A Christ-centered liberal arts college in Clearwater, Florida that operated from 1966 to 2015.
Clearwater Christian College was a Christ-centered liberal arts institution with a general education curriculum in the arts and sciences, complemented by a required Bible minor for all students. The college offered ROTC programs in Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines through an agreement with the University of South Florida. In 2008, CCC launched its first graduate program in Educational Leadership, and the Florida Department of Education approved Elementary Education graduates for certification with a reading endorsement.
The college maintained a conservative residential campus with strict student guidelines including modest dress codes, regulated facial hair, limited physical contact between sexes, and mandatory chapel attendance three times per week. Student rooms were inspected weekly for cleanliness, with formal "white glove" inspections conducted once per semester. All resident students participated in small group, student-led devotional times twice weekly. The college offered study abroad opportunities to Austria, Costa Rica, England, France, Greece, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Scotland, and Wales, as well as international mission trips.
The Cougars competed in the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) Division II. The women's volleyball team achieved exceptional success with 13 national titles, including eight consecutive championships from 2006 to 2013. The men's soccer team won back-to-back national titles in 2009 and 2010, while the women's soccer team captured national titles in 2012 and 2014.
Arthur E. Steele founded the college in 1966 with 15 students as a reaction against perceived trends in evangelical colleges away from biblical standards. The college received full accreditation in December 1984 and experienced significant growth under subsequent presidents, tripling enrollment and acquiring additional property. However, the economic downturn and declining enrollment led the board of directors to announce closure on June 5, 2015, effective immediately.