Chicago Theological Seminary
Chicago Theological Seminary is a 170-year-old private, nonprofit graduate theological seminary in Chicago offering accredited MDiv, STM, DMin, PhD, and certificate programs on-campus and fully online, with concentrations in interreligious engagement, Islamic chaplaincy, and social justice leadership.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1855
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Chicago Theological Seminary does
Chicago Theological Seminary (CTS) is a private, nonprofit theological seminary founded in 1855 in Chicago, Illinois, with 101-250 employees and a 170-year progressive social justice legacy. The institution offers graduate theological degree programs — Master of Divinity (MDiv), Master of Sacred Theology (STM), Doctor of Ministry (DMin), Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Master of Arts pathways, and a Certificate in Theological Studies — with concentrations in Chaplaincy Studies, LGBTQ Studies, Interreligious Engagement, Study of Black Faith & Life, and Islamic Chaplaincy. CTS is notable for offering a first-of-its-kind fully online accredited MDiv, a fully online DMin, and a hybrid intensive format for Islamic chaplaincy coursework delivered in partnership with Bayan Chicago. The seminary also publishes the Our 7 Neighbors podcast hosted by Reza Aslan and runs a LEED Gold certified campus with chapel, dining, and meeting facilities.
The underlying technology is a conventional online learning platform supporting remote coursework, combined with on-campus hybrid intensive weeks and Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) based field education. The product is delivered through direct admissions via ctschicago.edu, with cross-registration rights to 700+ additional courses through the Association of Chicago Theological Schools (ACTS) consortium of 12 member seminaries, and additional academic partnerships with Hartford International University for Religion & Peace and the University of Chicago Divinity School.
Revenue mechanics consist primarily of tuition and fees from degree and certificate programs (not publicly disclosed; audit option at $300 per course), charitable contributions and planned giving through the Office of Advancement, and (historically) facility rental income from wedding and event venues, which has now been suspended amid a stated period of institutional transition and strategic planning. Go-to-market is a sales-led admissions process targeting prospective graduate students, working ministers, and clergy, supplemented by content marketing (podcast, social media, named lecture series such as the Castañeda-Jennings, Kenneth B. Smith, and C. Shelby Rooks lectures, and Wednesday Gatherings). Leadership is headed by President and Professor of Public Theology Brad R. Braxton, with Emily Vogt as Academic Dean.
Chicago Theological Seminary firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Chicago Theological Seminary
- Legal name
- Chicago Theological Seminary
- Website
- https://ctschicago.edu
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1855
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Chicago Theological Seminary is a 170-year-old private, nonprofit graduate theological seminary in Chicago offering accredited MDiv, STM, DMin, PhD, and certificate programs on-campus and fully online, with concentrations in interreligious engagement, Islamic chaplaincy, and social justice leadership.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Chicago Theological Seminary industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Higher Education
- NAICS
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Seminaries (Graduate Theology & Ministry) (EDAHAKAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Interfaith & Ecumenical Theological Colleges (EDAHAKAL), Ministerial Training Institutes (Clergy Formation) (EDAHAKAE)
Keywords
Where Chicago Theological Seminary is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Chicago Theological Seminary business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Tuition and Academic Programs: Revenue generated from tuition fees for degree programs including MDiv, MA, STM, DMin, PhD, and certificate programs. Students pay tuition for credits and courses taken.
- Facility Rentals: Venue rental revenue from wedding venues (Clark Chapel, Skyline Chapel, dining room) and meeting/event spaces including classrooms and conference rooms
- Donations and Advancement: Charitable contributions and planned giving programs supporting the seminary's mission and operations
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Audit a Course |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Chicago Theological Seminary product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Chicago Theological Seminary delivers accredited graduate-level theological education through the Master of Divinity (MDiv), Master of Arts in Islamic Leadership, Master of Sacred Theology (STM), Doctor of Ministry (DMin), Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), and a Certificate in Theological Studies, with concentrations in Islamic Chaplaincy, LGBTQ Studies, Interreligious Engagement, Study of Black Faith & Life, and Muslim Studies. Programs are offered on-campus in Chicago, fully online, or in hybrid formats, complemented by Clinical Pastoral Education field placements and cross-registration access to 700+ courses via the ACTS consortium.
Product overview
Chicago Theological Seminary offers a suite of theological education degree programs and religious leadership training. The core product is the Master of Divinity (MDiv), a three-year program available on-campus and fully online, with six concentrations including Chaplaincy Studies, LGBTQ Studies, Interreligious Engagement, Islamic Chaplaincy, Muslim Studies, and Study of Black Faith & Life. Graduate-level offerings include Master of Sacred Theology (STM), Doctor of Ministry (Online DMin), and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). A Certificate in Theological Studies with multiple concentrations and Distance Scholar/Audit options provide flexible entry points. The seminary also offers the Our Seven Neighbors Podcast, Theological Field Education combining Clinical Pastoral Education with field placement, and facility rental services at its Chicago campus venues including Clark Chapel, Skyline Chapel, and dining facilities.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Master of Divinity (MDiv)
Companies that use Chicago Theological Seminary
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Chicago Theological Seminary technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Chicago Theological Seminary partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Bayan ChicagocoreBayan is a private Islamic graduate school offering accredited MA degrees in Islamic Studies, Islamic Leadership, Islamic Education, Advanced Islamic Theology, and MDiv in Islamic Chaplaincy. CTS partners with Bayan to offer the 75-unit MDiv concentration in Islamic Chaplaincy and MA in Islamic Leadership through Bayan's innovative hybrid intensive format.
- Association of Chicago Theological Schools (ACTS)coreACTS is a consortium of 12 member seminaries enabling students to cross-register at any member school and gain access to over 700 additional courses. This partnership significantly expands the educational offerings available to CTS students.
- Hartford International University for Religion & PeaceminorHIU is a non-denominational graduate school for religious and theological studies with roots dating back to 1834. Partnership enables collaborative educational opportunities.
- University of Chicago Divinity SchoolminorA vibrant community of scholars dedicated to exploring humanity's most vital questions. Partnership enables academic collaboration and cross-institutional opportunities.
- A Just HarvestminorCommunity-based organization running the largest self-standing community soup kitchen in Chicago metro area, serving 54,000+ meals annually. CTS students serve as chaplains and engage in community-based service and advocacy.
- Chicago Sunday Evening ClubminorMedia ministry founded in 1908 producing video, radio, and podcast content. CTS students gain experience in media production, storytelling, and faith-based broadcasting.
- Coppin AME Church/Coppin Community CenterminorAfrican Methodist Episcopal Church with 95-year history in Washington Park community. Partnership includes community center programming, affordable housing (Coppin House), and various youth and family services.
- Interfaith Worker JusticeminorMultifaith nonprofit advancing worker rights through engaging diverse faith communities. CTS students engage in research, advocacy, and grassroots organizing for economic justice.
- Heartland Alliance for Human Need & Human RightsminorOrganization advancing human rights for endangered populations. CTS students serve as chaplains providing spiritual care to at-risk youth from over a dozen countries.
- Cook County Health & Hospitals System (Ruth M. Rothstein CORE Center)minorOne of the largest HIV/AIDS clinics in the US serving approximately 5,000 persons annually. Partnership with Rush University Medical Center. CTS students provide pastoral care in healthcare setting.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Chicago Theological Seminary competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Pacific School of Religion: UCC-affiliated progressive seminary in Berkeley offering MDiv, DMin, and PhD tracks with strong social-justice and interfaith concentrations. Closest ideological peer to CTS's progressive, justice-oriented positioning.
- Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary: United Methodist seminary on the campus of Northwestern University, also an ACTS member in Chicago. Competes directly for the same local MDiv and DMin students CTS targets.
- Hartford International University for Religion & Peace: Non-denominational graduate school for interreligious studies founded in 1834, with interfaith peace-building focus that parallels CTS's interreligious mission. Explicit academic partner listed in CTS data.
- Union Theological Seminary: Historic progressive mainline seminary in New York offering MDiv, STM, DMin, PhD, with a long-standing social-justice tradition that maps directly onto CTS's progressive firsts identity.
- McCormick Theological Seminary: Presbyterian-related progressive seminary in Chicago and a fellow ACTS member. Operates MDiv and DMin programs in the same Chicago theological cluster, sharing the same cross-registration infrastructure as CTS.
- Bayan Chicago: Private Islamic graduate school offering MA in Islamic Studies, Islamic Leadership, and MDiv in Islamic Chaplaincy. Direct co-development partner with CTS on Islamic theological education, sharing faculty and curriculum.
- Vanderbilt Divinity School: Non-denominational research divinity school offering MDiv and PhD programs with strong social-justice and interfaith orientation. A leading competitor for top-tier PhD theological candidates alongside CTS.
- University of Chicago Divinity School: Ecumenical, research-focused divinity school offering AM, MA, and PhD; an explicit CTS academic partner through ACTS. Overlaps in doctoral-level theological inquiry and interreligious scholarship.
- Luther Seminary: Large ELCA-affiliated seminary with a mature online MDiv and DMin program serving geographically dispersed students. A leading scale competitor in the online theological education category where CTS claims first-mover status.
- Iliff School of Theology: United Methodist progressive seminary in Denver with online MDiv, DMin, and PhD programs targeting working adults. Direct competitor in the online progressive theological education space.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Chicago Theological Seminary social profiles
Digital presenceChicago Theological Seminary financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Chicago Theological Seminary leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Chicago Theological Seminary funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Chicago Theological Seminary M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Chicago Theological Seminary
What does Chicago Theological Seminary do?
Chicago Theological Seminary delivers accredited graduate-level theological education through the Master of Divinity (MDiv), Master of Arts in Islamic Leadership, Master of Sacred Theology (STM), Doctor of Ministry (DMin), Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), and a Certificate in Theological Studies, with concentrations in Islamic Chaplaincy, LGBTQ Studies, Interreligious Engagement, Study of Black Faith & Life, and Muslim Studies. Programs are offered on-campus in Chicago, fully online, or in hybrid formats, complemented by Clinical Pastoral Education field placements and cross-registration access to 700+ courses via the ACTS consortium.
Is Chicago Theological Seminary a public or private company?
Chicago Theological Seminary is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Chicago Theological Seminary founded?
Chicago Theological Seminary was founded in 1855. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Chicago Theological Seminary based?
Chicago Theological Seminary is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does Chicago Theological Seminary make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Tuition and Academic Programs are the primary driver. The others are facility Rentals and donations and Advancement.
Who are Chicago Theological Seminary's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Pacific School of Religion, Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, Hartford International University for Religion & Peace, Union Theological Seminary, McCormick Theological Seminary, Bayan Chicago, Vanderbilt Divinity School, University of Chicago Divinity School, Luther Seminary and Iliff School of Theology.
Does Chicago Theological Seminary have an API?
No public API is recorded for Chicago Theological Seminary.
What industry is Chicago Theological Seminary in?
Chicago Theological Seminary's product category is Higher Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHAKAA, Seminaries (Graduate Theology & Ministry), with a secondary code of EDAHAKAL, Interfaith & Ecumenical Theological Colleges. Its NAICS code is 6113 and its SIC code is 8200.