What Westminster Theological Seminary does

Westminster Theological Seminary is a private, non-profit Reformed theological seminary founded in 1929 by J. Gresham Machen and headquartered at 2960 Church Road, Glenside, Pennsylvania. The institution delivers graduate theological education — spanning certificates through the Doctor of Philosophy — to aspiring and current clergy, theological scholars, Christian counselors, and international learners. Its curriculum is organized around six stated distinctives: Covenantal Apologetics, Biblical Counseling, Redemptive-Historical Hermeneutics, Biblico-Systematic Theology, Historical Theology, and Christ-Centered Preaching, with an explicit commitment to the Westminster Confession of Faith and biblical inerrancy that the institution positions as increasingly uncommon among peer seminaries.

The seminary operates a multi-channel delivery model that includes residential on-campus programs in Glenside, fully online degrees, and language-specific global tracks in Korean, Spanish, and Arabic. Its digital infrastructure is built on a Webflow marketing site (wts.edu), a Salesforce-based enrollment portal (wtsedu2.my.site.com), a Thinkific-hosted micro-course platform (westminstermedia.thinkific.com), and a network of content properties including Westminster Media, Westminster Theological Journal, Westminster Magazine, Westminster Seminary Press, Westminster Bookstore, the Montgomery Library, and the Center for Theological Writing. The faculty includes named theologians such as K. Scott Oliphint (apologetics), David B. Garner (systematic theology), Brandon Crowe (New Testament), and Todd M. Rester (church history), with the Van Til presuppositional apologetics tradition as a defining intellectual lineage.

Westminster's revenue model combines tuition and academic fees (degree and certificate programs) with donations solicited through a dedicated give portal, supplemented by bookstore and press sales and conference and event fees. The institution serves as the publisher of record for scholarly translation projects (notably the Dutch Reformed Translation Society's multi-volume Petrus Van Mastricht translation) and operates a tightly integrated publishing, journal, and media ecosystem that extends its influence beyond the enrolled student body. Ownership and governance rest with an independent board of trustees; there is no parent company, private equity sponsor, or external shareholder.

Name

Westminster Theological Seminary

Legal name

Westminster Theological Seminary

Website

https://wts.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1929

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Westminster Theological Seminary is a private Reformed graduate theological seminary founded in 1929 in Glenside, Pennsylvania, offering on-campus, online, and global language-specific degrees and certificates to clergy, scholars, counselors, and international learners, supported by a publishing and media ecosystem.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Theological Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Religious Organizations (8131), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731), Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)

akta.pro primary industry

Seminaries (Graduate Theology & Ministry) (EDAHAKAA)

Keywords

• Theological education
• Graduate seminary programs
• Reformed theology training
• Biblical studies degrees
• Pastoral ministry preparation

Headquarters

HQ city

Glenside

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Academic Fees: Revenue is generated primarily through tuition and fees charged for degree programs (MDiv, MA, ThM, DMin, PhD) and certificate programs. Tuition and financial aid information is available through a dedicated admissions portal. The institution operates on an academic calendar with per-credit or program-based fee structures.
2. Donations and Charitable Giving: The institution actively solicits donations through a dedicated donate portal on its website. A [email protected] address is listed for donor relations. Donors include alumni, supporters of Reformed theological education, and friends of the seminary.
3. Bookstore and Shop Revenue: The Westminster Bookstore (wtsbooks.com), Westminster Shoppe (shoppe.wts.edu), and Westminster Seminary Press generate revenue through sales of theological books, academic resources, and merchandise.
4. Conference and Event Fees: Revenue derived from seminary chapel events, theological conferences, and academic programming facilitated through Westminster Media and the Framework initiative.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Westminster Theological Seminary is a private Reformed theological seminary that offers graduate theological degree programs (MDiv, MA, ThM, DMin, PhD) and certificate programs through on-campus, online, and global language-specific formats (Korean, Spanish, Arabic). Instruction is anchored in the Westminster Confession of Faith and emphasizes six distinctives: Covenantal Apologetics, Biblical Counseling, Redemptive-Historical Hermeneutics, Biblico-Systematic Theology, Historical Theology, and Christ-Centered Preaching. The seminary also operates a publishing arm (Westminster Seminary Press), a bookstore, an academic journal, a magazine, a library, and digital media platforms that extend its scholarly and ministry influence.

Product overview

Westminster Theological Seminary offers a comprehensive theological education portfolio comprising on-campus, online, and global degree programs spanning certificate through doctoral levels (MDiv, MA, ThM, DMin, PhD). The institution provides educational distinctives centered on Covenantal Apologetics, Biblical Counseling, Redemptive-Historical Hermeneutics, Biblico-Systematic Theology, Historical Theology, and Christ-Centered Preaching. Beyond degree programs, the seminary operates supporting platforms including the Westminster Theological Journal, Westminster Magazine, Westminster Bookstore, Westminster Seminary Press, Montgomery Library, Center for Theological Writing, The Craig Center, and The Westminster Shoppe, along with digital initiatives such as Framework: Public Theology, Micro Courses, and the Unio cum Christo Journal.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Westminster Bookstore: The seminary's official bookstore offering theological books and resources
• Westminster Seminary Press
• Westminster Magazine
• Westminster Theological Journal
• Westminster Media
• The Craig Center

Products and services

• On-Campus Degree Programs

Quantifiable outcome

• Graduates serve in ministry positions (pastors, missionaries, counselors, scholars) across multiple continents, with testimonials referencing preparation for cross-cultural disciple-making, pastoral ministry, and academic scholarship.

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Covenant CollegeminorOthersNoted as an institution where Dr. Todd Rester's wife came to Reformed and Presbyterian convictions through professors during her time there. An informal connection through shared Reformed educational networks rather than a formal institutional partnership.
• Dutch Reformed Translation SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Dutch Reformed Translation Society is leading the multi-volume English translation project of Petrus Van Mastricht's Theoretical-Practical Theology. Dr. Todd Rester serves as part of the project team, with Westminster Seminary Press publishing the resulting volumes. This is a significant scholarly partnership advancing the recovery of early modern Reformed theology.
• Acton InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Todd Rester has translated works for the Acton Institute in addition to the Dutch Reformed Translation Society, indicating a collaborative relationship in the translation of early modern theological and philosophical works.
• Reformation Heritage BooksChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor
• Calvin Theological SeminaryminorOthersAn academic institution where Dr. Todd Rester previously taught and from which he received his PhD. The connection reflects shared Reformed theological education networks rather than formal institutional partnership.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Dallas Theological Seminary: Dallas Theological Seminary is a large evangelical seminary offering MDiv, ThM, and DMin programs with both residential and online delivery. It is directly comparable as a confessional graduate theological school with publishing and media operations and a similarly diversified revenue base.
• Reformed Theological Seminary: RTS is a multi-campus Reformed seminary system offering MDiv, MA, ThM, and DMin programs online and across several U.S. campuses. It is the closest direct peer to Westminster in Reformed identity, multi-format delivery, and degree portfolio.
• The Master's Seminary: The Master's Seminary (TMS) is a California-based, dispensational evangelical seminary offering MDiv, ThM, and DMin degrees. It is comparable as a similarly sized graduate seminary focused on rigorous biblical and theological training with published faculty.
• Covenant Theological Seminary: Covenant Seminary is the PCA's flagship seminary in St. Louis, offering MDiv, MA, ThM, and DMin programs in residential and online formats. It is a direct peer as a confessional Reformed seminary serving Presbyterian and evangelical students with parallel degree offerings.
• Calvin Theological Seminary: Calvin Seminary is the CRC's seminary in Grand Rapids, offering MDiv, MA, ThM, and PhD programs in Reformed theology. It overlaps with Westminster in Reformed identity, faculty (Todd Rester previously taught there), and degree portfolio, making it a direct peer.
• Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary: Gordon-Conwell is a multi-site evangelical seminary with campuses in Massachusetts, North Carolina, and Florida, plus extensive online programs. It is directly comparable as a similarly sized graduate seminary offering MDiv, ThM, and DMin programs with broad evangelical identity.

Broad incumbents

• Southern Baptist Theological Seminary: SBTS is the largest Southern Baptist seminary, offering MDiv, MA, ThM, DMin, and PhD programs with extensive online and free-course offerings. As a much larger incumbent in the same graduate theological education category, it competes with Westminster on online enrollment and theological content distribution.
• Fuller Theological Seminary: Fuller is a large, multi-school evangelical seminary in Pasadena offering MDiv, MAT, ThM, DMin, and PhD programs across theology, psychology, and intercultural studies. It is a broad incumbent with overlapping degree programs and an online presence comparable to Westminster's.
• Princeton Theological Seminary: Princeton Theological Seminary is a large mainline seminary offering MDiv, ThM, and PhD programs. It is included as a historical peer — Westminster was founded in 1929 by J. Gresham Machen, who left Princeton over its theological reorganization — and as a comparable graduate theological institution.
• Liberty University School of Divinity: Liberty's School of Divinity offers MDiv, MAR, ThM, DMin, and PhD programs primarily online at low cost. It is a broad incumbent in graduate theological education, competing directly with Westminster for online seminary students on price and accessibility.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/73216750984
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/WTSMedia
• Xx.com/WestminsterTS
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/westminster-theological-seminary

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Westminster Theological Seminary