Columbia Theological Seminary
Columbia Theological Seminary at a Glance
Reviewed by James A. Barham, PhD, Vice President and Academic Editor. Influence ranks come from our InfluenceRanking™ methodology; other figures come from federal data, with the year shown under each section. Report an error
About Columbia Theological Seminary
According to Wikipedia, Columbia Theological Seminary is a Presbyterian seminary in Decatur, Georgia. It is one of ten theological institutions affiliated with the Presbyterian Church . History Columbia Theological Seminary was founded in 1828 in Lexington, Georgia, by several Presbyterian ministers. In 1830, the seminary was moved to Columbia, South Carolina , and in 1927, to its current location in suburban Atlanta. During the American Civil War, the seminary became affiliated with the Presbyterian Church of the Confederate States of America, renamed the Presbyterian Church in the United States after the war. The school became a battle ground in the debate over the theory of evolution in the PCUS during the 1880s, due to the controversial views of James Woodrow, an uncle of President Woodrow Wilson and seminary science professor, who aligned with evolution, a controversy which led to the school not operating during the 1887–1888 academic year.
How Much Does Columbia Theological Seminary Cost To Attend?
Source: U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and NCES); tuition and fees for 2025–26; net price for 2024–25, for first-time, full-time students receiving financial aid.
Columbia Theological Seminary's Demographics
Students enrolled at any time during the 2023–24 school year, including part-time and online students.
| Student Body | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 185 | 185 |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics; 12-month enrollment for 2023–24.
Where is Columbia Theological Seminary?
Columbia Theological Seminary is located at 701 S. Columbia Dr, Decatur, GA 30030-4118.
How Safe is Columbia Theological Seminary?
Like every college that receives federal student aid, Columbia Theological Seminary publishes an annual security report with its campus crime statistics and safety policies. Its figures can also be looked up in the U.S. Department of Education’s Campus Safety and Security database.
Relative to its enrollment, Columbia Theological Seminary has a violent crime rate of 0.79% and a property crime rate of less than 0.01%. Decatur has a violent crime rate of 0.14% and a property (including theft) crime rate of 2.30%. Sources: campus: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety and Security data, on-campus offenses in 2024 (violent: murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault; property: burglary, motor vehicle theft and arson, which excludes ordinary theft); city: FBI Crime Data Explorer, offenses reported to the city police in 2024.
What Is Columbia Theological Seminary Known For?
Columbia Theological Seminary is known for its academic work in the following disciplines:
Who Are Columbia Theological Seminary's Most Influential Alumni?
Columbia Theological Seminary's most influential alumni include professors and professionals in the fields of Religious Studies, Social Work, and Philosophy. Here are some of Columbia Theological Seminary's most famous alumni:
- J. Vernon McGee
- A Christian minister.
- Prathia Hall
- An American activist and theologian.
- William Dyrness
- A Professor of theology and culture .
- John H. Leith
- An American theologian.
- Timothy Beal
- An American scholar.
- C. Hassell Bullock
- An American biblical scholar.
- Samuel Isett Woodbridge
- An American missionary.
