Emmaus Bible College, Iowa, is the best Bible college in America, according to a new list collated by the online academic reference source Christian Universities Online.

The 'Top 50 Bible Colleges 2016' list, released yesterday, highlights "the best among Christian Bible Colleges and schools" offering ministry and Bible degrees.

Here are the top five Christian colleges in America according to the list:

1. Emmaus Bible College was awarded first place for its "wide variety of academic programs", student-faculty ratio of 9:1 and a provision of scholarships and distance learning programmes, according to the website's editor, Anna-Rebekah Orr.
2. Columbia International University has a 14:1 student-faculty and is "known for the emphasis it places upon spiritual formation, biblical authority and world evangelism," Orr said.
3. Lincoln Christian University in Illinois seeks to "nurture and equip Christians with a biblical worldview to serve and lead in the church and the world".
4. Hillsdale Free Will Baptist College (a liberal arts college) and Randall Gradual School, Oklahoma
5. Bethesda University, California

Every university on the list is "fully accredited either regionally, nationally, or both, and excels in the categories of selectivity, personal attention given to students, overall student satisfaction, and readily available financial aid", according to the website.