Best Theology & Ministry Schools Near Branson, MO (2026)

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

Branson, Missouri has 5 accredited schools offering theology programs, with tuition ranging from $8,175 to $28,448 per year for indexed programs. Branson has a population of about 12,760. Median household income is $54,961 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 29.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Missouri, the top-earning theology-related role is Philosophy and Religion Teacher, Postsecondary at a median $75,280 annually (BLS, May 2025).

Closest Theology Schools to Branson

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

College of the Ozarks

Point Lookout, MO 2.8 miles from Branson
  • 4 year
55.7 BOC Score
Graduation rate 64%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $41,592
Avg net price $6,100/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 89%
  • Programs offered: 55

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

Drury University

Springfield, MO 39.4 miles from Branson
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
48.1 BOC Score
Graduation rate 61%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $40,694
Avg net price $20,831/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 78%
  • Programs offered: 57

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#3

Evangel University

Springfield, MO 39.4 miles from Branson
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
54.8 BOC Score
Graduation rate 63%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $46,573
Avg net price $18,669/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 78%
  • Programs offered: 52

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

Evangel University-College of Online Learning

Springfield, MO 39.4 miles from Branson
  • 4 year
  • Exclusively online
  • Accredited
42.1 BOC Score
Acceptance rate 49%
Graduation rate 58%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $46,573
Avg net price $22,503/yr
Tuition
In‑state$8,175
Out‑of‑state$8,175
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 64%
  • Programs offered: 6

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#5

Mission University

Springfield, MO 40.7 miles from Branson
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
  • Accredited
27.8 BOC Score
Graduation rate 41%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $38,641
Avg net price $21,383/yr
Tuition
In‑state$16,950
Out‑of‑state$16,950
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 64%
  • Programs offered: 10

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#6

Southwest Baptist University

Bolivar, MO 66.3 miles from Branson
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
36.9 BOC Score
Graduation rate 52%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $43,112
Avg net price $21,677/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 66%
  • Programs offered: 41

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#7

Ozark Christian College

Joplin, MO 75.7 miles from Branson
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
48.9 BOC Score
Graduation rate 59%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $41,297
Avg net price $20,580/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 80%
  • Programs offered: 8

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#8

Calvary University

Kansas City, MO 166.7 miles from Branson
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
  • Accredited
36.7 BOC Score
Acceptance rate 72%
Graduation rate 52%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $45,421
Avg net price $16,334/yr
Tuition
In‑state$14,094
Out‑of‑state$14,094
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 58%
  • Programs offered: 10

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

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

Theology Wages Near Branson

OccupationMedian Annual Wage (Missouri, statewide)
Clergy$58,740
Director of Religious Activities and Education$52,980
Religious Worker, All Other$46,780
Philosophy and Religion Teacher, Postsecondary$75,280

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.

Branson at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population12,760Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$54,961Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+29.4%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)

Other Branson-Area Cities With Theology Programs

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited theology schools are near Branson, MO?

Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering theology programs near Branson. The closest is College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, MO (2.8 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Mission University (40.7 miles). 4 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying theology roles in Missouri?

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying theology-related roles in Missouri are: Philosophy and Religion Teacher, Postsecondary ($75,280), Clergy ($58,740), Director of Religious Activities and Education ($52,980). Wages for Branson workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in Nixa instead of Branson?

Nixa, MO is 27.4 miles from Branson 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 Branson an affordable place to study theology?

Branson’s median household income of $54,961 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Branson while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Missouri 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 Branson

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

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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