Best Theology & Ministry Schools Near Glendale, AZ (2026)

Glendale, Arizona has 5 accredited schools offering theology programs, with tuition ranging from $35,098 to $54,792 per year for indexed programs. Glendale has a population of about 250,193. Median household income is $70,139 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 23.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area, the top-earning theology-related role is Philosophy and Religion Teacher, Postsecondary at a median $79,250 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2025).


Closest Theology Schools to Glendale

The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer theology programs near Glendale, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Glendale city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS data on every site update.

How We Rank Schools

Every school list on this site is ordered by the BOC Score, computed from the most recent school-level data published by the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS). To qualify, a school must be currently operating and accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Each eligible school is then scored on five measures, percentile-ranked against schools at the same credential level:

  • Graduation rate 30%
  • Median earnings, 10 years after entry 25%
  • Average net price (lower is better) 20%
  • Retention rate 15%
  • Fully online availability 10%

Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. On this page, schools are ordered by distance from Glendale. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

Ranked by BOC Score — U.S. Dept. of Education outcome data. Advertising never affects rankings.

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#1

Arizona Christian University

Glendale, AZ 3.9 miles from Glendale
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
  • Accredited
30.9 BOC Score
Acceptance rate 71%
Graduation rate 41%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $51,612
Avg net price $32,839/yr
Tuition
In‑state$35,098
Out‑of‑state$35,098
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 54%
  • Programs offered: 21

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Arizona schools on the Arizona theology page.


Theology Wages Near Glendale

Glendale is part of the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area (BLS area code 38060). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Arizona statewide.

OccupationMedian WageSourceCOL-Adjusted (US=100)
Clergy$63,000Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ$60,987
Director of Religious Activities and Education$57,140Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ$55,315
Religious Worker, All Other$61,640Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ$59,671
Philosophy and Religion Teacher, Postsecondary$79,250Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ$76,718

Source: BLS, May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.


Glendale at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population250,193Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$70,139Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+23.5%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100)103.3 (above U.S. average)BEA RPP 2024

Other Glendale-Area Cities With Theology Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited theology schools are near Glendale, AZ?

Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering theology programs near Glendale. The closest is Arizona Christian University in Glendale, AZ (3.9 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is American InterContinental University System (31.9 miles). 5 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying theology roles near Glendale?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying theology-related roles near Glendale are: Philosophy and Religion Teacher, Postsecondary ($79,250), Clergy ($63,000), Religious Worker, All Other ($61,640). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Arizona statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.

Should I look at programs in El Mirage instead of Glendale?

El Mirage, AZ is 5.9 miles from Glendale and has its own set of local theology programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.

Is Glendale an affordable place to study theology?

Glendale’s median household income of $70,139 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Glendale while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Arizona public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.

How do I verify a program is accredited?

Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.


Learn More About Theology Programs

Other Programs Available in Glendale

Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Glendale:

Data verified: September 1, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.