Strategic Location. Rivendell College, by design, is situated in facilities bordering the University of Colorado, Boulder. We do not have a geographically distinct campus, but have chosen, rather, to weave our presence and programs into the fabric of the larger university community. Students live in former fraternities and sororities owned or leased by Rivendell College, and in apartments and houses alongside the rest of the student population in Boulder. Rivendell classes are held in buildings adjacent to the University of Colorado campus. Rivendell students are encouraged to take at least one elective at CU, and to interact with university campus life by participating in Christian campus ministries, using public facilities such as Norlin Library and the University Memorial Center, attending public university lectures and conferences, and enjoying university athletic, music, and theater events open to the public.

Rivendell also enjoys the advantage of being located in Boulder, Colorado, renowned for its beautiful setting at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, its close proximity to world-class ski resorts, and a thirty-minute drive to Denver and its many tourist attractions.

Constructive Engagement with the Mainstream Academy. At Rivendell we believe that a healthy vision of life is not crafted in isolation, but in real-life interaction with ideas and people who hold different views. Rivendell courses use many of the same textbooks used by leading universities, with professors engaging in genuine dialog and debate from a Christian perspective. Rivendell students are encouraged to take elective courses at the University of Colorado, and to attend public university lectures. In turn, students, faculty and staff of the University of Colorado are invited to enroll in Rivendell College classes and to participate in Rivendell College events.

We seek to change the traditional conflict-oriented cultural conversation between Christians and non-Christians to one that is thoughtful, winsome, and persuasive.

Development and Growth. Rivendell equips students to integrate truth, beauty and goodness in their personal growth and vision of life. Students are given assessments and a development plan specifically designed to promote growth in character, competency and influence. Our focus is not only on academic achievement, but also on emotional well-being, healthy relationships, and the development of life-skills and professional competencies.