Conservative Christian liberal arts college in rural Virginia with exceptional forensics and pre-law programs.
Patrick Henry College offers a classical liberal arts curriculum with a 63-credit core plus foreign language proficiency. Students choose from ten majors including Government, Strategic Intelligence in National Security, Economics & Business Analytics, Journalism & Digital Media, Classical Liberal Arts, History, Literature, Environmental Science & Stewardship, Integrated Math & Natural Sciences, and Theology & the Bible. The college emphasizes a biblical worldview integrated throughout all coursework, with faculty required to sign both a Statement of Faith and Statement of Biblical Worldview. All biology and creation-related courses teach creation according to Genesis 1:1–31 as completed in six 24-hour days.
PHC's forensics program is among the nation's premier. The moot court team has reached the final round in 18 of 22 years and won 12 national championships in the American Moot Court Association competition, holding the #1 ranking until 2022 and reclaiming it in 2023. Mock Trial teams consistently rank in the top 20 nationally. PHC students achieve exceptional LSAT scores: averaging 167.6 in 2019–2020, 171 for graduating seniors in 2021, and 170.6 overall in 2021 (98th percentile). Civic Debate teams have won competitions against Ivy League universities, including the 2023 EU Delegation Schuman Challenge.
The 100-acre suburban campus in Purcellville features seven buildings arranged around a retention pond, including Founders Hall (2000), six residence halls (three for men, three for women), and the Barbara Hodel Student Center (opened 2009, 106,000 sq ft). Architecture is Colonial Revival. Students must adhere to strict conduct codes: no premarital sex, alcohol, or tobacco while enrolled; men and women cannot visit each other's dorms except during designated open hours; underclassmen face curfews. The college requires Government majors to complete up to 24 credits of apprenticeship projects including internships and moot court participation. Athletics compete as the Sentinels in men's and women's soccer and basketball through the USCAA.
Patrick Henry College does not accept federal financial aid, allowing it to avoid federal demographic and quota requirements. The college funds operations entirely through tuition and donations. Applicants must sign a Statement of Faith affirming core Christian doctrines before enrollment. The official website references 'Cost of Attendance' and 'Scholarships' pages but specific tuition figures are not provided in the available text. International students are supported through dedicated advising.
PHC is a non-denominational conservative Protestant Christian institution founded by Michael Farris (now Chancellor Emeritus). The college does not accept federal funding to preserve its distinctly Christian worldview and is therefore exempt from federal non-discrimination guidelines. Students and faculty must affirm a Statement of Faith emphasizing evangelical Protestant doctrine. Jack Haye has served as President since 2015; Gene Edward Veith is Provost Emeritus. The college is a member of the Heritage Foundation's Project 2025 advisory board.