Best Theology & Ministry Schools Near Watertown, NY (2026)

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

Watertown, New York is home to about 24,574 residents. Median household income is $49,692 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 25.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In New York, the top-earning theology-related role is Philosophy and Religion Teacher, Postsecondary at a median $92,050 annually (BLS, May 2025).

Closest Theology Schools to Watertown

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

St Bernard's School of Theology and Ministry

Rochester, NY 100.9 miles from Watertown
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 3

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School

Rochester, NY 100.9 miles from Watertown
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 2

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#3

Davis College

Pottersville, NY 105.8 miles from Watertown
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
47.9 BOC Score
Graduation rate 49%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $38,450
Avg net price $12,875/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 80%
  • Programs offered: 1

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

Roberts Wesleyan University

Rochester, NY 111.3 miles from Watertown
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
63.1 BOC Score
Graduation rate 71%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $55,031
Avg net price $23,130/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 80%
  • Programs offered: 48

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#5

Northeastern Seminary

Rochester, NY 111.5 miles from Watertown
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 4

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#6

Elim Bible Institute and College

Lima, NY 112.8 miles from Watertown
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
65.3 BOC Score
Graduation rate 59%
Avg net price $8,840/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 88%
  • Programs offered: 3

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#7

Houghton University

Houghton, NY 155.6 miles from Watertown
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
59.3 BOC Score
Graduation rate 70%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $46,721
Avg net price $20,519/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 81%
  • Programs offered: 41

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#8

St Bonaventure University

Saint Bonaventure, NY 184.3 miles from Watertown
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
63.9 BOC Score
Graduation rate 71%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $57,214
Avg net price $27,074/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 84%
  • Programs offered: 51

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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

Theology Wages Near Watertown

OccupationMedian Annual Wage (New York, statewide)
Clergy$58,580
Director of Religious Activities and Education$49,990
Religious Worker, All Other$51,150
Philosophy and Religion Teacher, Postsecondary$92,050

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.

Watertown at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population24,574Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$49,692Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+25.9%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100)87.7 (below U.S. average)BEA RPP 2024

Other Watertown-Area Cities With Theology Programs

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the highest-paying theology roles in New York?

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying theology-related roles in New York are: Philosophy and Religion Teacher, Postsecondary ($92,050), Clergy ($58,580), Religious Worker, All Other ($51,150). Wages for Watertown workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in Oswego instead of Watertown?

Oswego, NY is 46.6 miles from Watertown 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 Watertown an affordable place to study theology?

Watertown’s median household income of $49,692 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Watertown while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and New York 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 Watertown

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

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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