Best Theology & Ministry Schools Near Athens, OH (2026)

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

Athens, Ohio has 5 accredited schools offering theology programs. Athens has a population of about 23,211. Median household income is $37,059 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 67.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Ohio, the top-earning theology-related role is Philosophy and Religion Teacher, Postsecondary at a median $77,010 annually (BLS, May 2025).

Closest Theology Schools to Athens

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

Ohio Christian University

Circleville, OH 47.3 miles from Athens
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
26.0 BOC Score
Graduation rate 26%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $39,813
Avg net price $20,607/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 56%
  • Programs offered: 24

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

Valor Christian College

Canal Winchester, OH 55.1 miles from Athens
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
45.7 BOC Score
Graduation rate 51%
Avg net price $34,356/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 40%
  • Programs offered: 7

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#3

Capital University

Columbus, OH 62.3 miles from Athens
  • 4 year
45.2 BOC Score
Graduation rate 63%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $54,143
Avg net price $22,576/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 74%
  • Programs offered: 61

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

Ohio Dominican University

Columbus, OH 64.2 miles from Athens
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
43.2 BOC Score
Graduation rate 51%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $51,748
Avg net price $20,079/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 62%
  • Programs offered: 39

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#5

Pontifical College Josephinum

Columbus, OH 73.5 miles from Athens
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
43.2 BOC Score
Graduation rate 26%
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 86%
  • Programs offered: 6

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#6

Methodist Theological School in Ohio

Delaware, OH 81.9 miles from Athens
  • 4 year
  • Accredited
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 4

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

#7

Cedarville University

Cedarville, OH 96.0 miles from Athens
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
66.7 BOC Score
Graduation rate 74%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $55,443
Avg net price $24,468/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 87%
  • Programs offered: 74

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#8

Payne Theological Seminary

Wilberforce, OH 98.9 miles from Athens
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 2

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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

Theology Wages Near Athens

OccupationMedian Annual Wage (Ohio, statewide)
Clergy$59,160
Director of Religious Activities and Education$49,340
Religious Worker, All Other$40,780
Philosophy and Religion Teacher, Postsecondary$77,010

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.

Athens at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population23,211Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$37,059Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+67.1%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)

Other Athens-Area Cities With Theology Programs

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited theology schools are near Athens, OH?

Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering theology programs near Athens. The closest is Ohio Christian University in Circleville, OH (47.3 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Pontifical College Josephinum (73.5 miles). 4 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying theology roles in Ohio?

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying theology-related roles in Ohio are: Philosophy and Religion Teacher, Postsecondary ($77,010), Clergy ($59,160), Director of Religious Activities and Education ($49,340). Wages for Athens workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in Parkersburg instead of Athens?

Parkersburg, WV is 30.1 miles from Athens 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 Athens an affordable place to study theology?

Athens’s median household income of $37,059 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Athens while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Ohio 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 Athens

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

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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