Best Theology & Ministry Schools Near Battle Creek, MI (2026)

Battle Creek, Michigan has 5 accredited schools offering theology programs, with tuition ranging from $39,350 to $54,222 per year for indexed programs. Battle Creek has a population of about 52,392. Median household income is $51,699 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 22.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Michigan, the top-earning theology-related role is Philosophy and Religion Teacher, Postsecondary at a median $89,610 annually (BLS, May 2025).


Closest Theology Schools to Battle Creek

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

Spring Arbor University

Spring Arbor, MI 35.0 miles from Battle Creek
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
54.6 BOC Score
Graduation rate 60%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $51,732
Avg net price $19,353/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 75%
  • Programs offered: 60

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

Great Lakes Christian College

Lansing, MI 43.5 miles from Battle Creek
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
28.9 BOC Score
Graduation rate 34%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $31,053
Avg net price $15,524/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 51%
  • Programs offered: 10

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#3

Calvin Theological Seminary

Grand Rapids, MI 47.1 miles from Battle Creek
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
  • Accredited
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 3

Source:Accreditor: Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological SchoolsIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

Calvin University

Grand Rapids, MI 47.3 miles from Battle Creek
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
  • Accredited
71.1 BOC Score
Acceptance rate 71%
Graduation rate 76%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $58,375
Avg net price $22,992/yr
Tuition
In‑state$39,350
Out‑of‑state$39,350
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 88%
  • Programs offered: 89

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#5

Grace Christian University

Wyoming, MI 48.9 miles from Battle Creek
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
36.4 BOC Score
Graduation rate 33%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $41,663
Avg net price $12,404/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 62%
  • Programs offered: 14

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#6

Aquinas College

Grand Rapids, MI 50.0 miles from Battle Creek
  • 4 year
  • Accredited
46.8 BOC Score
Acceptance rate 90%
Graduation rate 64%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $49,584
Avg net price $16,626/yr
Tuition
In‑state$40,218
Out‑of‑state$40,218
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 76%
  • Programs offered: 49

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#7

Cornerstone University

Grand Rapids, MI 50.6 miles from Battle Creek
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
56.4 BOC Score
Graduation rate 64%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $47,314
Avg net price $20,301/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 81%
  • Programs offered: 63

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#8

Kuyper College

Grand Rapids, MI 53.3 miles from Battle Creek
  • 4 year
30.4 BOC Score
Graduation rate 51%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $41,066
Avg net price $15,644/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 64%
  • Programs offered: 5

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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


Theology Wages Near Battle Creek

OccupationMedian Annual Wage (Michigan, statewide)
Clergy$56,490
Director of Religious Activities and Education$45,590
Religious Worker, All Other$46,960
Philosophy and Religion Teacher, Postsecondary$89,610

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.


Battle Creek at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population52,392Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$51,699Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+22.1%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100)90.5 (below U.S. average)BEA RPP 2024

Other Battle Creek-Area Cities With Theology Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited theology schools are near Battle Creek, MI?

Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering theology programs near Battle Creek. The closest is Spring Arbor University in Spring Arbor, MI (35.0 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Grace Christian University (48.9 miles). 5 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying theology roles in Michigan?

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying theology-related roles in Michigan are: Philosophy and Religion Teacher, Postsecondary ($89,610), Clergy ($56,490), Religious Worker, All Other ($46,960). Wages for Battle Creek workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in Kalamazoo instead of Battle Creek?

Kalamazoo, MI is 18.4 miles from Battle Creek 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 Battle Creek an affordable place to study theology?

Battle Creek’s median household income of $51,699 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Battle Creek while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Michigan 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 Battle Creek

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

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.