Best Theology & Ministry Schools Near Van Buren, AR (2026)

Updated September 1, 2026 BLS data College Scorecard On this page

Van Buren, Arkansas has 4 accredited schools offering theology programs, with tuition ranging from $35,470 to $50,004 per year for indexed programs. Van Buren has a population of about 23,545. Median household income is $59,420 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 19.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Arkansas, the top-earning theology-related role is Philosophy and Religion Teacher, Postsecondary at a median $74,100 annually (BLS, May 2025).

Closest Theology Schools to Van Buren

The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer theology programs near Van Buren, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Van Buren 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 Van Buren. 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

John Brown University

Siloam Springs, AR 52.6 miles from Van Buren
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
64.4 BOC Score
Graduation rate 68%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $53,907
Avg net price $20,397/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 83%
  • Programs offered: 52

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

Ecclesia College

Springdale, AR 53.3 miles from Van Buren
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
24.0 BOC Score
Graduation rate 25%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $40,650
Avg net price $22,075/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 45%
  • Programs offered: 7

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#3

Central Baptist College

Conway, AR 110.5 miles from Van Buren
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
41.0 BOC Score
Graduation rate 39%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $46,789
Avg net price $12,287/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 61%
  • Programs offered: 20

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

Ouachita Baptist University

Arkadelphia, AR 117.4 miles from Van Buren
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
58.6 BOC Score
Graduation rate 65%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $51,673
Avg net price $22,409/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 83%
  • Programs offered: 60

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#5

Jackson Theological Seminary

North Little Rock, AR 127.4 miles from Van Buren
  • 4 year
  • Accredited
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 1

Source:Accreditor: Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and SchoolsIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#6

Harding University

Searcy, AR 148.7 miles from Van Buren
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
63.3 BOC Score
Graduation rate 68%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $52,876
Avg net price $22,130/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 87%
  • Programs offered: 100

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#7

Williams Baptist University

Walnut Ridge, AR 196.9 miles from Van Buren
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
34.1 BOC Score
Graduation rate 41%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $38,484
Avg net price $15,745/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 60%
  • Programs offered: 19

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#8

Crowley's Ridge College

Paragould, AR 215.5 miles from Van Buren
  • 4 year
21.4 BOC Score
Graduation rate 29%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $39,533
Avg net price $16,315/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 63%
  • Programs offered: 7

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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

Theology Wages Near Van Buren

OccupationMedian Annual Wage (Arkansas, statewide)
Clergy$49,070
Director of Religious Activities and Education$33,920
Religious Worker, All Other$44,760
Philosophy and Religion Teacher, Postsecondary$74,100

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.

Van Buren at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population23,545Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$59,420Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+19.8%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100)85.9 (below U.S. average)BEA RPP 2024

Other Van Buren-Area Cities With Theology Programs

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited theology schools are near Van Buren, AR?

Our directory has 4 accredited schools offering theology programs near Van Buren. The closest is John Brown University in Siloam Springs, AR (52.6 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Oral Roberts University (98.9 miles). 4 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying theology roles in Arkansas?

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying theology-related roles in Arkansas are: Philosophy and Religion Teacher, Postsecondary ($74,100), Clergy ($49,070), Religious Worker, All Other ($44,760). Wages for Van Buren workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in Fort Smith instead of Van Buren?

Fort Smith, AR is 6.9 miles from Van Buren 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 Van Buren an affordable place to study theology?

Van Buren’s median household income of $59,420 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Van Buren while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Arkansas 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 Van Buren

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

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.

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