State College, Pennsylvania has 5 accredited schools offering theology programs. State College has a population of about 40,669. Median household income is $47,132 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 70.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Pennsylvania, the top-earning theology-related role is Philosophy and Religion Teacher, Postsecondary at a median $76,600 annually (BLS, May 2025).
Closest Theology Schools to State College
The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer theology programs near State College, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from State College 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:
BOCSCORE
- 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 State College.
Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.
Graduation rate
77%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$54,064
Avg net price
$26,502/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats- Retention rate: 87%
- Programs offered: 87
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
TuitionContact school for pricing
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
74%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$59,982
Avg net price
$23,510/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats- Retention rate: 84%
- Programs offered: 60
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$59,982
TuitionContact school for pricing
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
TuitionContact school for pricing
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
65%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$44,096
Avg net price
$25,480/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats- Retention rate: 77%
- Programs offered: 34
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
TuitionContact school for pricing
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
79%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$74,742
Avg net price
$37,730/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats- Retention rate: 85%
- Programs offered: 108
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Pennsylvania schools on the Pennsylvania theology page.
Theology Wages Near State College
| Occupation | Median Annual Wage (Pennsylvania, statewide) |
|---|
| Clergy | $58,300 |
| Director of Religious Activities and Education | $55,510 |
| Religious Worker, All Other | $34,580 |
| Philosophy and Religion Teacher, Postsecondary | $76,600 |
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.
State College at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|
| Population | 40,669 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $47,132 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 70.7% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 96.8 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Other State College-Area Cities With Theology Programs
- Lewistown, PA – 20.0 mi away (21,854 pop)
- Altoona, PA – 34.6 mi away (76,943 pop)
- Williamsport, PA – 52.8 mi away (55,100 pop)
- Milton, PA – 54.7 mi away (30,198 pop)
- Sunbury, PA – 56.1 mi away (28,544 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited theology schools are near State College, PA?
Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering theology programs near State College. The closest is Messiah University in Mechanicsburg, PA (63.3 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Saint Vincent Seminary (88.2 miles). 3 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying theology roles in Pennsylvania?
Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying theology-related roles in Pennsylvania are: Philosophy and Religion Teacher, Postsecondary ($76,600), Clergy ($58,300), Director of Religious Activities and Education ($55,510). Wages for State College workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.
Should I look at programs in Lewistown instead of State College?
Lewistown, PA is 20.0 miles from State College 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 State College an affordable place to study theology?
State College’s median household income of $47,132 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in State College while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Pennsylvania 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 State College
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- Healthcare Administration programs in State College, PA
- Social Work programs in State College, PA
- Counseling programs in State College, PA
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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