Best Theology & Ministry Schools Near Kinston, NC (2026)

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

Kinston, North Carolina has 5 accredited schools offering theology programs. Kinston has a population of about 19,576. Median household income is $35,250 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 16.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In North Carolina, the top-earning theology-related role is Philosophy and Religion Teacher, Postsecondary at a median $76,340 annually (BLS, May 2025).

Closest Theology Schools to Kinston

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

Southeastern Free Will Baptist Bible College

Wendell, NC 58.8 miles from Kinston
  • 4 year
43.2 BOC Score
Graduation rate 35%
Avg net price $12,602/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 87%
  • Programs offered: 4

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

Campbell University

Buies Creek, NC 65.2 miles from Kinston
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
46.6 BOC Score
Graduation rate 51%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $54,886
Avg net price $24,516/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 75%
  • Programs offered: 84

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#3

Shaw University

Raleigh, NC 68.0 miles from Kinston
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
26.6 BOC Score
Graduation rate 21%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $34,409
Avg net price $16,512/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 54%
  • Programs offered: 23

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

Wake Forest, NC 71.1 miles from Kinston
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
59.0 BOC Score
Graduation rate 44%
Avg net price $13,090/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 84%
  • Programs offered: 23

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#5

Shepherds Theological Seminary

Cary, NC 72.3 miles from Kinston
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 2

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#6

Carolina College of Biblical Studies

Fayetteville, NC 77.6 miles from Kinston
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
22.4 BOC Score
Graduation rate 31%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $24,581
Avg net price $21,322/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 50%
  • Programs offered: 3

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#7

Manna University

Fayetteville, NC 78.7 miles from Kinston
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
45.2 BOC Score
Graduation rate 42%
Avg net price $15,210/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 75%
  • Programs offered: 7

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#8

Duke University

Durham, NC 90.6 miles from Kinston
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
82.1 BOC Score
Graduation rate 97%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $97,800
Avg net price $29,612/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 97%
  • Programs offered: 144

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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

Theology Wages Near Kinston

OccupationMedian Annual Wage (North Carolina, statewide)
Clergy$59,600
Director of Religious Activities and Education$63,280
Religious Worker, All OtherN/A
Philosophy and Religion Teacher, Postsecondary$76,340

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.

Kinston at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population19,576Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$35,250Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+16.1%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)

Other Kinston-Area Cities With Theology Programs

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited theology schools are near Kinston, NC?

Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering theology programs near Kinston. The closest is Southeastern Free Will Baptist Bible College in Wendell, NC (58.8 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Shepherds Theological Seminary (72.3 miles). 4 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying theology roles in North Carolina?

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying theology-related roles in North Carolina are: Philosophy and Religion Teacher, Postsecondary ($76,340), Director of Religious Activities and Education ($63,280), Clergy ($59,600). Wages for Kinston workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in Goldsboro instead of Kinston?

Goldsboro, NC is 22.5 miles from Kinston 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 Kinston an affordable place to study theology?

Kinston’s median household income of $35,250 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Kinston while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and North Carolina 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 Kinston

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

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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