Best Theology & Ministry Schools Near Gulfport, MS (2026)

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

Gulfport, Mississippi has 5 accredited schools offering theology programs, with tuition ranging from $15,480 to $40,434 per year for indexed programs. Gulfport has a population of about 72,533. Median household income is $46,044 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 22.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Mississippi, the top-earning theology-related role is Philosophy and Religion Teacher, Postsecondary at a median $63,560 annually (BLS, May 2025).

Closest Theology Schools to Gulfport

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

William Carey University

Hattiesburg, MS 62.1 miles from Gulfport
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
  • Accredited
49.6 BOC Score
Acceptance rate 60%
Graduation rate 51%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $43,087
Avg net price $14,258/yr
Tuition
In‑state$15,480
Out‑of‑state$15,480
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 79%
  • Programs offered: 51

Source:Accreditor: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on CollegesIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

Southeastern Baptist College

Laurel, MS 91.4 miles from Gulfport
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
28.5 BOC Score
Graduation rate 23%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $26,946
Avg net price $8,138/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 41%
  • Programs offered: 3

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#3

Belhaven University

Jackson, MS 145.9 miles from Gulfport
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
42.4 BOC Score
Graduation rate 46%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $46,440
Avg net price $15,676/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 68%
  • Programs offered: 46

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

Wesley Biblical Seminary

Ridgeland, MS 149.5 miles from Gulfport
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
  • Accredited
Tuition
In‑state$7,500
Out‑of‑state$7,500
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 5

Source:Accreditor: Association for Biblical Higher EducationIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#5

Itawamba Community College

Fulton, MS 268.7 miles from Gulfport
  • 2 year
  • Offers a fully online program
63.0 BOC Score
Graduation rate 43%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $32,912
Avg net price $4,616/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 73

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#6

Blue Mountain Christian University

Blue Mountain, MS 293.3 miles from Gulfport
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
37.4 BOC Score
Graduation rate 55%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $40,421
Avg net price $24,016/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 71%
  • Programs offered: 22

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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

Theology Wages Near Gulfport

OccupationMedian Annual Wage (Mississippi, statewide)
Clergy$52,450
Director of Religious Activities and Education$49,430
Religious Worker, All Other$37,130
Philosophy and Religion Teacher, Postsecondary$63,560

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.

Gulfport at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population72,533Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$46,044Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+22.3%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100)90.0 (below U.S. average)BEA RPP 2024

Other Gulfport-Area Cities With Theology Programs

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited theology schools are near Gulfport, MS?

Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering theology programs near Gulfport. The closest is William Carey University in Hattiesburg, MS (62.1 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Xavier University of Louisiana (69.7 miles). 5 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying theology roles in Mississippi?

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying theology-related roles in Mississippi are: Philosophy and Religion Teacher, Postsecondary ($63,560), Clergy ($52,450), Director of Religious Activities and Education ($49,430). Wages for Gulfport workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in Biloxi instead of Gulfport?

Biloxi, MS is 7.0 miles from Gulfport 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 Gulfport an affordable place to study theology?

Gulfport’s median household income of $46,044 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Gulfport while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Mississippi 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 Gulfport

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

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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