Best Theology & Ministry Schools Near Jefferson City, MO

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

Jefferson City, Missouri has 5 accredited schools offering theology programs, with tuition ranging from $12,200 to $43,635 per year for indexed programs. Jefferson City has a population of about 42,565. Median household income is $67,205 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 36.9% 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 Jefferson City

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

Central Methodist University-College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Fayette, MO 48.7 miles from Jefferson City
  • 4 year
  • Accredited
31.0 BOC Score
Acceptance rate 57%
Graduation rate 52%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $48,991
Avg net price $22,766/yr
Tuition
In‑state$28,260
Out‑of‑state$28,260
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 63%
  • Programs offered: 35

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

Central Christian College of the Bible

Moberly, MO 58.8 miles from Jefferson City
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
  • Accredited
32.2 BOC Score
Graduation rate 32%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $34,675
Avg net price $14,356/yr
Tuition
In‑state$12,200
Out‑of‑state$12,200
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 60%
  • Programs offered: 9

Source:Accreditor: Association for Biblical Higher EducationIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#3

Urshan University

Wentzville, MO 74.4 miles from Jefferson City
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
51.0 BOC Score
Graduation rate 52%
Avg net price $14,779/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 66%
  • Programs offered: 7

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

Urshan Graduate School of Theology

Wentzville, MO 74.4 miles from Jefferson City
  • 4 year
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 3

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#5

Covenant Theological Seminary

Saint Louis, MO 93.3 miles from Jefferson City
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
  • Accredited
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 7

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

#6

Southwest Baptist University

Bolivar, MO 94.5 miles from Jefferson City
  • 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

Eden Theological Seminary

Webster Groves, MO 98.9 miles from Jefferson City
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 3

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#8

Kenrick Glennon Seminary

Saint Louis, MO 100.0 miles from Jefferson City
  • 4 year
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 1

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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

Theology Wages Near Jefferson City

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.

Jefferson City at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population42,565Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$67,205Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+36.9%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100)88.0 (below U.S. average)BEA RPP 2024

Other Jefferson City-Area Cities With Theology Programs

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited theology schools are near Jefferson City, MO?

Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering theology programs near Jefferson City. The closest is Central Methodist University-College of Liberal Arts and Sciences in Fayette, MO (48.7 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Covenant Theological Seminary (93.3 miles). 3 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 Jefferson City workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in Columbia instead of Jefferson City?

Columbia, MO is 27.5 miles from Jefferson City 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 Jefferson City an affordable place to study theology?

Jefferson City’s median household income of $67,205 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Jefferson City 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 Jefferson City

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

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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