This year, on Thursday, February 26, colleges and universities across the U.S. will be the recipients of the Body of Christ’s intentional and unified prayers. Why? Since 1823, leaders of major religious denominations and universities across the United States have agreed to set aside the last Thursday in February as a day of dedicated prayer for college students. Ministers and school administrators joined in a concerted effort to seek the outpouring of the Holy Spirit for the generation of students preparing to be future leaders in the country. Today, we observe the Collegiate Day of Prayer (CDOP).

Join others crying out to the Lord day and night.

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Background

Historically, colleges and universities in the U.S. began as Christian denominational seminaries, or training grounds for future ministers and church leaders. Many of our oldest institutions had mottos declaring a commitment to God, Christ, Truth, and Faith. The mission statements of those early universities often emphasized literacy and Christian evangelism. Curricula comprised the study of Greek and Latin in support of ministerial training. In fact, since the inception of U.S. colleges and universities in the 1630s, students experienced well-documented and recurring spiritual awakenings on their campuses. And, in 1823, to further the spiritual revivals sweeping the country, leaders in universities and Christian denominations agreed and declared the necessity for a committed day of prayer for college students. That year, they established the last Thursday of February as the Collegiate Day of Prayer.

Need for Prayer in Colleges and Universities Still Exists

Since 1823, however, the CDOP has not always received the fervent, focused commitment to prayer needed to forestall and combat the spiritual darkness active in our modern higher education institutions. And much has changed on U.S. university and college campuses since that first commitment to a Collegiate Day of Prayer. Many of the oldest universities and colleges have separated themselves from their denominational heritage. They have rewritten mission statements, eliminating their Christian foundations; they eradicated Christian commitment in their institutional mottos, and they have included curricula, ideology, and faculty antithetical to Christian beliefs. Since the mid-1800s, public, private, and for-profit colleges and universities have increased throughout the U.S., and most are secular. Even in so-called faith-based or Christian universities, it is sometimes difficult for students to identify what makes them distinctively Christian (or faith-based) from other, more worldly institutions, given their commitments and dedication to cultural norms.

At some point in the last century, the celebration of the CDOP and the Church-wide commitment to pray for college students dwindled. Then, in 2009, Church leaders across denominations and generations called for urgent prayer for our nation’s colleges and universities, including students, faculty, and staff. What was established in 1823 was then recognized and resurrected for 21st-century students.

More recently, CDOP leadership challenged the Body of Christ to pray not only for universities and colleges, but also for specific campuses. Leadership also expanded the call to pray to include universities and colleges (and their campuses) around the world. Statistics posted on the landing page indicate that almost 7,000 campuses have been adopted so far this year, with more than 22,000 campuses worldwide still needing prayer.

How You Can Help

Today, more than ever, college and university students, faculty, and staff need a commitment of prayer from the people of God. As an Intercessor for America, your prayers will help college students stand strong in the face of adversity, grow and mature in the knowledge and grace of our Lord, and launch them to fulfill the purposes of God in their lives. Epaphras … is … always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God (Co. 4:12).

• Visit the Collegiate Day of Prayer. Once there, navigate the site, view the posted videos, and read about the CDOP’s vision and history. Become aware of the necessity to pray for college and university students at such a time as this! Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints (Eph. 8:18).
• On Thursday, February 26, 2026, commit to praying for a campus near you, a campus close to your heart, and a campus in another nation! “… For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations” (Isa. 56:7b).
• Adopt a campus. To do that, merely click the link and enter the names of the colleges or universities. Follow the prompts and include your information. After that, you can add as many campuses as you want. Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you; but I will teach you the good and the right way (1 Sam. 12:23).
• Download the Collegiate Day of Prayer: 40-day Prayer Guide. Read it and share it with your prayer partners and in your churches. Pray through the guide in unity. So, when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord (Acts 4:24a).
• Participate in the fast! Although already underway, you can still participate. As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away (Acts 13:2-3).
• Participate in the live-stream event on 2/26/26. Liberty University will host the event at the Vines Center (Lynchburg, VA). If you are close by, the event is open to all and begins at 8:00 PM EST. Otherwise, you can join the live stream. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers (Acts 2:42).

Last year, your consistent, fervent prayers resulted in amazing victories in the Name of Christ (see IFAPray.org). You partnered with the Lord to change the hearts and minds of many throughout the country. Now … please hear the desperate cry from our college and university students: “Will you pray for us?”

How are you praying for higher education in America? Share your prayers in the comments.

Dr. Dianna Sand has taught in higher education since 2004. She has worked in public two-year community colleges and private four-year universities. She currently teaches at a Christian university. Her research and scholarship focus on literacy and literacy assessment in higher education. Photo Credit: Joshua Hoehne on Unsplash.