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

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

Topeka, Kansas has 5 accredited schools offering theology programs. Topeka has a population of about 126,103. Median household income is $55,902 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 29.1% 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 Topeka

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

Benedictine College

Atchison, KS 48.5 miles from Topeka
  • 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

#2

Manhattan Christian College

Manhattan, KS 48.5 miles from Topeka
  • 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

#3

MidAmerica Nazarene University

Olathe, KS 50.3 miles from Topeka
  • 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

#4

Kansas Christian College

Overland Park, KS 55.3 miles from Topeka
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
34.8 BOC Score
Graduation rate 23%
Avg net price $15,313/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 47%
  • Programs offered: 6

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#5

Saint Paul School of Theology

Leawood, KS 57.6 miles from Topeka
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 2

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#6

Tabor College

Hillsboro, KS 94.0 miles from Topeka
  • 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

#7

Newman University

Wichita, KS 131.0 miles from Topeka
  • 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

#8

Southwestern College

Winfield, KS 141.7 miles from Topeka
  • 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

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

Theology Wages Near Topeka

Topeka is part of the Topeka, KS metro area (BLS area code 45820). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Kansas statewide.

OccupationMedian WageSourceCOL-Adjusted (US=100)
Clergy$52,170Topeka, KS$58,750
Director of Religious Activities and Education$45,640KS statewide$51,396
Religious Worker, All OtherN/AKS statewide–
Philosophy and Religion Teacher, Postsecondary$65,410KS statewide$73,660

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.

Topeka at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population126,103Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$55,902Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+29.1%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100)88.8 (below U.S. average)BEA RPP 2024

Other Topeka-Area Cities With Theology Programs

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited theology schools are near Topeka, KS?

Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering theology programs near Topeka. The closest is Benedictine College in Atchison, KS (48.5 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Saint Paul School of Theology (57.6 miles). 5 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying theology roles near Topeka?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying theology-related roles near Topeka are: Philosophy and Religion Teacher, Postsecondary ($65,410), Clergy ($52,170), Director of Religious Activities and Education ($45,640). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Kansas statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.

Should I look at programs in Lawrence instead of Topeka?

Lawrence, KS is 23.7 miles from Topeka 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 Topeka an affordable place to study theology?

Topeka’s median household income of $55,902 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Topeka 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 Topeka

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

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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