Best Online Divinity/Ministry Degrees

best Online Bachelor's in Divinity/Ministry

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Learn to teach, lead, and inspire the masses by earning an online Bachelor’s in Ministry. 

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Become a leader at your church by obtaining an online Bachelor’s in Ministry. If you’re passionate about your faith and religious studies and want to gain a deeper understanding of the Biblical Old and New Testaments, then ministry may be your calling. 

With an online degree in ministry, you’ll continually utilize Christian teachings to help others through difficult situations and attempt to make the world a better place. If you’re of the scholarly disposition, then this degree can be the stepping stone needed to pursue a doctorate in Biblical studies. 

Online Schools Report is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.

What Is an Online Bachelor’s in Ministry? 

If you’re asking yourself what an online Bachelor’s in Ministry is and what you will learn during the educational process, we’re going to explain. During a Bachelor’s in Ministry program, you can expect to learn about Christian studies, leadership skills, teaching methods, and the organizational and administrative running of a church. 

Some Bachelor’s in Ministry online degrees allow students to obtain an in-depth knowledge of a particular area of ministry by selecting a concentration such as organizational leadership, theological studies, and pastoral counseling, among others. If your end goal is to become the minister of a church, you should expect to pursue a master’s degree at some point in your career because 67% of all clergy have at least a master’s degree. Many of the schools in this list also offer Master’s in Ministry online programs that can be completed from the comfort of your own home. 

How Much Can You Earn With an Online Bachelor’s in Ministry?

You may be surprised to learn the annual salaries that you can expect after completing your Bachelor’s of Ministry degree. One of the most common jobs that graduates pursue is to become a member of the clergy. Clergy members can expect to take home an annual income of nearly $49,000

Don’t feel like you’re going to be confined to one career after pursing this kind of online degree, however, as individuals with bachelor’s degrees in ministry work in diverse fields ranging from counseling to social and community service management. Social and community service managers can expect to make over $65,000 per year, and mental health counselors will take home an average salary of $47,790 per year. 

What Is Required for an Online Bachelor’s in Ministry Degree? 

Most schools, whether online or on-campus, will require proof that you have earned a high school diploma or its equivalent. Some colleges and seminaries will require that you take and submit ACT or SAT scores for admission. 

Online students are occasionally given a waiver for the SAT or ACT requirement, but you should check with the online program you select for its specific requirements. Most online degree programs require the submission of an application and an application fee, along with official transcripts of any colleges you have attended in the past. 

What Are the Best Online Bachelor’s in Ministry?

OSR uses six data points: three school-wide and three program-specific. For school-wide, OSR uses student satisfaction, admission rates, and the number of programs the school offers online. For program-specific, OSR checks the median debt of graduates from that program, how many degrees are offered within that program’s umbrella department, and what percentage of students at that school graduated from that department.

The six statistics are displayed by each school. The sliding bar under each statistic represents how that school compares to other US institutions. “Not reported” means a school did not release that information to the US Department of Education. A more detailed description of the OSR process can be found on the methodology page.

Bethel College

Quick Facts

  • No. 11 Best Midwest University by U.S. News & World Report
  • Offers credit for prior learning
Program Web Page

Schoolwide Rankings

Student Satisfaction

76%

Programs Offered Online

4

Programs in Department

3

Popularity at School

100%

100%OSR Score

At Bethel College, faith is integrated into everything that students learn and do, and the school encourages you to develop your faith as you pursue the BA in Christian Ministries. The Bachelor of Arts in Christian Ministries is for students who have already completed 60 credit hours toward their bachelor’s degree and are wanting to gain a deeper understanding of themselves and their faith. The 48 credit hours that compose this program can be completed in as little as 18 months with courses starting every six weeks. 

Piedmont International University

Quick Facts

  • Accredited by The Association for Biblical Higher Education
  • Four-year program
  • Internship opportunities available
Program Web Page

Schoolwide Rankings

Student Satisfaction

94%

Acceptance Rate

36%

Programs Offered Online

11

Median Debt

$20,113

Programs in Department

2

Popularity at School

52%

99%OSR Score

Students from Piedmont International University teach and minister on every continent, which means you’ll always be able to find a friendly face, no matter where you end up! The Bachelor of Arts in Ministry is a 124-credit-hour program, which can be combined with a Master of Arts in Ministry that can be completed in five years. The BA provides training in nearly two dozen areas of ministry, which will give you a broad knowledge of the ministry field. 

Charlotte Christian College and Theological Seminary

Charlotte Christian College and Theological Seminary

Quick Facts

  • Three-degree concentrations available
  • Department of Veteran Affairs Yellow Ribbon School
  • 128-credit-hour program
Program Web Page

Schoolwide Rankings

Student Satisfaction

78%

Programs Offered Online

3

Programs in Department

3

Popularity at School

100%

99%OSR Score

Charlotte Chrisitan College and Theological Seminary places an emphasis on practical knowledge and experiences in their BA degrees. The Bachelor of Arts in Urban Christian Ministries focuses on training students for teaching in church settings and mission fieldwork. The degree has a concentration in Counseling that will help you learn to listen and help others navigate through life’s challenges. 

The King’s University

Quick Facts

  • Features 16 accredited vocational ministry degrees
  • Ranked among the Best Bachelor’s in Christian Counseling by TheBestColleges.org
  • Features Montgomery GI Bill Veteran’s Benefits program
Program Web Page

Schoolwide Rankings

Student Satisfaction

75%

Acceptance Rate

52%

Programs Offered Online

5

Median Debt

$37,264

Programs in Department

5

Popularity at School

100%

96%OSR Score

Whether you attend on-campus classes or online classes for the Bachelor of Christian Ministries through The King’s University, you are going to be taught the practical skills necessary to minister in Christian churches. The degree is 124 hours in duration consisting of 15 credit hours of Christian foundation courses and 38 credit hours of general education courses. This bachelor’s degree also incorporates five credit hours of experiential learning in which you get real-life experience in ministry.   

Grace College of Divinity

Quick Facts

  • No.1 Online Bible College by ChristianColleges.com
  • No. 5 Online Bachelor’s in Ministry Program by TheBestColleges.org
  • No. 2 Online College in North Carolina by TheBestColleges.org
Program Web Page

Schoolwide Rankings

Student Satisfaction

62%

Acceptance Rate

40%

Programs Offered Online

2

Programs in Department

1

Popularity at School

100%

94%OSR Score

The Grace College of Divinity is there to meet you where ever you may be in life and aid you in reaching your ministry goals with its online BA in Divinity degree. The Bachelor of Arts in Divinity can be completed entirely online in as little as four years for those without transfer credits. Students are required to participate in eight semesters in the school’s Leadership in Action course, which immerses students in daily ministerial duties. 

Nazarene Bible College

Quick Facts

  • Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and by the Commission on Accreditation of the Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE)
  • One of ten Nazarene institutions of higher education
  • 120- to 128-credit-hour program
Program Web Page

Schoolwide Rankings

Programs Offered Online

5

Median Debt

$31,876

Programs in Department

4

Popularity at School

80%

89%OSR Score

A solid multicultural education is important for the growth and development of future ministers, which is why Nazarene Bible College focuses on this with their BA in Ministry degree. Majors for the Bachelor of Arts in Ministry include subjects such as Hispanic Pastoral Ministries and Christian School Education, among others. The school also offers degree-completion programs that may be able to accept previously earned college credits from years ago. 

Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

Quick Facts

  • Waives ACT/SAT requirements for students older than 21 years
  • Accredited by Association of Theological Schools (ATS) and The Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
Program Web Page

Schoolwide Rankings

Acceptance Rate

95%

Programs Offered Online

2

Programs in Department

2

Popularity at School

100%

87%OSR Score

Spurgeon College is this seminary’s undergraduate school, which is named after the eloquent English minister Charles Spurgeon, from whom the school draws inspiration for its BA in Christian Ministry program. The school offers a Bachelor of Art in Christian Ministry with the option to select one of the degree’s five concentrations. One such concentration is in Business, which will give you the skills necessary to manage your future church’s finances. 

Ohio Christian University

Quick Facts

  • 11:1 student-to-faculty ratio
  • Purple Heart University and Military-Friendly
  • Over $45 million in financial aid given annually
Program Web Page

Schoolwide Rankings

Student Satisfaction

75%

Programs Offered Online

14

Programs in Department

1

Popularity at School

29%

83%OSR Score

Ohio Christian University is dedicated to educating Christian leaders who will change the world and focus on instilling leadership qualities, which is an emphasis of the school’s BA degrees. The Bachelor of Arts in Leadership and Ministry has a unique Organizational Leadership concentration composed of four leadership courses. The Organizational Leadership concentration is concerned with leadership on the local and global scale, providing the tools to change the world!

Oral Roberts University

Quick Facts

  • 17:1 student-to-faculty ratio
  • Two degree concentrations available
Program Web Page

Schoolwide Rankings

Student Satisfaction

79%

Acceptance Rate

93%

Programs Offered Online

61

Median Debt

$31,607

Programs in Department

12

Popularity at School

13%

83%OSR Score

Oral Roberts University is the school you should choose if you’re looking to concentrate your ministry degree in either Evangelism and Outreach or Church Administration. The Bachelor of Arts in Ministry and Leadership with a concentration in Church Administration will equip you with the tools to minister and efficiently run your own church. The school also offers certificates and courses in ministry through the school’s Online Bible Institute. 

Johnson University

Quick Facts

  • Nine Ministry Residencies in three cities across the nation
  • Campus locations in two states
  • Accredited by Commission on Accreditation of the Association for Biblical Higher Education
Program Web Page

Schoolwide Rankings

Student Satisfaction

83%

Acceptance Rate

98%

Programs Offered Online

7

Median Debt

$23,642

Programs in Department

5

Popularity at School

50%

82%OSR Score

Johnson University is guided by three things: strong leadership, a clear mission, and a focus on affordability; these three pillars meet in the school’s Bachelor’s in Ministry Leadership degree. The online Bachelor’s in Ministry Leadership will train you to spread the word of Christ, whether through mission work or by leading your church congregation. You’ll gain a strong foundation and understanding of biblical studies and theology during your pursuit of the degree that will influence your understanding and interpretation of the world for the rest of your life. 

Online Schools Report is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.