Top 10 Online Bachelor's in Ministry Programs for 2019
A bachelor's degree in ministry prepares graduates to serve their community inside and outside church walls, in both secular and spiritual fields. Alongside a command of biblical teaching and Christian theology, ministry requires leadership, management, and teaching skills. A degree in ministry online also provides a foundation for careers such as church administrators, and growing fields like social work and counseling. In fact, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that social and community manager positions will increase by 16% by 2024.
What are the Best Online Bachelor's in Ministry Programs?
Top 10 Online Bachelors in Ministry Programs for 2019
Admissions Rate
95%
Graduation Rate
69%
Online Enrollment
13%
Retention Rate
85%
Default Rate
3%
The Master's University's online bachelor's degree in ministry explores God's work in the world through the church. Through the 14-course, 42-semester unit bachelor of arts in Christian ministries , students learn about Biblical philosophy as it relates to hands-on church work at the local level. Course subjects include church history, church administration, and contemporary issues in church ministry. Students must earn at least 122 semester units to graduate. Students take 65 units of core courses and 15 units of free electives.
Applicants should submit high school transcripts, GED scores, or California High School Proficiency examination scores. A personal testimonial, writing samples, and a pastor recommendation letter are also required. The university is located in Santa Clarita, California. All online students pay the same tuition rate, regardless of state residency.
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What Will I Learn in an Online Ministry Program?
While individual programs differ, most online ministry programs offer similar basic coursework. Below is a list of some common courses in an online bachelor's in ministry. Check with your prospective school to learn more about their course offerings, and whether specific tracks or concentrations are available for further degree specialization.
Biblical Interpretation and Theology These courses outline the tenets of Christian faith and train students to interpret and contextualize scriptures. Students also study theological arguments and doctrines.
Teaching and Youth Ministry Students balance theories of education with concrete skills like classroom management. Youth ministry courses explore ways to communicate to children, study the youth relationship to the church, and trace the development of their beliefs.
Leadership and Management Theory This course develops leadership and decision-making skills. Students apply leadership principles to concrete tasks like organizing volunteers. Pastoral leadership courses also navigate legal and ethical issues specific to churches.
Church Administration and Finance By studying budgeting and financial analysis from a non-profit perspective, students learn to manage church resources and liabilities to become skilled church caretakers.
Biblical Counseling This course introduces counseling individuals and groups from a biblical perspective. Students learn counseling strategies for conflict management and resolution, and practice skills like interviewing.
What can I do with an Online Ministry Degree?
Those with a keen interest in community-focused focused careers may find that an online bachelor's degree in ministry opens up many possibilities for employment. Churches hire administrators and teachers at many levels, including pastors, youth directors, and coaches. Ministry degree graduates also find work outside of churches in fields like social work and counseling. This degree prepares students to engage their community as spiritual and secular leaders, while also effectively promoting the message of any organization to which they belong.
Youth pastors teach children and young adults in churches. As spiritual guides, youth pastors counsel children and teenagers inside and outside of church activities. This job requires communication skills, empathy, and the ability to plan and lead. Youth pastors organize weekly bible studies and mission trips.
Median Salary: $36,653
Job Outlook and Salary for Ministry Graduates
An online bachelor's degree in ministry emphasizes a faith-based approach to social and community service. Graduates serve in a variety of teaching and management roles in churches and other nonprofit organizations. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for social and community service managers will grow by 16% by 2026. With other management occupations expected to grow at 9% — and all occupations at 7% — this is a rate much faster than average. A ministry degree applies to a many different careers and industries, and salaries differ based on career and location.
| Employment, 2016 | Projected Employment, 2026 |
|---|---|
| 147,300 | 170,400 |
Salary Growth by Experience for Ministry Professionals
Many graduates of an online bachelor's degree in ministry can expect to have long, fulfilling careers. Those in ministry, teaching, and community and social service can expect a higher salary as they gain experience. In larger organizations with more levels of administration, ministry degree holders can be promoted to positions like senior pastor. For example, a late-career senior pastor earns a median salary of $63,156.
To determine the best online bachelor's in ministry programs, we looked at the most important factors prospective students, mainly common predictors of future success and a school's commitment to online programs. This boils down to admissions rate, student loan default rate, retention rate, graduation rate, and the percent of students enrolled in online classes. All data points are taken from information provided by colleges and universities to the National Center for Education Statistics.
Each factor is weighted evenly in order to give an objective view and determine the best online bachelor's in ministry programs. To calculate our rankings, we looked at a school's ranking when organized by a single factor, and then averaged each category's ranking to find an overall score: Admissions Rate (20%) + Default Rate (20%) + Retention Rate (20%) + Graduation Rate (20%) + Percent of Students Enrolled in Online Classes (20%) = Final score.