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

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

Shelby, North Carolina has 5 accredited schools offering theology programs, with tuition ranging from $31,900 to $47,091 per year for indexed programs. Shelby has a population of about 21,868. Median household income is $50,705 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 26.6% 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 Shelby

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

Gardner-Webb University

Boiling Springs, NC 7.7 miles from Shelby
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
  • Accredited
44.2 BOC Score
Acceptance rate 77%
Graduation rate 59%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $48,039
Avg net price $17,674/yr
Tuition
In‑state$34,760
Out‑of‑state$34,760
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 62%
  • Programs offered: 49

Source:Accreditor: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on CollegesIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

Belmont Abbey College

Belmont, NC 28.3 miles from Shelby
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
36.2 BOC Score
Graduation rate 46%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $47,937
Avg net price $24,639/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 70%
  • Programs offered: 25

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#3

Lenoir-Rhyne University

Hickory, NC 33.4 miles from Shelby
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
  • Accredited
41.8 BOC Score
Acceptance rate 85%
Graduation rate 49%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $45,543
Avg net price $20,689/yr
Tuition
In‑state$31,900
Out‑of‑state$31,900
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 73%
  • Programs offered: 57

Source:Accreditor: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on CollegesIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

Charlotte Christian College and Theological Seminary

Charlotte, NC 46.3 miles from Shelby
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
51.4 BOC Score
Graduation rate 64%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $33,696
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 50%
  • Programs offered: 3

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#5

Hood Theological Seminary

Salisbury, NC 64.6 miles from Shelby
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 1

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#6

Carolina University

Winston-Salem, NC 91.1 miles from Shelby
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
26.5 BOC Score
Graduation rate 39%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $32,864
Avg net price $20,828/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 56%
  • Programs offered: 17

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#7

Wake Forest University

Winston-Salem, NC 91.8 miles from Shelby
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
79.0 BOC Score
Graduation rate 90%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $78,158
Avg net price $28,719/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 94%
  • Programs offered: 84

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#8

Carolina Christian College

Winston Salem, NC 93.3 miles from Shelby
  • 4 year
16.8 BOC Score
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $40,672
Avg net price $22,366/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 27%
  • Programs offered: 1

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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

Theology Wages Near Shelby

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.

Shelby at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population21,868Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$50,705Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+26.6%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)

Other Shelby-Area Cities With Theology Programs

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited theology schools are near Shelby, NC?

Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering theology programs near Shelby. The closest is Gardner-Webb University in Boiling Springs, NC (7.7 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is North Greenville University (49.2 miles). 5 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 Shelby workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in Gaffney instead of Shelby?

Gaffney, SC is 16.2 miles from Shelby 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 Shelby an affordable place to study theology?

Shelby’s median household income of $50,705 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Shelby 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 Shelby

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

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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