Best Theology & Ministry Schools Near Ridgecrest, CA (2026)

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

Ridgecrest, California has 1 accredited school offering theology programs. Ridgecrest has a population of about 28,138. Median household income is $88,107 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 31.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In California, the top-earning theology-related role is Philosophy and Religion Teacher, Postsecondary at a median $105,820 annually (BLS, May 2025).

Closest Theology Schools to Ridgecrest

The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer theology programs near Ridgecrest, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Ridgecrest 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 Ridgecrest. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

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

Sort:
#1

The Master's University and Seminary

Santa Clarita, CA 99.0 miles from Ridgecrest
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
57.8 BOC Score
Graduation rate 64%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $57,106
Avg net price $32,647/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 85%
  • Programs offered: 40

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

Azusa Pacific University

Azusa, CA 104.5 miles from Ridgecrest
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
72.9 BOC Score
Graduation rate 73%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $66,677
Avg net price $22,212/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 84%
  • Programs offered: 75

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#3

Fuller Theological Seminary

Pasadena, CA 106.0 miles from Ridgecrest
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 6

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

Life Pacific University

San Dimas, CA 106.3 miles from Ridgecrest
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
  • Accredited
38.1 BOC Score
Acceptance rate 96%
Graduation rate 48%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $43,299
Avg net price $20,898/yr
Tuition
In‑state$22,118
Out‑of‑state$22,118
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 65%
  • Programs offered: 9

Source:Accreditor: Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#5

University of Redlands

Redlands, CA 111.9 miles from Ridgecrest
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
  • Accredited
66.0 BOC Score
Acceptance rate 83%
Graduation rate 69%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $72,690
Avg net price $30,031/yr
Tuition
In‑state$60,878
Out‑of‑state$60,878
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 83%
  • Programs offered: 67

Source:Accreditor: Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#6

University of the West

Rosemead, CA 112.1 miles from Ridgecrest
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
  • Accredited
61.8 BOC Score
Acceptance rate 100%
Graduation rate 33%
Avg net price $6,845/yr
Tuition
In‑state$15,446
Out‑of‑state$15,446
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 55%
  • Programs offered: 8

Source:Accreditor: Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#7

Latin American Bible Institute

La Puente, CA 112.1 miles from Ridgecrest
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
40.2 BOC Score
Graduation rate 24%
Avg net price $10,030/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 2

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#8

American Jewish University

Los Angeles, CA 113.5 miles from Ridgecrest
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
  • Accredited
81.9 BOC Score
Graduation rate 41%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $61,954
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 5

Source:Accreditor: Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

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

Theology Wages Near Ridgecrest

Ridgecrest is part of the Bakersfield-Delano, CA metro area (BLS area code 12540). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to California statewide.

OccupationMedian WageSourceCOL-Adjusted (US=100)
Clergy$73,770Bakersfield-Delano, CA$73,112
Director of Religious Activities and Education$61,570CA statewide$61,021
Religious Worker, All Other$45,440CA statewide$45,035
Philosophy and Religion Teacher, Postsecondary$105,820CA statewide$104,876

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.

Ridgecrest at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population28,138Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$88,107Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+31.7%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100)100.9 (above U.S. average)BEA RPP 2024

Other Ridgecrest-Area Cities With Theology Programs

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited theology schools are near Ridgecrest, CA?

Our directory has 1 accredited schools offering theology programs near Ridgecrest. The closest is The Master’s University and Seminary in Santa Clarita, CA (99.0 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is The Master’s University and Seminary (99.0 miles). 1 of the highlighted schools is flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying theology roles near Ridgecrest?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying theology-related roles near Ridgecrest are: Philosophy and Religion Teacher, Postsecondary ($105,820), Clergy ($73,770), Director of Religious Activities and Education ($61,570). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with California statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.

Should I look at programs in Barstow instead of Ridgecrest?

Barstow, CA is 63.3 miles from Ridgecrest 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 Ridgecrest an affordable place to study theology?

Ridgecrest’s median household income of $88,107 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Ridgecrest while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and California 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 Ridgecrest

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

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.

Back to Best Theology & Ministry Schools in California (2026)