Best Theology & Ministry Schools Near Paducah, KY (2026)

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

Paducah, Kentucky has 2 accredited schools offering theology programs. Paducah has a population of about 26,894. Median household income is $51,243 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 28.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Kentucky, the top-earning theology-related role is Philosophy and Religion Teacher, Postsecondary at a median $65,580 annually (BLS, May 2025).

Closest Theology Schools to Paducah

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

Brescia University

Owensboro, KY 96.9 miles from Paducah
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
43.9 BOC Score
Graduation rate 43%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $45,500
Avg net price $8,709/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 63%
  • Programs offered: 26

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

Simmons College of Kentucky

Louisville, KY 176.9 miles from Paducah
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
  • Accredited
29.1 BOC Score
Acceptance rate 100%
Graduation rate 24%
Avg net price $18,434/yr
Tuition
In‑state$16,398
Out‑of‑state$16,398
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 58%
  • Programs offered: 7

Source:Accreditor: Association for Biblical Higher EducationIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#3

Bellarmine University

Louisville, KY 179.3 miles from Paducah
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
63.1 BOC Score
Graduation rate 65%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $62,069
Avg net price $21,499/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 75%
  • Programs offered: 58

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary

Louisville, KY 180.7 miles from Paducah
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 3

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#5

The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

Louisville, KY 181.0 miles from Paducah
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
47.2 BOC Score
Graduation rate 43%
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 80%
  • Programs offered: 15

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#6

Campbellsville University

Campbellsville, KY 182.3 miles from Paducah
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
33.5 BOC Score
Graduation rate 43%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $41,583
Avg net price $19,341/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 62%
  • Programs offered: 67

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#7

Asbury University

Wilmore, KY 225.0 miles from Paducah
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
51.1 BOC Score
Graduation rate 61%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $42,368
Avg net price $21,401/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 84%
  • Programs offered: 59

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#8

Asbury Theological Seminary

Wilmore, KY 225.2 miles from Paducah
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 7

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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

Theology Wages Near Paducah

OccupationMedian Annual Wage (Kentucky, statewide)
Clergy$58,920
Director of Religious Activities and Education$52,230
Religious Worker, All Other$34,090
Philosophy and Religion Teacher, Postsecondary$65,580

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.

Paducah at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population26,894Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$51,243Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+28.4%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100)86.1 (below U.S. average)BEA RPP 2024

Other Paducah-Area Cities With Theology Programs

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited theology schools are near Paducah, KY?

Our directory has 2 accredited schools offering theology programs near Paducah. The closest is Brescia University in Owensboro, KY (96.9 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Union University (97.1 miles). 2 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying theology roles in Kentucky?

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying theology-related roles in Kentucky are: Philosophy and Religion Teacher, Postsecondary ($65,580), Clergy ($58,920), Director of Religious Activities and Education ($52,230). Wages for Paducah workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in Murray instead of Paducah?

Murray, KY is 36.2 miles from Paducah 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 Paducah an affordable place to study theology?

Paducah’s median household income of $51,243 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Paducah while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Kentucky 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 Paducah

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

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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