Best Theology & Ministry Schools Near Poplar Bluff, MO (2026)

Poplar Bluff, Missouri has 2 accredited schools offering theology programs. Poplar Bluff has a population of about 16,243. Median household income is $42,035 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 16.0% 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 Poplar Bluff

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

Kenrick Glennon Seminary

Saint Louis, MO 125.9 miles from Poplar Bluff
  • 4 year
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 1

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

Eden Theological Seminary

Webster Groves, MO 126.4 miles from Poplar Bluff
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 3

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#3

Concordia Seminary

Saint Louis, MO 129.6 miles from Poplar Bluff
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
  • Accredited
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 2

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

Aquinas Institute of Theology

Saint Louis, MO 129.6 miles from Poplar Bluff
  • 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

#5

Saint Louis University

Saint Louis, MO 129.8 miles from Poplar Bluff
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
74.6 BOC Score
Graduation rate 75%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $70,783
Avg net price $24,398/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 88%
  • Programs offered: 142

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#6

Covenant Theological Seminary

Saint Louis, MO 129.9 miles from Poplar Bluff
  • 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

#7

Urshan University

Wentzville, MO 143.1 miles from Poplar Bluff
  • 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

#8

Urshan Graduate School of Theology

Wentzville, MO 143.1 miles from Poplar Bluff
  • 4 year
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 3

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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


Theology Wages Near Poplar Bluff

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.


Poplar Bluff at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population16,243Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$42,035Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+16.0%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)

Other Poplar Bluff-Area Cities With Theology Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited theology schools are near Poplar Bluff, MO?

Our directory has 2 accredited schools offering theology programs near Poplar Bluff. The closest is Crowley’s Ridge College in Paragould, AR (49.2 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Williams Baptist University (52.9 miles). 1 of the highlighted schools is 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 Poplar Bluff workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in Paragould instead of Poplar Bluff?

Paragould, AR is 49.2 miles from Poplar Bluff 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 Poplar Bluff an affordable place to study theology?

Poplar Bluff’s median household income of $42,035 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Poplar Bluff 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 Poplar Bluff

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

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.