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

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

Portsmouth, Ohio has 5 accredited schools offering theology programs, with tuition ranging from $26,625 to $40,168 per year for indexed programs. Portsmouth has a population of about 17,919. Median household income is $35,319 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 18.0% 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 Portsmouth

The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer theology programs near Portsmouth, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Portsmouth 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 Portsmouth. 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 59.4 miles from Portsmouth
  • 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 78.8 miles from Portsmouth
  • 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

Athenaeum of Ohio

Cincinnati, OH 80.0 miles from Portsmouth
  • 4 year
  • Accredited
Graduation rate 33%
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 4

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

#4

Capital University

Columbus, OH 83.0 miles from Portsmouth
  • 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

#5

Cedarville University

Cedarville, OH 83.0 miles from Portsmouth
  • 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

#6

Payne Theological Seminary

Wilberforce, OH 83.3 miles from Portsmouth
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 2

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#7

Ohio Dominican University

Columbus, OH 85.6 miles from Portsmouth
  • 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

#8

Xavier University

Cincinnati, OH 86.6 miles from Portsmouth
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
65.3 BOC Score
Graduation rate 73%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $64,873
Avg net price $32,997/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 80%
  • Programs offered: 81

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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

Theology Wages Near Portsmouth

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.

Portsmouth at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population17,919Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$35,319Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+18.0%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)

Other Portsmouth-Area Cities With Theology Programs

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited theology schools are near Portsmouth, OH?

Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering theology programs near Portsmouth. The closest is Kentucky Christian University in Grayson, KY (28.7 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Capital University (83.0 miles). 3 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 Portsmouth workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in Ashland instead of Portsmouth?

Ashland, KY is 26.0 miles from Portsmouth 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 Portsmouth an affordable place to study theology?

Portsmouth’s median household income of $35,319 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Portsmouth 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 Portsmouth

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

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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