Best Online Master’s in Theology

Published: Jul 7, 2021
Updated: Sep 9, 2023

Find top-ranked online master’s in theology degree programs for students who want to further their career in areas such as teaching, pastoral roles or writers.

Key Takeaways

Online programs in master’s in theology can be handy for anyone who wants to study history and God’s Word deeper and apply it in everyday life, at work, or in a job related to ministry and religion.
Typically, a master’s in theology and Christian apologetics requires one to two years of intensive study.
After finishing an online master’s degree in theology, graduates can work as church retreat coordinators, student ministry directors, church or charity administrators, and church leaders.

Top 10 Online Theology Master's Degrees

Mercer University
Biola University
Liberty University
Fuller Theological Seminary
St. Mary's University, Texas
Regent University
Saint Leo University
Catholic Theological Union
Southwestern Assemblies of God University
Calvin Theological Seminary

The King's University 100%
Liberty University 99%
Saint John Vianney Seminary 95%
St. Mary's University, Texas 88%
Roberts Wesleyan University 87%
Southwestern Assemblies of God University 85%
Concordia University Irvine 81%
Wesley Biblical Seminary 79%
Trevecca Nazarene University 78%
Campbellsville University 78%

Concordia University Irvine 20 to 1
Regent University 19 to 1
Southwestern Assemblies of God University 18 to 1
Liberty University 17 to 1
Truett McConnell University 17 to 1
Saint Leo University 17 to 1
Campbellsville University 14 to 1
Mercer University 14 to 1
Biola University 14 to 1
Roberts Wesleyan University 13 to 1

Biola University $44,382
Mercer University $38,746
Concordia University Irvine $38,740
St. Mary's University, Texas $34,564
Newman University, Wichita $34,460
Roberts Wesleyan University $34,390
Trevecca Nazarene University $26,898
Saint Leo University $26,050
Campbellsville University $25,000
Saint John Vianney Seminary $23,100

Saint John Vianney Seminary $23,100
Catholic Theological Union $22,560
Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg $22,500
Fuller Theological Seminary $21,600
St. Mary's University, Texas $18,684
Calvin Theological Seminary $17,457
Wesley Biblical Seminary $16,500
Asbury Theological Seminary $16,440
Regent University $15,590
Mercer University $15,244

Roberts Wesleyan University
Luther Rice College & Seminary
Northeastern Seminary
The King's University
Wesley Biblical Seminary
Saint John Vianney Seminary
Truett McConnell University
Holy Apostles College and Seminary
Catholic Distance University
Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg

Regent University 41%
Luther Rice College & Seminary 42%
Biola University 61%
Truett McConnell University 69%
Saint Leo University 71%
Newman University, Wichita 72%
Mercer University 75%
Campbellsville University 78%
Trevecca Nazarene University 78%
Wesley Biblical Seminary 79%

Saint John Vianney Seminary 4 to 1
Catholic Distance University 4 to 1
Holy Apostles College and Seminary 8 to 1
The King's University 10 to 1
Luther Rice College & Seminary 11 to 1
Newman University, Wichita 12 to 1
St. Mary's University, Texas 12 to 1
Roberts Wesleyan University 13 to 1
Trevecca Nazarene University 13 to 1
Campbellsville University 14 to 1

Catholic Distance University $8,405
Holy Apostles College and Seminary $9,080
Luther Rice College & Seminary $9,088
Wesley Biblical Seminary $11,000
The King's University $15,900
Southwestern Assemblies of God University $17,404
Regent University $18,820
Liberty University $22,713
Truett McConnell University $22,852
Saint John Vianney Seminary $23,100

Holy Apostles College and Seminary $4,500
Luther Rice College & Seminary $5,688
Truett McConnell University $6,912
Southwestern Assemblies of God University $7,650
Liberty University $7,847
Newman University, Wichita $7,920
Catholic Distance University $8,370
Campbellsville University $8,473
Concordia University Irvine $8,564
The King's University $9,270

Table of Contents

Featured Programs

Career Prospects for Online Master’s in Theology Graduates

An online master’s in theology leads to rewarding religious and faith careers, but it is the master’s in divinity that is most likely to carve out a career in congregation leadership. Some possible career pathways for prospective students to consider are to work as a church directory, a head in ministry, or become a charity coordinator.

Teaching in theology departments of accredited postsecondary higher education institutions usually requires a graduate degree. The same can be said of teaching in colleges and universities and overseeing intensive research work. Many institutions, however, expect master’s graduates who stay on to work towards a doctorate.

Reasons to Enroll in an Online Master’s in Theology

An online master’s in biblical theology may be a great choice for graduate students who want to grow in their leadership outside the church. Discover why an online master’s in theology is a great academic route for prospective students:

A Must for a Pastor’s Arsenal

Church leaders interested in growing in their knowledge of Scripture and systematic theology, and then sharing it with their congregation will benefit from an online master in biblical theology degree. By earning this degree, church leaders are prepared to share Christian Scripture with others effectively. Would-be pastors and church leaders need to keep studying the Bible and all the passages for them to preach better.

Enhance Leadership Skills

An online master’s in biblical theology, which also covers clinical pastoral education online courses, can help you develop strategic leadership skills. These skills are especially helpful for those considering entering the ministry. With this degree, students are taught how to become more organized personally and how to prepare their lessons more effectively.

Effective communication is essential for church leaders. Church leaders can also benefit from an online master’s in biblical theology when directing teams under their authority. They must use the right leadership techniques and methods to guide people in the ministry.

Further Biblical Study

This online master’s degree focuses on the application of Scripture, its interpretation, and its interpretation of Scripture. By interpreting Scripture in a way that people can understand, it prepares them to share Scripture with others effectively and informally. They will have expertise in God’s Word.

Great Quality of Higher Education

The majority of people aim to continue their education after graduating from college. They can do so by earning a master’s degree in biblical theology. A degree like this allows individuals to further their education and increases their understanding of Scripture, which is valuable in any professional setting.

People with a thorough and well-rounded knowledge of the Bible are better equipped to make godly decisions regardless of their career path. No matter their pathway, a theology study can keep their skills apart.

Frequently Asked Questions About Theology Degrees

A master’s degree in theology is an excellent degree for students who feel called to serve God in their life and career. Students with an interest in Christian Leadership can focus their graduate study through concentrations like the Biblical Witness, Practical Theology, and Religion and Society.

Credits vary greatly by program, but on average, about 50 are needed for graduation.

Students will explore the sacred scriptures from a scholarly perspective and, depending on the nature of their program, may also learn divinity leadership skills. Before graduation, students will likely need to compile a portfolio or write a thesis.

Once completed, graduates can continue on to earn a doctoral degree in theology, or they can hold pastoral roles in their churches, work as chaplains, or author influential writings.

Learn more about what you can do with a master’s religious studies.

How do we determine the best online theology master's degree programs?

Methodology

Pursuing your degree online doesn’t mean you need to settle for an inferior school. Today, most universities and colleges offer online degrees, and many respected schools are seeing significant growth in their numbers of online students.

The people affiliated with a school are ultimately what make it great. This is why influence — i.e., the academic impact of faculty and alumni associated with a school — gets at the heart of what is truly best in education. The combined influence score of a college or university’s top academic influencers is the best indicator of academic excellence. For our online degree rankings, we focus on the academic influence of faculty and alumni in the specific disciplines we’re ranking.

If you are serious about finding the best online colleges, you should be asking where the most influential professors are teaching, and whether their graduates themselves are advancing the school’s reputation for academic excellence. Most ranking sites rely on an opaque combination of reputation surveys and arbitrary performance metrics. Influence, as measured by our InfluenceRanking engine, provides a ranking that is free from bias, insulated from manipulation, and reflective of real-world educational outcomes.

Directors, Religious Activities and Education Salaries by Percentile in the U.S.

The following graph depicts the average salaries of Directors, Religious Activities and Education for each percentile in the U.S.

Source: U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS

SVG Attribution: Wikipedia

Total Employed: 21000

10%

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50%

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2903036440469806148090470

10th Percentile25th Percentile75th Percentile90th Percentile

Best Online Master’s in Theology Degree Programs

Online Degree Frequently Asked Questions

If this is your first time taking an online course, the experience may require some adjustment. While you’ll generally learn the same content and take the same exams as your on-campus peers, the medium will likely require you to manage much of this experience independently. You’ll be accountable for your own time management, your ability to harness the technology at your fingertips, and your ability to focus on the lectures, lessons, and assignments at hand. This means you’ll need to create a suitable workspace for yourself, maintain a realistic schedule, and take it upon yourself to build 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 is actually getting there. Taking the commute out of the equation means getting to class should be a lot more manageable. But that’s where it ends. In general, your online courses will incorporate the very same materials, concepts, and testing methods as would a traditional classroom.

And 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 or working with remote learning technology for the first time, online college may even be a little more challenging for you. For a few insights on how to manage this new 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 institutions and less-than-reputable for-profit schools. Accreditation gives you the power to differentiate between the two. Accreditation is a stamp of approval from an independent accrediting agency which indicates that a college or university is meeting standards of quality, credibility, and currency. 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 which is not regionally accredited could limit your opportunities. When seeking an online education, we strongly recommend that students 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.

As long as your online college degree is regionally accredited, 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. In many cases, you will be required to navigate a bureaucracy in which some of your credits will be transferred and others will be jettisoned. However, provided that you have attended an online school with the proper regional accreditation, you should have plenty of options for transfer.

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 resume 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.

While some employers may express concern about making the adjustment from online education to in-person workplace collaboration, many other employers will 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 require some adjustment.

While there is much that can be supplanted or simulated through the online medium, some students may find that there is nothing which can replace the conversation, collaboration, and motivation that occur in an actual classroom setting. As you make the adjustment to online education, one of the biggest challenges you will likely face is overcoming this difference in order to the get the most out of your classes. Fortunately, we’ve got some great Tips for Online Education Beginners.

The advantages of online classes are many. First and foremost, 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 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.

Best Online Master’s in Theology

Key Takeaways

Top 10 Online Theology Master's Degrees

Featured Programs

Career Prospects for Online Master’s in Theology Graduates

Reasons to Enroll in an Online Master’s in Theology

A Must for a Pastor’s Arsenal

Enhance Leadership Skills

Further Biblical Study

Great Quality of Higher Education

Frequently Asked Questions About Theology Degrees

Why get a master’s in theology?

How many credits are needed to get a master’s in theology?

What will you learn while getting a master’s in theology?

What can you do with a master’s in theology?

Directors, Religious Activities and Education Salaries by Percentile in the U.S.

Best Online Master’s in Theology Degree Programs

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What can I expect from an online college course?+

Is online college easier?+

Why does accreditation matter in online college?+

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Will employers respect my online degree?+

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Resources for Prospective Grad Students