Best Theology & Ministry Schools Near Waterloo, IA (2026)

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

Waterloo, Iowa has 5 accredited schools offering theology programs. Waterloo has a population of about 66,947. Median household income is $56,344 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 22.6% 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 Waterloo

The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer theology programs near Waterloo, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Waterloo 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 Waterloo. 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:
#2

Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary

Ankeny, IA 83.5 miles from Waterloo
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
52.0 BOC Score
Graduation rate 60%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $40,650
Avg net price $16,282/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 78%
  • Programs offered: 14

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#3

Emmaus Bible College

Dubuque, IA 83.9 miles from Waterloo
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
74.2 BOC Score
Graduation rate 78%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $42,631
Avg net price $13,186/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 77%
  • Programs offered: 11

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

University of Dubuque

Dubuque, IA 84.5 miles from Waterloo
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
43.1 BOC Score
Graduation rate 50%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $51,190
Avg net price $23,386/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 74%
  • Programs offered: 38

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#5

Wartburg Theological Seminary

Dubuque, IA 84.6 miles from Waterloo
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 2

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#6

Grand View University

Des Moines, IA 87.9 miles from Waterloo
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
51.4 BOC Score
Graduation rate 60%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $52,824
Avg net price $21,774/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 72%
  • Programs offered: 53

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#7

Saint Ambrose University

Davenport, IA 112.2 miles from Waterloo
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
  • Accredited
62.5 BOC Score
Acceptance rate 77%
Graduation rate 62%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $59,531
Avg net price $24,691/yr
Tuition
In‑state$36,658
Out‑of‑state$36,658
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 80%
  • Programs offered: 59

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#8

Dordt University

Sioux Center, IA 197.7 miles from Waterloo
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
62.0 BOC Score
Graduation rate 72%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $52,559
Avg net price $25,807/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 85%
  • Programs offered: 82

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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

Theology Wages Near Waterloo

Waterloo is part of the Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro area (BLS area code 47940). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Iowa statewide.

OccupationMedian WageSourceCOL-Adjusted (US=100)
Clergy$60,170Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA$69,082
Director of Religious Activities and Education$66,140IA statewide$75,936
Religious Worker, All Other$44,110IA statewide$50,643
Philosophy and Religion Teacher, Postsecondary$77,180IA statewide$88,611

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.

Waterloo at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population66,947Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$56,344Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+22.6%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100)87.1 (below U.S. average)BEA RPP 2024

Other Waterloo-Area Cities With Theology Programs

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited theology schools are near Waterloo, IA?

Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering theology programs near Waterloo. The closest is Divine Word College in Epworth, IA (72.3 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Wartburg Theological Seminary (84.6 miles). 4 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying theology roles near Waterloo?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying theology-related roles near Waterloo are: Philosophy and Religion Teacher, Postsecondary ($77,180), Director of Religious Activities and Education ($66,140), Clergy ($60,170). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Iowa statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.

Should I look at programs in Cedar Falls instead of Waterloo?

Cedar Falls, IA is 5.5 miles from Waterloo 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 Waterloo an affordable place to study theology?

Waterloo’s median household income of $56,344 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Waterloo 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

Other Programs Available in Waterloo

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

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 Iowa (2026)