Ames, Iowa has 2 accredited schools offering theology programs. Ames has a population of about 66,112. Median household income is $60,102 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 63.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Iowa, the top-earning theology-related role is Philosophy and Religion Teacher, Postsecondary at a median $77,180 annually (BLS, May 2025).
Closest Theology Schools to Ames
The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer theology programs near Ames, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Ames 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:
BOCSCORE
- 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 Ames.
Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.
Graduation rate
60%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$40,650
Avg net price
$16,282/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats- Retention rate: 78%
- Programs offered: 14
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
60%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$52,824
Avg net price
$21,774/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats- Retention rate: 72%
- Programs offered: 53
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats- Retention rate: 57%
- Programs offered: 4
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
72%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$52,559
Avg net price
$25,807/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats- Retention rate: 85%
- Programs offered: 82
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
78%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$42,631
Avg net price
$13,186/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats- Retention rate: 77%
- Programs offered: 11
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
TuitionContact school for pricing
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
50%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$51,190
Avg net price
$23,386/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats- Retention rate: 74%
- Programs offered: 38
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Acceptance rate
77%
Graduation rate
62%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$59,531
Avg net price
$24,691/yr
TuitionIn‑state$36,658
Out‑of‑state$36,658
Key stats- Retention rate: 80%
- Programs offered: 59
Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning Commission · IPEDS · College Scorecard
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Iowa schools on the Iowa theology page.
Theology Wages Near Ames
| Occupation | Median Annual Wage (Iowa, statewide) |
|---|
| Clergy | $60,630 |
| Director of Religious Activities and Education | $66,140 |
| Religious Worker, All Other | $44,110 |
| Philosophy and Religion Teacher, Postsecondary | $77,180 |
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.
Ames at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|
| Population | 66,112 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $60,102 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 63.5% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 88.8 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Other Ames-Area Cities With Theology Programs
- Ankeny, IA – 20.6 mi away (58,627 pop)
- Johnston, IA – 24.0 mi away (21,114 pop)
- Urbandale, IA – 27.9 mi away (43,018 pop)
- Des Moines, IA – 31.4 mi away (476,689 pop)
- West Des Moines, IA – 33.6 mi away (64,560 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited theology schools are near Ames, IA?
Our directory has 2 accredited schools offering theology programs near Ames. The closest is Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary in Ankeny, IA (20.0 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Grand View University (28.1 miles). 2 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying theology roles in Iowa?
Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying theology-related roles in Iowa are: Philosophy and Religion Teacher, Postsecondary ($77,180), Director of Religious Activities and Education ($66,140), Clergy ($60,630). Wages for Ames workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.
Should I look at programs in Ankeny instead of Ames?
Ankeny, IA is 20.6 miles from Ames 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 Ames an affordable place to study theology?
Ames’s median household income of $60,102 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Ames while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Iowa 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
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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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