Best Theology & Ministry Schools Near Atoka, TN (2026)

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

Atoka, Tennessee has 5 accredited schools offering theology programs. Atoka has a population of about 10,237. Median household income is $86,922 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 27.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area, the top-earning theology-related role is Philosophy and Religion Teacher, Postsecondary at a median $77,330 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Closest Theology Schools to Atoka

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

Memphis Theological Seminary

Memphis, TN 22.9 miles from Atoka
  • 4 year
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 3

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

Visible Music College

Memphis, TN 24.3 miles from Atoka
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
28.1 BOC Score
Graduation rate 36%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $35,933
Avg net price $27,820/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 76%
  • Programs offered: 9

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#3

Mid-South Christian College

Memphis, TN 25.8 miles from Atoka
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
Avg net price $10,172/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 62%
  • Programs offered: 2

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

Union University

Jackson, TN 55.0 miles from Atoka
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
58.6 BOC Score
Graduation rate 64%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $53,990
Avg net price $27,171/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 88%
  • Programs offered: 80

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#5

Freed-Hardeman University

Henderson, TN 64.7 miles from Atoka
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
55.9 BOC Score
Graduation rate 64%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $47,485
Avg net price $21,574/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 83%
  • Programs offered: 59

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#6

Lipscomb University

Nashville, TN 174.0 miles from Atoka
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
62.5 BOC Score
Graduation rate 68%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $55,541
Avg net price $24,739/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 85%
  • Programs offered: 107

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#7

Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN 174.5 miles from Atoka
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
91.4 BOC Score
Graduation rate 93%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $91,565
Avg net price $15,846/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 96%
  • Programs offered: 157

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#8

Belmont University

Nashville, TN 174.8 miles from Atoka
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
  • Accredited
61.1 BOC Score
Acceptance rate 95%
Graduation rate 71%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $55,930
Avg net price $33,147/yr
Tuition
In‑state$42,540
Out‑of‑state$42,540
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 85%
  • Programs offered: 103

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

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

Theology Wages Near Atoka

Atoka is part of the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area (BLS area code 32820). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Tennessee statewide.

OccupationMedian WageSourceCOL-Adjusted (US=100)
Clergy$59,240Memphis, TN-MS-AR$64,252
Director of Religious Activities and Education$61,940TN statewide$67,180
Religious Worker, All Other$43,980TN statewide$47,701
Philosophy and Religion Teacher, Postsecondary$77,330Memphis, TN-MS-AR$83,872

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.

Atoka at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population10,237Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$86,922Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+27.7%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100)92.2 (below U.S. average)BEA RPP 2024

Other Atoka-Area Cities With Theology Programs

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited theology schools are near Atoka, TN?

Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering theology programs near Atoka. The closest is Memphis Theological Seminary in Memphis, TN (22.9 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Crowley’s Ridge College (63.0 miles). 3 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying theology roles near Atoka?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying theology-related roles near Atoka are: Philosophy and Religion Teacher, Postsecondary ($77,330), Director of Religious Activities and Education ($61,940), Clergy ($59,240). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Tennessee statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.

Should I look at programs in Bartlett instead of Atoka?

Bartlett, TN is 13.2 miles from Atoka 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 Atoka an affordable place to study theology?

Atoka’s median household income of $86,922 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Atoka while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Tennessee 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 Atoka

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

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.

Back to Best Theology & Ministry Schools in Tennessee (2026)