Best Theology & Ministry Schools Near Liberal, KS (2026)

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

Liberal, Kansas is home to about 19,107 residents. Median household income is $61,875 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 10.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Kansas, the top-earning theology-related role is Philosophy and Religion Teacher, Postsecondary at a median $65,410 annually (BLS, May 2025).

Closest Theology Schools to Liberal

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

Barclay College

Haviland, KS 107.7 miles from Liberal
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
23.4 BOC Score
Graduation rate 45%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $36,355
Avg net price $29,290/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 50%
  • Programs offered: 11

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

Sterling College

Sterling, KS 169.5 miles from Liberal
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
31.0 BOC Score
Graduation rate 41%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $45,846
Avg net price $22,371/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 55%
  • Programs offered: 31

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#3

Newman University

Wichita, KS 199.8 miles from Liberal
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
57.6 BOC Score
Graduation rate 65%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $55,041
Avg net price $19,971/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 70%
  • Programs offered: 35

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

Southwestern College

Winfield, KS 218.2 miles from Liberal
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
36.5 BOC Score
Graduation rate 47%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $55,646
Avg net price $29,824/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 54%
  • Programs offered: 45

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#5

Tabor College

Hillsboro, KS 222.8 miles from Liberal
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
45.0 BOC Score
Graduation rate 53%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $54,058
Avg net price $20,205/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 60%
  • Programs offered: 32

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#6

Manhattan Christian College

Manhattan, KS 278.8 miles from Liberal
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
37.8 BOC Score
Graduation rate 45%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $48,860
Avg net price $24,213/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 72%
  • Programs offered: 4

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#7

MidAmerica Nazarene University

Olathe, KS 357.8 miles from Liberal
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
54.3 BOC Score
Graduation rate 67%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $62,972
Avg net price $32,165/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 65%
  • Programs offered: 43

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#8

Benedictine College

Atchison, KS 360.3 miles from Liberal
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
56.4 BOC Score
Graduation rate 66%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $53,175
Avg net price $27,891/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 82%
  • Programs offered: 51

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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

Theology Wages Near Liberal

OccupationMedian Annual Wage (Kansas, statewide)
Clergy$52,130
Director of Religious Activities and Education$45,640
Religious Worker, All OtherN/A
Philosophy and Religion Teacher, Postsecondary$65,410

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.

Liberal at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population19,107Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$61,875Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+10.6%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)

Other Liberal-Area Cities With Theology Programs

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the highest-paying theology roles in Kansas?

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying theology-related roles in Kansas are: Philosophy and Religion Teacher, Postsecondary ($65,410), Clergy ($52,130), Director of Religious Activities and Education ($45,640). Wages for Liberal workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in Garden City instead of Liberal?

Garden City, KS is 64.4 miles from Liberal 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 Liberal an affordable place to study theology?

Liberal’s median household income of $61,875 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Liberal while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Kansas 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 Liberal

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

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 Kansas (2026)