Bryn Athyn College of the New Church

Private · Moderately Selective · PA

School data & stats

TypePrivate

LocationPA · Northeast

SettingSuburban

Undergrads244

Student:faculty8:1

Outcomes

4-yr grad rate50.9%

6-yr grad rate67.7%

Drop-out rate26.7%

Study abroad—

Cost

In-state tuition$29k

Out-of-state tuition$29k

Application fee—

Community

Racial diversity42.6%

Gender diversity47.1%

International3.3%

IdentityOther (none of the above)

Overview

Bryn Athyn College sits just north of Philadelphia in the borough of Bryn Athyn, built specifically as the college of the New Church, a denomination rooted in the theology of Emanuel Swedenborg. The surrounding Bryn Athyn Historic District, anchored by the Bryn Athyn Cathedral, gives the campus a striking architectural backdrop unusual for a college of its size.

Academics

The college offers a small liberal-arts education shaped throughout by New Church theology, with class sizes small enough that most students know their professors personally. Its size means a limited catalog of majors compared with a larger university, but an unusually close academic community for students who share or are open to its religious framework.

Campus & student life

Campus life is inseparable from the surrounding New Church community; religious life, chapel, and denominational events are part of the fabric of the place rather than a separate track for interested students. The historic district setting, with its cathedral and community buildings, gives Bryn Athyn a sense of place distinct from a typical small college town.

Worth knowing

This is a strong fit specifically for students already connected to or interested in New Church theology. Students seeking a secular or broadly interdenominational Christian campus will find Bryn Athyn's religious identity more central to daily life than at most small colleges.

brynathyn.edu ↗

Admissions

Acceptance rate82.9%

Enrolled mid-50%1330

Test policyoptional

Rec letters1

Deadlines (2026–27 cycle)

AdmissionRolling

Applying