Prayers for college students

For students still working out what they believe

Some of you grew up in church and are deciding what you still believe. Some of you never had a church and are curious about Jesus. Both are allowed here. Nine short scripture prayers for the moments a semester actually has. Free to read, no account.

If you grew up in church, there is a good chance you never decided to stop. You moved, the Sunday rhythm went, and one day you noticed you had not prayed in a while. If you never had a church, you might be curious about Jesus in a way that is hard to say out loud. Either way, you can be here without being sure. These nine short prayers are for the moments a semester actually has: the exam, the 2 a.m., the first weeks away, the class that shook something loose. Pick the one you are in. Nobody is watching, and nobody will ask you to join anything.

Pick the moment you are in

Still deciding what you believe You do not have to be sure to be here. Mark 9:24
If you have never prayed before You do not need the right words to start. Matthew 11:28-29
Before the exam For the night before, when your mind will not stop. Philippians 4:6-9
2 a.m., still awake For the nights everything is louder in the dark. Psalm 3:5
The first weeks away from home New room, new town, everyone else already has their people. Deuteronomy 31:8
Lonely in a crowd For the room full of people and the walk back alone. Matthew 28:20
The class that shook what you believed Perplexed is allowed. Despair is not required. 2 Corinthians 4:8-18
Money, and the job on top of the classes Rent, the shifts, the meal plan running out. Matthew 6:25-34
The breakup For the week the whole campus is one person. Psalm 34:18

Where Christian students meet

Nobody was meant to work this out alone. These are the groups Christian students already find on many campuses. They are their own organizations; we list them, we do not vouch for any group. Go slow, same as anywhere. If you never had a church, Alpha describes itself as the one for anyone curious.

InterVarsity Christian Fellowship Student-led chapters on hundreds of US campuses; 1,011 chapters on 667 campuses in their own 2016 count.
Cru Staff and student groups on more than 750 high school and college campuses, by their own count.
The Navigators (Collegiate) Small groups and one-on-one Bible reading, campus by campus.
Reformed University Fellowship (RUF) Presbyterian campus ministry with a campus minister at each school it serves.
Chi Alpha Small groups on 267 campuses in 50 states, by their own count, from the Assemblies of God.
FOCUS Catholic missionaries running Bible studies at 259 locations, by their own count.
Newman Connection Finds the Catholic campus ministry at your college.
Alpha A free course of meals and open conversation about the basics of faith, in their words "for anyone who's curious, no matter their beliefs or background." Many campuses run one.

Baptist Collegiate Ministry (BCM) runs through each state's convention rather than one national site; search your campus name and "BCM." Most campuses list every religious organization on the student-life site, so search yours for the names above.

Questions people ask

Is this only for students who grew up in church?

No. Several of these prayers assume nothing at all, and one is written for someone who has never prayed. If you are curious about Jesus and have no idea where to start, start with that one.

I'm still in high school. Is this for me?

The prayers are for anyone, so read all of them. If you are under 18, please skip the email signup; everything on this site is free to read without it.

Do I need an account to read these?

No. Every prayer on this site is free to read with no account. The morning email is optional, one field to start and one click to stop.

Is Sanctuary a church, a campus ministry, or a counseling service?

None of those. Sanctuary is a free faith companion from International Bible Ministries, a 501(c)(3). It is not a church, not a campus group, not counseling and not a crisis service. If you are in danger or thinking about hurting yourself, call or text 988. Most campuses also have a counseling center, usually free to students.

What if I read these and still do not know what I believe?

Then you are in good company. Mark 9:24 is a prayer from someone who believed and did not at the same time, and it is in the Bible on purpose. Keep reading; nothing here asks you to decide by a deadline.

If it gets heavy

If tonight is one of the bad ones, or you are thinking about hurting yourself, get a real person on the line. Most campuses have a counseling center too, usually free to students.

Campus organizations were read from their own websites on 2026-09-19; the numbers are their own counts. Check each site for anything that can change.