Collins obtained his undergraduate degree from Washington State University in 1984 with a triple major in mathematics, physics, and philosophy, graduating summa cum laude.
His dissertation was titled "Epistemological Issues in the Scientific Realism/Antirealism Debate: An Analysis and a Proposal.
"[1][better source needed] He served as a post-doctoral fellow at Northwestern University's Program in History and Philosophy of Science before joining Messiah College.
Collins has taught philosophy at Messiah University since 1994 and is a leading advocate for the Fine-Tuning Argument.
Collins was interviewed as a major contributor to The Case for a Creator[2] by Lee Strobel.