The most affordable and best online bible colleges offer students a flexible path to a degree that is in line with their faith and values.
Choosing an online education is one of the most popular ways to go to college. Furthermore, there are not many differences between traditional education and online coursework. It is the same with online Bible colleges and their degree programs. Many bible colleges want to provide the best education for an affordable price.
Additionally, there are many benefits of going to a Christian college. These schools also help students answer the calling to teach others about Christ and also help them reach their full potential through education. And, right now, society really does need people in ministry positions such as clergymen, pastors, counselors, and even chaplains for inmates.
Many Americans have unsettled thoughts about health concerns related to the recent pandemic and the uncertainty of the economic market. So, people are searching for help and stability in these uncertain times. The best online bible colleges offer students a flexible path to a degree that is in line with their faith and values. These schools offer an online student both graduate and undergraduate programs in a variety of majors. Fully online programs free online bible courses with certificates and online seminary degree programs.
How We Ranked the Most Affordable Accredited Online Bible Colleges
The list below is the top 10 most affordable accredited online bible schools. However, the list is factored by not just price. Some offer low student-to-faculty ratios, top accreditations and rankings, a variety of degree programs, and recognitions from church affiliates. And, there are many reasons why you should go to a Christian college. So, keep reading to find the highest-ranked Christian colleges with online programs!
1. South Florida Bible College
| School: South Florida Bible College |
South Florida Bible College is one of the most affordable bible colleges in the Nation. The College receives funding through three sources. These include donations, governmental financial assistance, and also scholarship opportunities.
Providing several types of funding, allows the SFBC to accept as many students as possible. SFBC is located in Deerfield Beach, Florida, and offers bachelor’s, master’s, and also doctoral degree programs. The college has award-winning undergraduate programs an graduate programs. Undergrad and graduate students have an array of online degree programs to choose from.
The school also provides state-of-the-art technology in each classroom setting, a gifted teaching faculty, and equips students with the skills and knowledge to enter a competitive job market. The SFBC has accreditation from the Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE) and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Additionally, the Christian college provides programs for students both online and on campus.
Furthermore, 260 students are international and the largest major is the MA in Biblical Studies. The school has a job placement success rate of over ninety percent. And, slightly more than half of the students are women, compared to men.
School Location: Deerfield Beach, Florida
Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation of the Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE)
2. College of Biblical Studies
The College of Biblical Studies in Houston is one of the best online Bible colleges. The college is accredited by the Association for Biblical Higher Education Commission on Accreditation and recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. The college is committed to the mission of glorifying God by equipping and educating multi-ethnic students for the purpose of impacting the world in Christ’s name.
The College of Biblical Studies’ curriculum is designed to provide high-quality education that will help its students develop into Godly leaders, revered citizens, and servants that will impact the lives of others. The college’s mission is to provide college-level training in Bible and theology for the Christian community.
This online bible college ranks #1 for most affordable online Associate degree programs in Biblical Studies by collegevaluesonline.com. The College of Biblical Studies in Houston is dedicated to becoming the premier Bible College in Texas. Their goal is to focus on “transforming a diverse student body to serve Christ and impact families, churches, and communities”.
School Location: Houston, Texas
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) and the Association for Biblical Higher Education Commission on Accreditation
3. Grace Christian University
| School: Grace Christian University website for online bible college |
Grace Christian University is one of the best online bible colleges for one simple reason. This Christian ministry is devoted to partnerships they make and the financial participation of those to give the gift of excellent Christ-centered education at an affordable cost to all students.
At Grace Christian University, it is not just about blessing the student financially, it is also about providing student growth with a Christ-like approach. The school’s goal is to impact the lives of its students, so they can impact the world once they graduate. Grace Christian’s vision is “to be a vibrant University exalting Jesus Christ, preparing culturally intelligent students for diverse careers in the global marketplace.”
The University can achieve this by preparing Godly students to serve Christ in the church and throughout society. As a partner with the University, supporters can choose what programs they want their donation to go toward, such as student scholarships, financial aid, or general operations.
School Location: Wyoming, MI
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission and by the Commission on Accreditation of the Association for Biblical Higher Education
4. Dallas Theological Seminary
| School: Dallas Theological Seminary |
Dallas Theological Seminary has been equipping students with a Christ-centered education for over 90 years. The Christian education curriculum taught at DTS prepares students in several subjects, such as pastoral ministry, counseling, education, leadership, cross-cultural studies, arts and culture, and academics. Although the school originated in Dallas, there are campuses in Houston, Austin, Atlanta, Nashville, and San Antonio. And there are also international sites around the world. Furthermore, Dallas Theological Seminary is one of the best online bible colleges. The Master of Biblical and Theological Studies is a popular major.
Chuck Swindoll, the Chancellor of the online bible college, is dedicated “to glorify God by equipping godly servant-leaders for the proclamation of His Word and the building up of the body of Christ worldwide.” The DTS professors bring the entire Bible to light through each course, so the message in the curriculum is fully explained and understood. DTS is accredited by the Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) in the United States and in Canada.
School Location: Dallas, TX
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) is accredited by the Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools (ATS)
5. Moody Bible Institute Online
| School: Moody Bible Institute |
Moody Bible Institute provides online degrees to undergraduate students and graduate professionals. This online bible college fosters Godly relationships among students while they serve Christ in fellowship and encourage others to seek Christ in their everyday lives.
Students in the Moody theological seminary programs learn the importance of mentoring students to become leaders, engage in the campus culture, and provide a genuine depiction of student care and discipline in the Word. Moody Bible Institute provides degrees at the associate, bachelor’s, and also master’s degree levels of education.
The Moody Bible Institute of Chicago is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of the Association for Biblical Higher Education, and Association of Theological Schools (ATS), and recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. Additionally, MBI has several other campuses throughout the nation. All the campuses offer a lively and Godly student life environment, provide spiritual enrichment to students, and also offer many student services.
School Location: Chicago, Illinois
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
6. Ecclesia College
| School: Ecclesia College |
Ecclesia College offers higher education in Biblical studies. This online bible college equips students with Godly traits, academic competencies, and also skills to become effective leaders in today’s world and for the Kingdom of God. The campus is in the Arkansas town of Springdale.
The school’s central educational core approach is to mentor students, provide faith and character-based courses, and also offer a practical student-work program. Ecclesia College has a trans-denominational diverse student body that serves the local, national, and also international communities. With accreditation from the Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE) and recognized by the U. S. Department of Education and Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). This online bible school provides christian leadership and christian ministries.
This Biblical faith and character-based education of the college positively affect all aspects of society. This includes family, church, education, government, communications, arts, sciences, and also economics. Furthermore, Ecclesia College is one of the best online bible colleges throughout the nation. And the school offers several forms of financial aid such as Federal Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, Veterans Assistance, Federal Work-Study, Federal Work College Program, and FFEL Stafford Loans.
School Location: Springdale, AR
Accreditation: The Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE; formerly known as AABC)
7. Nazarene Bible College
| School: Nazarene Bible College |
Nazarene Bible College has two online undergraduate degrees. The have a Bachelor of Arts in Ministry degree (BA Min) and a Associate of Arts degree in Ministry (AA Min). All of the school’s programs educate students on leadership and service in this diverse world.
This online bible college is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and nationally accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of the Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE). The featured online learning programs at the Nazarene Bible College include Pastoral Ministries, Leadership and Ethics, and also Hispanic Pastoral Ministries.
NBC is also one of the best biblical and theological studies colleges in the state of Colorado. The College provides its funding to students by receiving an annual offering from every USA Nazarene Church. The donations made to NBC through the Annual Offering qualify for 10% mission giving for each participating church. Nazarene Bible College is a non-profit corporation and its main purpose is to glorify Christ by preparing adults to evangelize disciple and minister to the world.
School Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and the Commission on Accreditation of the Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE)
8. Lancaster Bible College
| School: Lancaster Bible College |
Lancaster Bible College is located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and offers both undergraduate and graduate online accredited degrees for students who need a flexible schedule for classes. This online bible college also has accelerated programs in six-week course formats with instructors teaching from a biblical worldview perspective.
The college educates Christian students to think and live a biblical worldview while serving Christ in the church and throughout society. Students can graduate from an online learning program in as little as one year if in an accelerated program and obtain transfer credits from an accredited college. Most programs can be completed in ten courses.
Lancaster Bible College is one of the most affordable online bible colleges nationwide. The school offers a low student-to-faculty ratio and over 50 majors to choose from. Additionally, LBC enrolls over 2,000 undergraduate and graduate students. When visiting the campus, it is recommended to check out the Lancaster community which features excellent cultural, artistic, and dining experiences.
School Location: Lancaster, PA
Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) and the Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE)
9. Barclay College
| School: Barclay College |
Barclay College is one of the most affordable online bible colleges in Kansas and the Southeast. What makes Barclay an affordable choice is that they offer a wide range of financial aid assistance and also scholarships. The college also has accreditations from the Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE) and the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
The college has online learning biblical studies courses taught by expert biblical leaders and professionals from a Christian worldview. Furthermore, each online course allows students to participate in class by writing a spiritual reflection of life with Christ. College courses are also available for high school students.
Taking courses in high school prepares students for college-level learning and also reduces the time spent on the first 30 credit hours toward their degree program. Barclay offers numerous programs within the associate, bachelor’s, and also graduate degree options. Additionally, the college prepares students in a Bible-centered environment for an effective Christian life in service and also leadership.
School Location: Haviland, KS
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
10. The Kings University
| School: The King’s University |
The King’s University, located in Southlake, TX, offers a variety of online accredited degrees with a low tuition cost. The university offers students access to several financial aid sources such as Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunities Grants, and Stafford Education loan programs, helping students keep the cost of tuition down.
King’s University is accredited by the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS). Originally, the King’s University was called the King’s College and Seminary (TKCS); However, in 2010 the name was changed.
The University currently offers 16 accredited vocational ministry degree plans, including undergraduate and graduate degrees. The college is considered a higher education and ministry leadership training center, which exists to provide biblically and theologically sound preparation, equipping both men and women to become Christ-like, Spirit-empowered, and transformational leaders for the global church.
School Location: South Lake , Texas
Accreditation: The Commission on Accrediting from The Association of Theological Schools (ATS)
What is a Bible College?
A Bible College is also called a Christian College or Christian University. It is an institution of higher education that is affiliated with a particular religion. Some of these online Christian colleges focus primarily on Bible-based religious degrees. Students can earn an undergraduate degree at the associate and bachelor levels. Many also offer graduate level seminary programs and doctoral degrees to online students.
But, most Christian universities online provide an array of career degree opportunities for undergraduate or graduate students. More recently, many schools offer online programs for busy adults in Christian studies and also general studies. However, one thing is for sure, they each provide a Christ-centered approach in their curriculum.
Who Accredits Bible Colleges?
Some of the National Faith-Related Accrediting Organizations are listed below.
- Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE)
- the Association of Advanced Rabbinical and Talmudic Schools (AARTS)
- Association of Theological Schools The Commission on Accrediting (ATS)
- Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS)
Why Should You Go to Bible College?
Why go to a Christian college and get an online bible college degree? There are numerous reasons why students choose to go to a Bible college. And, despite where your faith lies, learning about God, Christ, and the Bible is for everyone. Furthermore, Christians do tend to go to Faith-Based Schools or Bible Colleges over nonreligious institutions or traditional colleges.
However, it really depends on what type of major the student is studying and what their ultimate career path is. There are many reasons why students should choose Bible college. Furthermore, there are also many benefits to attending a Christian college. These private institutions tend to be smaller and have a lower student-to-faculty ratio. Many of the best online Christian colleges offer robust financial aid and they all have strong communities for support. There are even some tuition free online bible colleges that offer free bible courses online with certificates.
What Do You Learn in Bible College?
The short answer is the same stuff everyone else learns in college. However, these schools also have a spiritual component and religious courses. A strong bible college education allows students to dive into the bible at a deeper level to understand the Word of God. Additionally, these schools foster spiritual growth, biblical leadership, and knowledge of new insights into the Word.
Below are some of the classes students may take at a Bible College.
- Cultural Learning for Practical Christian Ministries (PCM)
- Biblical Theology
- Christian Counseling
- Youth Leadership
- Family Ministry
- Biblical and Theological Studies
- Christ-Centered Counseling
- Biblical Counseling
- Integrated Apologetics
- Practical Ministry / Practical Theology
Why Do You Want to Attend Bible College
Is going to a Christian college worth it? Students get to know fellow believers and learn about other denominations in the faith while communicating with other students in a classroom setting. Additionally, this setting helps students to see differences in ideas or beliefs in the bible from someone else’s perspective.
What Can You Do After Bible College?
Graduates from bible college are well-prepared for the ministry. Thus, whatever job you may have, you are called to impact the world for His Namesake (Mark 16:15). However, this may be difficult if a student is not well trained or does not have a strong biblical education to help them as they enter the ministry.
Additionally, some students continue their Christian education. Students can receive a certificate in biblical studies within a year or also an associate degree in two years. Then, they can transfer to a secular institution to receive a bachelor’s degree. They can also continue their education with one of the graduate degrees at one of these bible schools.
How Much Does It Cost to Go to a Christian College?
Bible college is an affordable choice. Many bible schools for higher learning accept financial aid or offer scholarships to those who are eligible. A common misconception about private schools is that they are always more expensive than their public counterparts. However, most private schools have student aid available that can make the price comparable to a state university.
How Do You Choose a Bible College?
Take the time to research different Bible colleges and compare the programs, services, and course offerings to determine which college best meets your needs. You may start with a simple internet search for phrases like bible college near me, biblical studies near me, or bible institutes near me.
Once you find a list of schools compare them to each other to find the best school for you. Make sure that the college is accredited by a reputable accrediting agency. This will ensure that the college meets certain educational and program standards.
How Do You Pay For Bible College?
Does FAFSA cover Bible Colleges? Some Christian schools and Bible colleges do not take federal funding from the government. Furthermore, federal aid and federal student loans can only be used to attend schools that have accreditation from the Department of Education. So, if you need loans or grants to cover your college tuition, then make sure you pick an accredited Bible college.
However, most Bible colleges have robust scholarships and student aid packages. Additionally, this aid can make an affordable tuition rate, comparable to a public college or university. So, just make sure you ask the admissions office about financial aid before you fill out the application form.
Other Schools
A few schools didn’t make our school rankings list but are worth mentioning for your school search. Additional schools that have online programs that teach Christian leadership are God’s Bible School, Louis Christian College, and Trinity College of the Bible.
Why Shouldn’t We Call Them Cheap Online Bible Colleges?
Many individuals searching for an affordable online bible college list may search the internet for cheap online bible colleges or also the cheapest online bible college. And we understand the simplicity of using the term cheap online bible college. We have all used shortcuts when we search online.
However, for obvious reasons, we prefer to call these schools affordable. The Online Schools Guide list of accredited bible colleges highlights schools that are affordable and also in line with your beliefs and values.
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