Meridian, Mississippi has 4 accredited schools offering theology programs, with tuition ranging from $7,500 to $29,651 per year for indexed programs. Meridian has a population of about 34,466. Median household income is $34,657 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 20.7% 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 Meridian
The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer theology programs near Meridian, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Meridian 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:
BOCSCORE
- 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 Meridian.
Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.
Graduation rate
23%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$26,946
Avg net price
$8,138/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats- Retention rate: 41%
- Programs offered: 3
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Acceptance rate
60%
Graduation rate
51%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$43,087
Avg net price
$14,258/yr
TuitionIn‑state$15,480
Out‑of‑state$15,480
Key stats- Retention rate: 79%
- Programs offered: 51
Source:Accreditor: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges · IPEDS · College Scorecard
TuitionIn‑state$7,500
Out‑of‑state$7,500
Source:Accreditor: Association for Biblical Higher Education · IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
46%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$46,440
Avg net price
$15,676/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats- Retention rate: 68%
- Programs offered: 46
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
43%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$32,912
Avg net price
$4,616/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
55%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$40,421
Avg net price
$24,016/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats- Retention rate: 71%
- Programs offered: 22
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Mississippi schools on the Mississippi theology page.
Theology Wages Near Meridian
| Occupation | Median 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.
Meridian at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|
| Population | 34,466 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $34,657 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 20.7% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
Other Meridian-Area Cities With Theology Programs
- Laurel, MS – 54.6 mi away (26,433 pop)
- Starkville, MS – 74.8 mi away (32,441 pop)
- Brandon, MS – 76.3 mi away (23,826 pop)
- Columbus, MS – 79.3 mi away (32,386 pop)
- Pearl, MS – 82.2 mi away (26,485 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited theology schools are near Meridian, MS?
Our directory has 4 accredited schools offering theology programs near Meridian. The closest is Southeastern Baptist College in Laurel, MS (51.5 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Belhaven University (86.5 miles). 4 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 Meridian workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.
Should I look at programs in Laurel instead of Meridian?
Laurel, MS is 54.6 miles from Meridian 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 Meridian an affordable place to study theology?
Meridian’s median household income of $34,657 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Meridian 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
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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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