Best Online Christian Colleges and Universities for Doctoral Degrees 2025

Badge for BEST ONLINE CHRISTIAN COLLEGES-FOR DOCTORAL DEGREES

Published: Oct 5, 2022
Updated: Sep 30, 2024

The best Christian colleges and universities for earning a doctorate degree provide a wide variety of advanced degree options for online students.

Key Takeaways

Christian colleges and universities offer the opportunity to pursue both traditional and faith-based education as part of a spiritual campus community.
Doctoral degree programs at Christian colleges or universities offer a wide range of options for top advanced degrees in areas like psychology, educational research, Christian ministry, and more.
The faith-based institutions included in this ranking offer the best online doctoral degrees among Christian colleges and universities.

Table of Contents

Top 10 Online Christian Colleges and Universities for Doctoral Degrees in 2025

Duke University
Fordham University
Boston College
Baylor University
Loyola University Chicago
Duquesne University
+4
Texas Christian University
–1
St. John's University
+1
Bob Jones University
+5
Liberty University
+3

2025 Ranking Update

Our Influence Ranking Engine™ leverages machine learning to track the real-world influence of colleges and universities over time. Below you’ll see which schools gained or lost ground for the 2025 school year.

In 2025, the top ten schools in our ranking of the best online Christian colleges and universities for doctoral degrees saw a considerable amount of change. Bob Jones University saw the biggest jump in the ranking due to expanded research facilities with state-of-the-art labs and resources tailored for advanced studies in fields such as theology, education, and counseling. Additionally, the Doctoral Fellowship Program has been enhanced, offering more opportunities for students to engage in collaborative research, both within the university and through partnerships with external organizations. Bob Jones has also introduced interdisciplinary seminars that focus on integrating Christian ethics with research practices, giving doctoral candidates a unique approach to academic inquiry.

Best Online Christian College Doctoral Programs

Overview of Christian Colleges and Universities

Why earn a degree from Christian college or university?

Graduate students who attend Christian colleges and universities have the opportunity to participate in advanced research and academic programs within communities of shared faith and values. Many top Christian colleges and universities offer online classes as well as fully online doctoral programs. This makes it possible for Christian students to earn terminal degrees in both secular and religious academic programs while balancing personal and professional responsibilities.

What kinds of degrees can you get at Christian colleges and universities?

Christian colleges range from community colleges to top-ranked universities. This means you can complete both undergraduate programs like associate’s and bachelor’s degrees, and graduate programs, like master’s and doctoral degrees, through an array of accredited Christian colleges and universities. Most degree levels are available to online students as well as on-campus students.

What will a Christian college prepare you for?

Students at Christian colleges and universities can typically choose from the same variety of degree programs as students attending secular colleges and universities. This means both traditional and online students can prepare for secular doctoral degrees in research and post-secondary education as well as faith-based degrees in areas like Christian ministry and Christian counseling.

Do Christian colleges offer a lot of online graduate degrees?

As the popularity of online degrees increases, Christian colleges are increasingly offering online classes to cater to today’s students. Online programs through Christian universities typically offer access to the same content, curriculum, and credit requirements as brick-and-mortar programs. The number of highly regarded fully online Christian universities is also growing. Online Christian colleges and universities offer remote learning opportunities while still offering access to a community united in its shared faith and values.

Do you have to be a specific denomination to get a doctoral degree from a Christian college?

Anybody can earn a doctoral degree from a Christian college. Though Christian colleges can be denomination-specific or non-denominational, most Christian colleges and universities allow students flexibility to practice their own religion while still enjoying the close-knit feel of a Christian college. If you are non-denominational, and are strictly interested in a Christian college because of the academic programs offered, online degree programs may be a great fit for you.

Online Doctoral Degrees from Christian Colleges and Universities

Why get an online doctoral degree from a Christian college?

Top online Christian universities offer excellent advanced degree programs for online students. Doctoral candidates are often already working in their profession. Christian colleges with online degree programs offer an excellent alternative to on-campus education, especially for working professionals who must balance online learning and job responsibilities. The online doctoral degree may also be a great option for non-denominational students who are attracted to specific academic programs at a particular online Christian college.

What can I do with an online doctoral degree from a Christian college?

Students who earn graduate degrees from online programs can qualify for all the same career opportunities as students earning their graduate degrees on-campus. Most Christian colleges and universities offer graduate degrees in a full spectrum of disciplines. For Christian students interested in a graduate degree steeped in faith, many Christian colleges offer graduate degrees both through traditional and online education.

What will I study with an online doctoral degree from a Christian college?

Online students earning their doctoral degrees through Christian colleges will typically pursue independent research projects alongside the support of a mentor or adviser. Many online Christian colleges will offer opportunities to learn and conduct research through both secular and Christian lenses. The top online Christian colleges will prepare doctoral candidates to apply their skills in both secular and faith-based settings.

Are online doctoral degrees from Christian colleges respected?

Accredited Christian colleges and universities are respected. Before you consider getting a doctoral degree from an online Christian college or an online Christian university, make sure the schools on your list are accredited by the Colleges and Schools Commission in your state. A College and Schools Commission accreditation is also important if you plan to qualify for federal financial aid.

Student standing in front of a Christian cross

What qualities should I look for in an online doctorate from a Christian college?

Finding the best online Christian colleges for a doctoral degree will depend on the features you’re seeking in a higher education. You may receive better personal attention by choosing from online programs with a low student to faculty ratio, for example. And if you’re looking for affordable online Christian colleges, you may want to begin by looking for schools nearby with in-state tuition rates. You may also wish to contact individual schools to learn more about school-based financial aid programs.

Interested in getting a doctoral degree in religious studies from a secular college? Check out the best research universities for earning a degree in religious studies.

Online Degree Frequently Asked Questions

If this is your first time taking an online course, the experience may require a time of adjustment. Although you’ll typically learn the same material and take the same exams as your on-campus peers, going online will require greater independence and responsibility than going in person. You’ll be accountable for your own time management, for harnessing the online educational technology that you’ll need to use, and for completing the course requirements, such as listening to lectures, learning lessons, reading texts, and handing in assignments. This means you’ll need to create a suitable workspace for yourself, maintain a realistic schedule, and take the initiative in building relationships with your instructors and classmates. With online college, your goal is to find a balance between independence and engagement.

No. The only part of online education that’s easier than campus-based education is ease of access: all you need is a computer and an internet connection for online education. But even this seeming advantage of online education can be misleading: what’s easier, studying online with your computer and internet connection from your home where you need to cook, clean, pay rent, and maintain a job? Or studying on campus in a dorm where all your living needs are handled by the school, and college staff are there to help you every step of the way?

If you take the commute to campus out of the equation, campus-based education is easier. All the support structures available on campus for students, especially with real people to help you in person, are not there online. The demands on you as an online student will largely be the same as for your campus-based counterpart, but without the same helps.

In general, your online courses will present the same material and test you in the same way as traditional in-person courses. In many cases, you’ll even have the same instructors as your on-campus counterparts. In fact, if you are adjusting to the experience of independent learning with remote educational technology for the first time, online college may be considerably more challenging than campus-based college. For a few insights on how to manage this new online experience, check out our 10 Tips for Adjusting to School Online.

Accreditation is especially important when it comes to online college. This is because the online education landscape is a mix of highly-reputable non-profit institutions on the one end and less-than-reputable for-profit institutions on the other end. Accreditation gives you the power to identify the more reputable actors in online education. Accreditation is a stamp of approval from an independent accrediting agency indicating that a college or university is meeting standards of quality and credibility. School-wide accreditation falls into two major categories: regional and national accreditation. Regional accreditors generally hold jurisdiction only over schools in the states comprising their region, whereas national accreditors hold jurisdiction over schools in all states. Regional accreditation is widely regarded as a more rigorous standard of quality and credibility than national accreditation.

Attending a college or university that is not regionally accredited could limit your opportunities. For students seeking an online education, we strongly recommend that they opt for regionally accredited schools. Regional accreditation ensures eligibility for federal loans and grants, ensures your college credits can be transferred between schools, and ensures that your degree credits can be accepted if you wish to earn an advanced degree. For more on this important topic, check out our What is Accreditation and Why Does It Matter? College & University Accreditation Guide.

As long as your online college degree is regionally accredited (see the previous point), you should have little difficulty transferring most of your credits or credentials to another regionally accredited undergraduate school. Every school carries its own standards and procedures for granting a transfer of credits. In many cases, you will encounter some bureaucratic haggling in which some of your credits will be transferred and others may be refused. However, provided that you have attended an online school with recognized regional accreditation, you should be in good shape in transferring your credits earned online.

In most cases, as long you graduate from a well-regarded, regionally-accredited online college, prospective employers won’t look sideways at your degree. In fact, unless you attend an exclusively online college or university, there will likely be no specific indicator on your degree, transcript, or resumé differentiating your school from its brick-and-mortar counterpart. This means that your employer will likely only differentiate between an online and in-person degree if you mention this distinction.

Some employers may express the concern that because you did your degree online, you may need to transition from an online education experience to in-person workplace experience. But in an age of Covid, that concern seems much diminished. The fact is that much employment these days is remote. And collaboration increasingly happens online over Zoom. Many employers will therefore view your online degree as evidence of valuable 21st century professional skills such as independence, self-motivation, time management, and tech savvy.

If you are a student who thrives on the dynamic energy of in-person discussion, who requires the physical surroundings of a classroom to feel engaged, or who considers the social aspects of education to be of equal importance to the actual content of your courses, online education will be less than ideal for you (though depending on your circumstances, it may also be the only viable option).

While there is much in traditional campus-based education that can be substituted or simulated through the online medium, some students may find that there is nothing that can replace the conversation, collaboration, and motivation that occur in an actual in-person classroom setting. As you transition to online education, one of the biggest challenges you will likely face in getting the most out of your online classes is overcoming this difference between “real reality” and “virtual reality.” Fortunately, we’ve got some great Tips for Online Education Beginners.

The advantages of online classes are many. Above all, online courses give you the freedom and flexibility to attend class from anywhere that works for you, whether you’re at home, in a coffee shop, or in a quiet conference room at work. In many cases, you’ll also enjoy the convenience of asynchronous learning opportunities-educational experiences that you can complete at your own pace and on your own schedule. This may include pre-taped lectures, ongoing chat-board discussions, and 24/7 access to digital materials. And of course, just as there are some learners who prefer the energy of a live classroom, there are those who learn best when working in their own personal space, free from distractions. If this sounds like you, you might find the solitude of online learning to be a major advantage.

Whether you’re just getting started on your college search, you’re looking for survival tips on your way to a bachelor’s degree, or you’re preparing for the transition into grad school, we’ve got guides, how to’s and tons of other valuable resources to keep you moving forward in your educational journey.

Find out what your other options are with a look at our full List of Online Programs

Or check out our complete College Rankings Guide.

Check out our Guide to Life for Grad Students for more tips and insights on choosing the right advanced degree for you.

Or get valuable study tips, advice on adjusting to campus life, and much more at our student resource homepage.

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Best Online Christian Colleges and Universities for Doctoral Degrees 2025

Key Takeaways

Top 10 Online Christian Colleges and Universities for Doctoral Degrees in 2025

2025 Ranking Update

Best Online Christian College Doctoral Programs

Last Year’s Ranking:

Career Outlook for degree at Duke University

Duke University’s Online Degrees

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Career Outlook for degree at Loyola University Chicago

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