20 Best Bachelor’s in Ministry

The King’s University (TKU) is located in Southlake, Texas. Teachings are merged with practical ministry experience using a network of local churches, so you’ll gain real-world experience as you study. TKU is accredited by the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS). 

This program is a Bachelor of Christian Ministries, giving students a deeper understanding of biblical teachings. You’ll gain the needed skills and experience to apply these teachings in your work with communities. As an accepted student, you can choose to study on-campus or online. 

Comprising 124 credit hours, your learning will focus more heavily on general education in the first year, covering topics such as

• Humanities
• Communication
• Leadership development

Your major will focus more heavily on faith-centric subjects, including

• Biblical counseling
• Old and New Testament surveys
• Healthy family dynamics

TKU prides itself on being one of the most affordable private colleges in the U.S. Undergraduates pay tuition of approximately $485 per credit hour.

Valparaiso University was founded in 1859 and is a Lutheran university in Valparaiso, Indiana. With a student body comprising around 4,500 students, the university has five undergraduate schools and colleges offering more than 70 majors. There’s also access to more than 50 study abroad programs across the world. 

With this theology major, you will gain a strong foundation in the beginnings of Christian and Jewish traditions. You’ll also look at how they have changed over time and interacted with the other major beliefs of the modern world. This will help to broaden your understanding of your own religion and carry that forward in your own work. 

As a theology major, you will be required to complete a set of general education core requirements. This will provide you with a much-needed grounding in critical skills that include communication, counseling, and critical thinking. There is also a theology and ministry dual major offered. 

At Valparaiso, the estimated cost of tuition for a full-time undergraduate student is around $48,820 annually. This amounts to roughly $1,840 per credit hour.

Focusing on the liberal arts, Criswell College is a Christian institution that’s based in Old East Dallas. The institution boasts some of the smallest class sizes around, with a student-to-faculty ratio of just 8:1. Criswell is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. 

With this degree program in ministry, you will be prepared to understand a range of practices and beliefs within different cultures. Your preexisting understanding of Christian evangelism and leadership will be examined and challenged, and you’ll complete the program with a better understanding of your faith and how to communicate it to others.

The program includes a degree of general education in key areas, including

• Rhetoric and writing
• Algebra
• Humanities and fine arts
• Sciences

You’ll also complete around 33 credit hours in bible and theology studies, in addition to 45 hours as part of the Christian ministry major. 

Data from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Affordability and Transparency List puts tuition rates at this university among the bottom 14% in the nation for private, non-profit colleges. Indeed, as an undergraduate student, you’ll pay $620 per credit hour.

Offering more than 50 majors across 9 academic departments, Lancaster Bible College is a bible college, seminary, and graduate school that was founded in 1933. Around 2,000 students attend annually, participating in a range of 9 men’s and 11 women’s varsity and intramural sports. 

At Lancaster Bible College, regardless of your future career choice, you’ll be trained to become a shepherd leader. You’ll spread the gospel through your work after graduation. The programs at Lancaster are, however, geared toward those who want to become pastors and lead successful churches. You’ll be taught key skills including pastoral counseling to help you support your church members too. 

Comprising 125 credits, this degree program offers two tracks:

1. Bachelor of Arts with majors in pastoral Ministry and biblical studies
2. Four-plus-one track that culminates in a master’s degree in Ministry.

You’ll also have the opportunity to complete an internship within a local church as a pastoral intern for example. At Lancaster Bible College, the estimated cost of tuition for undergraduates is around $995 per credit hour. According to financial aid information for Lancaster Bible College, around 97% of undergraduates also receive financial aid.

The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary is based in Louisville, Kentucky. Founded in 1859, it’s the oldest member of the Southern Baptist Convention, which comprises six seminaries. In total, around 6,200 students are in attendance, with around a third at the undergraduate level. 

This bachelor’s degree in Christian leadership will prepare you to become a future leader in ministry and pastoral roles within a church. The program comprises 36 credits of general education and 15 credits of electives, with the remainder of your credits grounded in biblical and theological studies, ministry studies, and your major. 

Comprising 129 credits, you’ll need to provide a number of additional documents alongside your application. These include a pastoral recommendation and spiritual autobiography, in addition to evidencing your official high school transcripts and ACT, SAT, or CLT scores. By the end of the program, you’ll be able to demonstrate the key learning outcomes detailed here. 

The undergraduate cost of tuition at this university varies. Members of SBC churches are eligible for a reduced rate of around $310 per credit hour, while non-SBC church members pay an increased rate of $447 per credit hour.

Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary was founded in 1957, the sixth of its kind to be founded by the Southern Baptist Convention. Offering studies at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels, students will receive a higher education that is aligned with the Bible’s teachings.

The campus is located just minutes from the downtown area, creating ample opportunities for students both inside and outside of the classroom. 

This institution provides useful guidance on the most ideal program options depending on your desired path after graduation. On the program pages, you’ll be able to select your intended career path, including becoming pastor of a church, providing biblical counseling, or moving into business leadership or teaching roles. From here, you can see the programs most suited to your goals.

These include bachelor’s programs in

• Biblical Studies
• Christian Ministry
• Intercultural Studies
• Biblical Counseling
• Philosophy
• Theology

There’s also an accelerated track that could see you gaining a master’s in divinity, biblical counseling, or Christian education within 5 years. Check out the college link in the title for more information. 

Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary is another institution offering discounted tuition rates for SBC members. Costs are $375 per credit hour for Southern Baptist students; $485 per credit hour for non-Southern Baptist students. There’s a full breakdown of tuition and fees for both undergraduate and graduate studies on this page of the institution’s website.

Located in Haviland, Kansas, Barclay College is a Quaker college that is perhaps best known for its ministry degree programs. The college has more than a century of experience in providing a Christian-centric higher education. For more than a decade, students have been receiving full tuition scholarships when opting to pay to live on-campus in residence halls. 

At Barclay College, your professors are dedicated to supporting you with resources that include one-to-one mentorship. You’ll receive guidance in understanding your faith and the best use of your unique abilities. You’ll also have several opportunities to gain real-world experience in a ministry setting, something that’s often not possible to gain in a program at a larger institution. 

As part of this program, you’ll learn, understand, and ultimately evidence the skills and qualifications needed by a pastor of a church. You’ll be able to explain the church’s purpose, and the role of the pastor, and you’ll be able to interpret scripture, create and deliver your own sermons, and perform unique ceremonies for weddings, funerals, and more. 

The approximate cost of attendance for undergraduate students at Barclay College is around $14,990, with around 84% of undergraduates receiving some form of financial aid. The university awards approximately $2.7 million each year in scholarships. Students can expect to pay around $420 per credit hour for their bachelor’s degree.

Based in New Ulm, Minnesota, Martin Luther College was founded in 1995. It is a private liberal arts college whose ownership belongs to the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS). Students are supported by 80 members of the faculty, all of whom are Christians with real-world experience within a parish or school. 

At Martin Luther College, students may enroll in the Bachelor of Arts pre-seminary program. This program prepares you to enter the Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, with teachings focused heavily on the study of the foreign languages Greek and Hebrew. However, other programs are also available in the areas of education and other ministry or parish roles. 

Education programs include early childhood, middle and secondary, and elementary education. Alternatively, there are also Bachelor of Science programs in parish music, staff ministry, and theology. All programs are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. 

Full-time undergraduate students can expect to pay tuition of around $9,060 per semester ($18,120 annually). Room and board comes to approximately $7,900 annually. Part-time students taking fewer than 12 credits per semester pay around $350 per credit hour in tuition instead.

Messiah University is a Christian university that attracts more than 3,300 learners annually. Based on a stunning 471-acre campus in Pennsylvania, the university was established in the early 1900s by the Brethren in Christ Church. There are more than 60 off-campus locations spread across the globe, and the student body comprises students from 39 U.S. states and nearly 30 countries worldwide. 

The Christian ministries major at this institution will provide you with a foundational approach to theology and Bible courses. You’ll study numerous religious texts, historical texts, and other literature, including the Gospels, Pentateuch, and Paul and His Letter. There are also numerous courses focusing on mission training for students who are interested in pursuing this avenue. 

As a student enrolled in the Christian ministries program, you’ll have a choice of three concentrations:

• Congregational Ministries
• Cross-Cultural Ministries
• Youth Ministries

The university also boasts a nationally recognized internship program that could see you placed in one of over ten different locations for real-world experience.

The cost of the degree is quite high at $1,650 per credit hour.

Williamson College (WC) is a non-profit, Christian institution that provides associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees. Founded in 1998, it is accredited by the Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE) and the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA). As a new institution, it has small class sizes and highly flexible class schedules for working adults. 

The intention of this program is to give graduates sufficient skills and experience in leadership to become confident leaders within a ministry or other Christian pursuits. These teachings will cover both Christian and secular sources, including real-world case studies and historical examples of Christian leadership. 

Comprising 44 credit hours of general education courses, 57 credit hours of major courses, and 21 credits of electives, this ministry leadership program has the option of a concentration. Concentrations include

• Bible And Theology
• Missions
• Worship Studies

According to the Financial Aid Office, the rough cost of attendance for a new undergraduate student is around $610 per credit hour.

Moody Bible Institute is a prestigious Christian institution based in Chicago, Illinois. The institute is committed to providing students with a biblically grounded education that prepares them for Ministry, service, and leadership roles in churches and other Christian organizations.

You can earn your Bachelor of Science in Ministry Leadership online from Moody Bible Institute and get advanced training for a variety of ministry roles. Moody’s program has been recognized as one of the best in youth ministry, and you can choose from several concentrations, including:

• Crisis and Trauma Care
• Children and Family Ministry
• Disability Ministry
• Human Services
• Leadership
• Ministry to Women
• Preaching

Tuition for full-time undergraduate students is $411 per credit hour.

Mid-America Christian University (MACU) is a private Christian university known for its strong focus on faith-based education and service. The university offers degrees in Ministry, Education, and Business, with programs specifically designed to prepare students for leadership roles in their fields.

Start your journey in ministry leadership with an undergraduate degree from Mid-America Christian University (MACU). This program, offered on the Oklahoma City campus, prepares you for entry-level ministry roles and equips you with leadership, communication, counseling, and cross-cultural understanding skills.

MACU’s ministry degree can also be combined with other programs for a multi-disciplinary approach and is an excellent foundation for graduate studies in Ministry or theology. Courses cover

• Bible and Theology
• Evangelism
• Discipleship
• Worship
• Pastoral Care

Tuition and fees for traditional undergraduate students at MACU are $15,315 per semester or $30,630 annually.

Oral Roberts University is an evangelical university that was founded in the early 1960s. Located in Tulsa, OK, it was recently named No.1 on a ranking of the best-value regional colleges according to U.S. News & World Report. Students benefit from small class sizes, with a student-to-faculty ratio of around 15:1, one of the best in the U.S. 

Under the Oral Roberts University College of Theology, students have access to a number of majors in ministry. Any one of these programs will give you a solid grounding in Bible studies and a strong knowledge of theology.

You’ll have a choice of numerous concentrations in

• Church Administration
• Youth And Family Ministry
• Evangelism And Outreach
• Missions

More information about each of these concentrations can be found on the linked program page. As part of the degree program, you will gain experience in preparing and preaching sermons, in addition to undertaking a ministry practicum to gain valuable real-world experience. Depending on your chosen concentration, there will be many more opportunities too. 

The approximate cost of attendance for a new undergraduate student at Oral Roberts University is $1,400 per credit hour with a full-time course load of 12-18.5 credits per semester.

Located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Cornerstone University is a non-denominational Christian institution that offers more than 60 undergraduate programs.

You’ll be well-prepared for life after graduation, with every student participating in some form of internship or practicum. The university also boasts a 96% placement rate for undergraduates. 

Running for around 20 to 22 months and comprising 48 credit hours, this major in ministry leadership is available both on-campus and online. It has a grounding in biblical studies and Christian worldview, preparing you to become a leader of the Christian faith with strong communication and decision-making skills. 

The program has also been ranked No. 2 in a list of the best online bachelor’s programs by U.S. News & World Report. For admission, you will need to evidence past college transcripts and have gained at least two years of full-time work experience prior to application. 

As a new student, you’ll be reassured to know that Cornerstone University provides financial aid to nearly all of its incoming, first-time undergraduates. In terms of tuition, you can expect to pay a below-average estimate of $680 per credit hour.

Ranked within the top 10 most affordable Christian Bible colleges, SFBC offers programs at every level, from associate degrees to doctoral programs. What’s more, you can choose to study on-campus or online.

This is also a top 40 Christian Bible college according to study.com, and the institution boasts other benefits including small class sizes and credit transfer policies. 

This bachelor’s degree in ministry and leadership – pastoral ministry comprises 120 credits and can be completed on-campus or via distance learning. The program will produce adaptable graduates who can work across numerous ministry roles and handle varied challenges with confidence.

Whether you’re already a practicing pastor or looking to change your direction, the program will cover everything you need to succeed. 

SFBC has been providing a Christ-centric education since 1985, and with this program, they provide a broad understanding of the responsibilities of a pastor, pastoral leadership, church planting, homiletics, and pastoral mentoring.

Tuition is charged on a per-credit basis, and undergraduate students can expect to pay around $310 per credit hour. If you choose to study online, you should add an additional online fee of around $150.00 to this total.

Originally called Marion College when it was founded in 1920, Indiana Wesleyan University today attracts more than 8,000 adult learners. Located in Marion, Indiana, around 3,000 of the university’s students are based on-campus on a 350-acre campus that comprises modern buildings built within the last few decades.

The student body represents around 80 Christian denominations, the same number of undergraduate programs offered. 

Indiana Wesleyan provides a BS with a major in Christian ministries. As a graduate of this program, you’ll be prepared to take up a role as a staff minister or pastor in numerous church positions.

Your curriculum will cover:

• Theology
• The History of the Church
• Key to Ministry Activities
• Counseling and Leadership

Students can choose to complete this program as either a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts, though the latter includes additional courses in ancient languages.

What’s more, as a graduate, you’ll meet the requirements to be ordained in certain denominations. Undergraduate students will pay tuition of around $23,310 annually at this university with a cost of $551 per credit hour.

Located in Longview, Texas, LeTourneau University is an interdenominational Christian university offering study at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Over 3,000 students attend and represent almost every state in the nation, in addition to 35 countries worldwide, and around 50 different denominations. The university has been consistently ranked among the nation’s best colleges by U.S. News & World Report. 

Students may choose from a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts in Christian ministry, each comprising 122 credits, while the latter program is delivered entirely online. Alternatively, a 120-credit on-campus option is available. At the core of the curriculum are biblical and theological studies, with a focus on the activities of ministry. 

You will also have the opportunity to practice the skills and knowledge you have acquired thanks to the Christian Service Assignment and Christian Ministry Internship. Throughout the program, you’ll be supported by professors who have served in a variety of ministry roles within the U.S., most of whom have terminal degrees too. 

The approximate cost of tuition for an undergraduate studying on-campus is around $36,340. However, online study is also offered, with undergraduates paying  $410 per credit hour for online undergraduate programs.

Founded in 1933, Newman University specializes in the liberal arts and welcomes students of the Catholic faith, while being respectful of all religions and beliefs. With a main campus that’s based in Wichita, there are further locations in areas including Colorado, Tulsa, and Oklahoma City. Named after St. John Henry Newman, it was founded by the Adorers of the Blood of Christ.

This bachelor’s degree in pastoral Ministry is geared toward a number of roles in Ministry. You’ll gain practical experience either locally or abroad working in faith-based settings. Courses cover topics including

• Creeds And Faith
• Sacramental Theology
• Church Theology

The pastoral ministry major comprising 30-40 credit hours in total. 

To fulfill the requirements of the major, you will study the New and Old Testament, Christian morality and social problems, and other core courses. You will also have the chance to choose 6 credit hours of electives and tailor your degree path to the path you choose in ministry. 

The flat rate of tuition for a full-time student enrolled in an undergraduate degree program, and taking between 12-18 credits per semester, is around $800 per credit hour.

Founded in 1871 and located in Arden Hills, Minnesota, Bethel University is an evangelical Christian institution. The university attracts a total of around 4,500 students, making it the biggest institution within the Christian College Consortium, which comprises 13 institutions. Overall, the student body represents learners from almost every state in the U.S. and 22 countries worldwide. 

Whether you are already serving in a ministry position or want to take your first steps on this path, the BA in Christian ministries program at Bethel University will give you the knowledge and skills you need. You will study not only the history of the faith and the church but also examine your own spiritual development and your own understanding of Christianity. 

The Christian ministries major comprises 48 hours of major requirements and can be studied face-to-face or online via distance learning. Courses cover:

• Biblical Studies
• Theology
• One’s Self

Some students finish the program in as few as 18 to 20 months.

The estimated cost of tuition for a full-time undergraduate student taking between 12-18 credits per semester is around $34,000 at $485 per credit hour.

World Mission University is dedicated to biblical education as a Christ-centered institution. As long as you’re a student of the Christian denomination and meet the admissions requirements, you’re eligible to apply.

WMU is accredited by the Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE) and the Commission on Accreditation of the Association of Theological Schools for a number of its advanced programs. 

This degree program in biblical studies comprises 126 credit hours and spans four years. You’ll gain a solid foundation in general education first, before progressing into topics that prepare you for communication of the gospel. Courses cover topics that include

• Theology
• Church History
• New and Old Testaments

The main learning outcomes for students enrolled in this program are to demonstrate a strong knowledge of scripture, be able to communicate the gospel and understand ideas underpinning Christian theology. You’ll be prepared for further study at the graduate level in a Christ-centric program, or to become pastors or assistant ministers in Christian organizations or the church. 

Tuition for undergraduate degree programs is charged on a per-credit basis, though rates are very affordable. For the bachelor’s degree in Christian ministries, you’ll pay around $655 per credit, which is around the same value as the discounted rate that military veterans receive at most other institutions.