Best Theology & Ministry Schools Near Appleton, WI (2026)

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

Appleton, Wisconsin has 5 accredited schools offering theology programs, with tuition ranging from $21,550 to $66,768 per year for indexed programs. Appleton has a population of about 74,873. Median household income is $77,450 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 37.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Wisconsin, the top-earning theology-related role is Philosophy and Religion Teacher, Postsecondary at a median $79,140 annually (BLS, May 2025).

Closest Theology Schools to Appleton

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

Saint Norbert College

De Pere, WI 19.7 miles from Appleton
  • 4 year
56.2 BOC Score
Graduation rate 74%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $58,363
Avg net price $26,172/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 83%
  • Programs offered: 55

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

Concordia University-Wisconsin

Mequon, WI 74.6 miles from Appleton
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
  • Accredited
47.7 BOC Score
Acceptance rate 78%
Graduation rate 66%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $56,075
Avg net price $36,201/yr
Tuition
In‑state$35,470
Out‑of‑state$35,470
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 78%
  • Programs offered: 106

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#3

Maranatha Baptist University

Watertown, WI 76.8 miles from Appleton
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
  • Accredited
45.0 BOC Score
Acceptance rate 72%
Graduation rate 65%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $45,593
Avg net price $26,005/yr
Tuition
In‑state$21,550
Out‑of‑state$21,550
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 81%
  • Programs offered: 35

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

Nashotah House

Nashotah, WI 82.6 miles from Appleton
  • 4 year
  • Accredited
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 3

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

#5

Marquette University

Milwaukee, WI 88.6 miles from Appleton
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
  • Accredited
75.3 BOC Score
Acceptance rate 81%
Graduation rate 82%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $78,257
Avg net price $31,487/yr
Tuition
In‑state$51,170
Out‑of‑state$51,170
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 91%
  • Programs offered: 120

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#6

Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology

Franklin, WI 96.0 miles from Appleton
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 2

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#7

Viterbo University

La Crosse, WI 145.5 miles from Appleton
  • 4 year
  • Offers a fully online program
58.8 BOC Score
Graduation rate 66%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $55,660
Avg net price $21,260/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 73%
  • Programs offered: 49

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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

Theology Wages Near Appleton

OccupationMedian Annual Wage (Wisconsin, statewide)
Clergy$60,950
Director of Religious Activities and Education$40,180
Religious Worker, All OtherN/A
Philosophy and Religion Teacher, Postsecondary$79,140

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.

Appleton at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population74,873Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$77,450Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+37.0%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100)92.4 (below U.S. average)BEA RPP 2024

Other Appleton-Area Cities With Theology Programs

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited theology schools are near Appleton, WI?

Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering theology programs near Appleton. The closest is Saint Norbert College in De Pere, WI (19.7 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Marquette University (88.6 miles). 3 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying theology roles in Wisconsin?

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying theology-related roles in Wisconsin are: Philosophy and Religion Teacher, Postsecondary ($79,140), Clergy ($60,950), Director of Religious Activities and Education ($40,180). Wages for Appleton workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in Neenah instead of Appleton?

Neenah, WI is 8.7 miles from Appleton 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 Appleton an affordable place to study theology?

Appleton’s median household income of $77,450 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Appleton while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Wisconsin 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 Appleton

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

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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