparing students for church service.
The campus took the name Andrews University in 1960, honoring John Nevins Andrews, an early Seventh-day Adventist missionary. The development of graduate education, including the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary, helped turn the former college into a university. Its history explains why religious study and professional programs coexist within the same institution today.
Andrews University offers undergraduate, graduate, and professional study across the liberal arts, sciences, health fields, education, business, architecture, and theology. Its academic organization includes the College of Arts & Sciences, the College of Education & International Services, the College of Health & Human Services, and the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary, alongside other schools and academic units.
Students can explore fields such as biology, psychology, computer science, nursing, public health, business, social work, education, music, and architecture. The seminary serves students preparing for ministry and other religious professions. Program availability, delivery format, and admission standards differ by degree; applicants interested in a licensed profession should check the specific program's curriculum and licensing disclosures, not just the university's general admissions information.
The reported student-to-faculty ratio is 10 to 1. That institution-wide figure describes scale, rather than promising a particular class size or level of individual attention in every course.
Andrews University's main campus is in Berrien Springs, a small community in southwest Michigan. Its setting is less urban than that of a city-center university, so access to a car or a dependable ride may matter for errands, off-campus work, and travel.
The campus is within reach of the South Bend, Indiana, area and other southwest Michigan communities. South Bend International Airport, historically known as Michiana Regional Airport, is a regional air-travel option. Students comparing transportation costs should account for how often they expect to leave campus, particularly if they do not plan to bring a car. First-year students are permitted to register or park a car on campus, subject to campus rules.
Andrews University describes its educational purpose in explicitly Seventh-day Adventist Christian terms. Its stated mission connects academic study with faith, service, and preparation for work in a wider world; its vision emphasizes developing graduates who use their education to serve others.
That affiliation is a practical consideration, not just a historical detail. Religious courses, worship opportunities, service activities, and Sabbath observance are part of the campus environment. Prospective students of any background can assess how the university's stated values and applicable student policies fit their own expectations for college life.
Name of the institution
Andrews UniversityLevel of institution
Four or more yearsControl of institution
PrivateSetting type
Town: FringeInstitutional Category
Degree - granting, primarily baccalaureate or aboveInstitution size category
1,000 - 4,999Religious affiliation
Protestant (Seventh-day Adventists)School type
UniversityMain student body
CoeducationalCalendar system
SemestersFoundation year
1874Andrews University is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation confirms that the school meets quality standards and is required for students to receive federal financial aid.
Certificate of less than 1 year
Certificate of at least 1 year, but less than 2 years
Associate's degree
Bachelor's degree
Postbaccalaureate certificate
Master's degree
Post-master's certificate
Doctor's degree - research/scholarship
Doctor's degree - professional practice
Doctor's degree - otherData last updated on November 5, 2026
Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026
Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.