Needless to say, the current economy has made it challenging to purchase a home or pursue any kind of education. Preparing for a calling in ministry shouldn't be hindered by financial constraints or geographical limitations. Fortunately, numerous accredited schools offer affordable online degrees to help you prepare for a lifetime of ministry. Through majors like Biblical studies, leadership, theology, practical ministry, and more, these programs allow students to gain comprehensive training from the comfort of their homes, making it feasible for individuals with tight budgets or who cannot relocate. In this post, I highlight some of these schools with tuition under $500 a unit. Please check back often as I will update this list when necessary and as I hear about more schools & programs.
***Note: just because I have included a school does not mean I agree with that school's doctrinal beliefs. Please take time to thoroughly investigate each school (beliefs, denominations, history, etc.).
ACCREDITATION ABBREVIATIONS
ABHE: Association of Biblical Higher Education
ARTS: Association of Reformed Theological Seminaries Commission on Accreditation
ATS: Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools
DEAC: Distance Education Accrediting Commission
HLC: Higher Learning Commission
NECHE: New England Commission of Higher Education
MSCHE: Middle State Commission on Higher Education
NWCCU: Northwest Commission on Colleges & Universities
SACSCOC: Southern Association of Colleges & Schools Commission on Colleges
TRACS.: Transnational Association of Christian Colleges & Schools
WASC: Western Association of Schools & Colleges
ACCJC: Accrediting Commission for Community & Junior Colleges
WSCUC: WASC Senior College & University Commission
Bachelor of Religious Studies
Tuition: Full tuition scholarship for students outside of the top 30 economic countries and for students who are incarcerated in the US; $450 a unit for all other students
Accreditation: DEAC
Bachelor of Arts in Bible & Ministry, Christian Education, or Intercultural Studies
Tuition: $155 a unit
Accreditation: HLC
Bachelor of Science in Missions & Ministries
Tuition: $220 a unit
Accreditation: SACSCOC
Bachelor of Biblical Studies
Tuition: $225 a unit
Accreditation: ABHE
Bachelor of Arts in Christian Studies, Intercultural Studies, or Ministerial Studies
Tuition: $240 a unit
Accreditation: ABHE
Bachelor of Arts in Christian Ministry
Tuition: $250 a unit
Accreditation: ATS, ABHE
Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies or Apologetics
Tuition: $255 a unit
Accreditation: ABHE
Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Counseling, Biblical Studies, Chaplaincy, Leadership & Ministry, Organizational Leadership, or TESOL
Tuition: $265 a unit
Accreditation: ABHE
Bachelor of Biblical Studies
Bachelor of Advanced Biblical & Cultural Exegesis
Tuition: $275 a unit
Accreditation: ABHE
Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies & Bible
Tuition: $275 a unit
Accreditation: HLC
Bachelor of Science in Biblical Ministry or Practical Ministries
Tuition: $295 a unit
Accreditation: ABHE
Bachelor of Arts in Biblical & Theological Studies, Christian Counseling (Clinical Counseling or Marriage & Family Counseling), or Ministry & Leadership (Family Ministries, Missions, or Pastoral Ministry)
Tuition: $295-$305 a unit
Accreditation: ABHE
Bachelor of Science in Biblical Studies or Mission-Driven Leadership
Tuition: $298 a unit for pastors; $218 a unit for Wesleyan pastors; $398 a unit is regular tuition
Accreditation: HLC
Bachelor of Science in Biblical Studies
Tuition: $300 a unit
Accreditation: ABHE
Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Bible & Theology or Christian Studies
Bachelor of Arts in Ministry Leadership or Bachelor of Science in Ministry Leadership with the following emphasis choices: Business, Children's Ministry, Church Administration, Counseling, Discipleship, Music/Worship, Pastoral Ministry, or Youth Ministry
Tuition: $310 a unit
Accreditation: SACSCOC
Bachelor of Arts in Ministry or Counseling Ministry
Tuition: $305 a unit
Accreditation: SACSCOC, ABHE
Bachelor of Science in Church Ministries
Tuition: $320 a unit
Accreditation: HLC, ATS
Bachelor of Religious Education in Christian Counseling, Discipleship, Missions & Evangelism, Pastoral Ministry, or Worship Arts
Tuition: $340 a unit
Accreditation: ABHE
Bachelor of Arts in Christian Ministry
Tuition: $350 a unit
Accreditation: SASCOC, ATS
Bachelor of Arts in Missional Leadership or Theological Studies
Bachelor of Christian Ministry
Tuition: $365 a unit
Accreditation: SASCOC
Bachelor of Science in Biblical Studies, Counseling in Ministry, Ministry Leadership, or Youth Ministry
Tuition: $370 a unit
Accreditation: SACSCOC
Bachelor of Religious Studies in Christian Leadership
Bachelor of Science in Biblical Ministry
Tuition: $375 a unit
Accreditation: ABHE
Bachelor of Arts in Christian Studies, Ministry Studies, or Missions
Tuition: $375 a unit
Accreditation: SACSCOC
Bachelor of Biblical Studies & Ministry
Bachelor of Science in Christian Ministry, Scripture & Theology, or Theological Studies
Tuition: $380 a unit
Accreditation: SACSCOC
Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies, Christian Ministries, or Biblical Counseling
Tuition: $385/$450 a unit
Accreditation: HLC, ABHE
Bachelor of Science in Bible (Apologetics, Christian Counseling, Christian Ministries, Disability Ministry, Humanitarian Action & Human Rights, or Theology)
Bachelor of Science in Religion (Apologetics, Biblical & Theological Studies, Christian Counseling, Christian Leadership, Christian Ministries, Digital Discipleship, Disability Ministry, Evangelism, Global Studies, Humanitarian Action & Human Rights, or Next Gen)
Bachelor of Science in Psychology (Christian Counseling)
Bachelor of Science in English & Writing (Christian Literature)
Bachelor of Science in Creative Writing (Christian Literature)
Bachelor of Science in Worship Studies (General or Commercial Music)
Bachelor of Science in Sports Management (Sports Outreach)
Bachelor of Science in Applied Ministry, Biblical Counseling, Biblical & Educational Studies, Christian Leadership & Management, Cultural Engagement, or Theology
Tuition: $390 a unit
Accreditation: SACSCOC
Bachelor of Ministry Leadership
Tuition: $394 a unit
Accreditation: HLC, ATS
Bachelor of Arts in Biblical & Theological Studies or Christian Ministry
Bachelor of Arts in English (Biblical Studies)
Bachelor of Arts in Leadership Studies (Christian Ministry)
Bachelor of Science in Christian Leadership & Management
Bachelor of Science in Professional Studies (Biblical & Theological Studies or Christian Ministry)
Tuition: $395/$450 a unit
Accreditation: SACSCOC
Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies, Christian Thought in the Humanities, or Ministry Leadership
Tuition: $395-$455 a unit
Accreditation: MSCHE, ABHE
Bachelor of Science in Ministry Leadership
Tuition: $395 a unit
Accreditation: HLC
Bachelor of Science in Bible & Theology
Tuition: $395 a unit
Accreditation: HLC, ABHE
Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies, Theological Studies, Ministry Leadership, Cultural Engagement, or Integrated Ministry Studies
Tuition: $399 a unit
Accreditation: HLC, ABHE
Bachelor of Science in Ministerial Leadership or Missional Leadership
Tuition: $399 a unit
Accreditation: SACSCOC
Bachelor of Arts in Christian Ministries
Tuition: $399 a unit
Accreditation: WSCUC
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (Biblical Counseling)
Bachelor of Arts in Religion (Biblical Counseling, Christian Worldview, or Religion & Ministry)
Tuition: $410 a unit
Accreditation: SACSCOC, ABHE, TRACS
Bachelor of Arts in Christian Studies in Biblical Studies, Christian Studies, Global Ministry, Philosophy, Worship Leadership, or Youth Ministries
Tuition: $410 a unit
Accreditation: HLC, ATS
Bachelor of Science in Christian Ministries or Youth & Family Ministries
Tuition: $410 a unit
Accreditation: SACSCOC, ABHE
Bachelor of Science in Bible, Theology, & Apologetics
Tuition: $425 a unit
Accreditation: WSCUC
Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies, Psychology/Christian Counseling, or Theological Studies
Tuition: $430 a unit
Accreditation: SACSCOC
Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies, Biblical Counseling, or Christian Ministries
Tuition: $450 a unit
Accreditation: WSCUC
Bachelor of Arts in Christian Ministry
Tuition: $450 a unit
Accreditation: WSCUC, ABHE
Bachelor of Arts in Bible & Ministry
Tuition: $465 a unit
Accreditation: HLC, ABHE
Bachelor of Biblical Counseling, Bachelor of Biblical & Messianic Jewish Studies, Bachelor of Biblical & Theological Studies, Bachelor of General Christian Studies, and Bachelor of Ministry Leadership.
Tuition: $475 a unit
Accreditation: ATS, ABHE, TRACS
Bachelor of Science in Biblical Leadership
Tuition: $495 a unit
Accreditation: HLC, ABHE
Bachelor of Arts & Sciences in Christian Ministries
Tuition: $495 a unit
Accreditation: SACSCOC
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