Christian Colleges and Universities

It can be tempting to think of Christian colleges as existing in a parallel world: Sure, they’re good schools, but have any major figures in business or the media gone to one? Well, yes, quite a few have. The alumni ranks of Christian universities are filled with big names in everything from online ventures to entertainment and politics. Check it out:

1. Neil Clark Warren, Pepperdine University (California)
Neil Clark Warren earned a bachelor’s degree from Pepperdine before going on to earn post-grad degrees at Princeton Theological Seminary and the University of Chicago. His focus on human relationships led him to launch eHarmony in 2000, which became one of the biggest online dating sites in the world.

2. Ann Richards, Baylor University (Texas)
The former governor of Texas, Ann Richards rose to national prominence with a speech at the 1988 Democratic National Convention that boosted her to victory in the 1990 race for the Texas governorship. She earned her bachelor’s at Baylor on a debate scholarship, something that clearly came in handy in her career.

3. Joel Hodgson, Bethel University (Minnesota)
Comedian and writer Joel Hodgson is best known for creating “Mystery Science Theater 3000,” a comedy and sketch show in which he and a pair of robots would wisecrack their way through sci-fi B-movies of the mid-20th century. (The show was lauded by Time Magazine in 2007 as one of the best series ever made.) Before he got his start riffing for fans, Hodgson studied theater and mass media at Minnesota’s Bethel University.

4. Max Lucado, Abilene Christian University (Texas)
One of the most popular authors in the evangelical movement, Max Lucado originally planned a career in law before a Bible class and mission trip undertaken at Abilene Christian shifted his focus to ministry. He has written more than 50 books to date and sold millions of copies.

5. Mitt Romney, Brigham Young University (Utah)
Before serving as the governor of Massachusetts, Mitt Romney was the valedictorian of BYU’s class of 1971, and he would go on to study at Harvard for his MBA and JD. His strong faith has influenced many of his political decisions, and though he lost the bid for the Republican nomination for president in 2008, he remains a major player in the party.

6. Eric Christian Olsen, Pepperdine University (California)
Eric Christian Olsen qualifies as a “that guy” in TV and movies: He’s got a recognizable face and has given supporting and star turns in everything from “24″ to to Not Another Teen Movie to Beerfest to “Community.” He’s also a graduate of Pepperdine, with a degree in child psychology.

7. Eugene Peterson, Seattle Pacific University (Washington)
Eugene Peterson is known among Christians for penning The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language, a popular book that sets out to communicate the Bible in a way that’s easier for modern readers to understand. He started out with a bachelor’s in philosophy from Seattle Pacific before pursuing additional degrees at New York Theological Seminary and Johns Hopkins University.

8. Wes Craven, Wheaton College (Illinois)
Film director Wes Craven’s name has been synonymous with horror for decades thanks to movies like A Nightmare on Elm Street and Scream. However, he got his start at Wheaton College, an evangelical college in the midwest.

9. Jeff Dunham, Baylor University (Texas)
Comedian and Jeff Dunham is one of the most popular entertainers on YouTube, and his specials and series have broken ratings records for Comedy Central. Before he was famous, he studied at Baylor University, though as Dunham jokes, he’s never had a “real job.”

10. Bill Weir, Pepperdine University (California)
Bill Weir studied journalism and creative writing at Malibu’s Pepperdine University before rising to fame as a reporter for ABC News. He’s currently the co-anchor of “Good Morning America Weekend Edition,” and has filed reports on everything from Hurricane Katrina to the war in Iraq.