Best Theology & Ministry Schools Near Gainesville, GA (2026)

Gainesville, Georgia has 5 accredited schools offering theology programs, with tuition ranging from $26,792 to $39,152 per year for indexed programs. Gainesville has a population of about 44,051. Median household income is $64,636 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 26.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Georgia, the top-earning theology-related role is Philosophy and Religion Teacher, Postsecondary at a median $77,570 annually (BLS, May 2025).


Closest Theology Schools to Gainesville

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

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

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#1

Truett McConnell University

Cleveland, GA 21.6 miles from Gainesville
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
  • Accredited
33.2 BOC Score
Acceptance rate 78%
Graduation rate 39%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $46,700
Avg net price $22,227/yr
Tuition
In‑state$26,792
Out‑of‑state$26,792
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 63%
  • Programs offered: 17

Source:Accreditor: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on CollegesIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

Toccoa Falls College

Toccoa Falls, GA 34.1 miles from Gainesville
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
31.4 BOC Score
Graduation rate 49%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $36,630
Avg net price $21,642/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 60%
  • Programs offered: 27

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#3

Emmanuel University

Franklin Springs, GA 38.9 miles from Gainesville
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
30.0 BOC Score
Graduation rate 40%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $38,208
Avg net price $20,925/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 64%
  • Programs offered: 27

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

Luther Rice College & Seminary

Lithonia, GA 44.2 miles from Gainesville
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
30.2 BOC Score
Graduation rate 45%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $47,003
Avg net price $27,883/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 57%
  • Programs offered: 7

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#5

Columbia Theological Seminary

Decatur, GA 44.6 miles from Gainesville
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 2

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#6

Emory University

Atlanta, GA 44.7 miles from Gainesville
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
83.6 BOC Score
Graduation rate 92%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $80,137
Avg net price $22,585/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 96%
  • Programs offered: 112

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#7

Beulah Heights University

Atlanta, GA 48.7 miles from Gainesville
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
18.1 BOC Score
Graduation rate 12%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $35,236
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 62%
  • Programs offered: 4

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#8

Interdenominational Theological Center

Atlanta, GA 49.8 miles from Gainesville
  • 4 year
  • Exclusively online
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 2

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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


Theology Wages Near Gainesville

OccupationMedian Annual Wage (Georgia, statewide)
Clergy$60,530
Director of Religious Activities and Education$72,910
Religious Worker, All Other$49,200
Philosophy and Religion Teacher, Postsecondary$77,570

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.


Gainesville at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population44,051Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$64,636Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+26.2%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100)96.8 (below U.S. average)BEA RPP 2024

Other Gainesville-Area Cities With Theology Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited theology schools are near Gainesville, GA?

Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering theology programs near Gainesville. The closest is Truett McConnell University in Cleveland, GA (21.6 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Columbia Theological Seminary (44.6 miles). 5 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying theology roles in Georgia?

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying theology-related roles in Georgia are: Philosophy and Religion Teacher, Postsecondary ($77,570), Director of Religious Activities and Education ($72,910), Clergy ($60,530). Wages for Gainesville workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in Sugar Hill instead of Gainesville?

Sugar Hill, GA is 18.0 miles from Gainesville 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 Gainesville an affordable place to study theology?

Gainesville’s median household income of $64,636 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Gainesville while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Georgia 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 Gainesville

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

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.