What Pittsburgh Theological Seminary does

Pittsburgh Theological Seminary (PTS) is a private, nonprofit graduate theological institution affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), located at 616 North Highland Avenue in the East Liberty neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1794, it serves prospective ministerial, academic, and lay students through master's-level degrees (M.Div., M.T.S., M.A.P.S.), a multi-cohort Doctor of Ministry program, joint degrees with Duquesne University School of Law and the University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work, and an array of graduate certificates in areas such as Urban Ministry, Theological Studies, and Adaptive and Innovative Ministry. Programs are delivered in hybrid and residential formats via Canvas LMS and the MyPTS self-serve application portal, with periodic on-campus intensives enabling remote and international enrollment.

The Seminary's revenue model is a combination of tuition and fees (master's tuition ranges from $490/credit to $11,760/year for full-time enrollment, with D.Min. annual intensive charges of $5,112-$6,300/year), housing rentals across Calian Residence Hall, Fulton Apartments, and Stanton Highland Apartments ($555-$1,250/month), and advancement/charitable giving via online donations, crowdfunding, and planned giving programs. Financial aid is structurally significant: 87% of master's students receive aid, 50% receive a living stipend, and only 24% of the 2023-2024 graduating class took out educational loans. Supporting resources include Barbour Library (the largest theological library in the tri-state area), the Metro-Urban Institute, the Field Education program, the Kelso Museum, and student housing partnerships with Trek Development.

Go-to-market relies on a mix of direct admissions (dedicated counselors for master's/certificate and D.Min. tracks), community-led recruiting through PC(USA) church endorsement requirements and alumni referrals, event-driven engagement via virtual information sessions and campus visits (which waive the $60 application fee), and inside-sales through the MyPTS portal. Strategic distribution extends through institutional partnerships with Duquesne University, the University of Pittsburgh, the University of Edinburgh (New College), and the Antiochian House of Studies, expanding the Seminary's reach across professional, academic, and international audiences.

Name

Pittsburgh Theological Seminary

Legal name

Pittsburgh Theological Seminary

Website

https://pts.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1794

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Pittsburgh Theological Seminary is a PC(USA)-affiliated graduate theological institution in Pittsburgh offering master's, Doctor of Ministry, certificate, and joint-degree programs via hybrid and residential delivery to ministerial, academic, and lay students.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Graduate Theological Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Religious Organizations (8131)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Seminaries (Graduate Theology & Ministry) (EDAHAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Denominational Theological Colleges (e.g., Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, Evangelical) (EDAHAKAM)

Keywords

• Graduate theological education
• Seminary degree programs
• Master of divinity
• Doctor of ministry
• Ministry formation training

Headquarters

HQ city

Pittsburgh

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees - Master's Programs: Primary revenue stream from tuition charged per credit or at flat rates for full-time/half-time enrollment. Master's tuition ranges from $490/credit to $11,760/year for full-time (24 credits). Additional revenue from application fees ($60), enrollment deposit ($50), and comprehensive fees ($220/semester).
2. Tuition and Fees - Doctor of Ministry: Doctor of Ministry program charges $5,112 per year (two intensives) or $426/credit. Revenue is generated through cohort-based tuition over the 3-year program duration.
3. Non-Degree and Certificate Programs: Non-degree students pay $480-$500/credit. Certificate programs charge at standard master's per-credit rates ($490-$520). Revenue is generated per course enrollment.
4. Student Housing Rent: On-campus housing generates rental income from studios ($555-$667/month), efficiency ($660-$767/month), one-bedroom ($750-$887/month), and multi-bedroom apartments ($940-$1,627/month). Rent is billed monthly for non-PTS tenants and by semester for PTS students. Utilities included in rent.
5. Advancement and Charitable Giving: The Seminary generates donations through online giving portals, crowdfunding for special projects, and planned giving programs. A donor impact report and advancement staff are dedicated to fundraising activities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Pittsburgh Theological Seminary is a graduate theological institution offering master's degrees (Master of Divinity, Master of Theological Studies, Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies), Doctor of Ministry with multiple focus cohorts, joint degrees with partner universities, and graduate certificates in theological and ministry areas. Programs are delivered in hybrid (online plus on-campus intensives), residential, and flexible formats, supported by Barbour Library, Field Education placements, and on-campus housing facilities.

Product overview

Pittsburgh Theological Seminary offers a comprehensive portfolio of theological education programs including three master's degrees (Master of Divinity, Master of Theological Studies, Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies), an advanced Doctor of Ministry with multiple focus area cohorts, joint degrees with Duquesne University School of Law and University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work, and various graduate certificates (Urban Ministry, Theological Studies, Adaptive and Innovative Ministry, Faith Work and the Common Good, Ministry, Missional Leadership). Programs are delivered through hybrid (online plus on-campus intensives), residential, and flexible formats. The seminary provides supporting resources including Barbour Library, Field Education placements, Metro-Urban Institute, and on-campus housing facilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Master of Divinity (M.Div.)
• Master of Theological Studies (M.T.S.)
• Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies (M.A.P.S.)
• Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.)
• Master's/Juris Doctor Joint Degree (MDiv/JD, MTS/JD, MAPS/JD)
• Master's/Master of Social Work Joint Degree (MDiv/MSW, MTS/MSW, MAPS/MSW)
• Graduate Certificate in Urban Ministry
• Graduate Certificate in Theological Studies
• Graduate Certificate Programs (Adaptive and Innovative Ministry, Faith Work and the Common Good, Ministry, Missional Leadership)
• Reformed Focus D.Min. Cohort
• D.Min. Cohorts (Various Focus Areas)

Quantifiable outcome

• 87 percent of master's students receive financial aid
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Duquesne University School of LawcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1983Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and Duquesne University School of Law established a joint degree program in 1983, enabling students to earn both a Master of Divinity and Juris Doctor (MDiv/JD) in five years instead of six. The partnership was expanded in 2019 to include MAPS/JD and MTS/JD joint degrees. Cross-registration allows certain courses to count as electives in each institution.
• ACTION-Housing Inc. (now managed by Trek Development)minorOthersPittsburgh Theological Seminary partnered with ACTION-Housing Inc. to sell and convert three adjacent apartment buildings into affordable housing units on North Highland Avenue in East Liberty. The project provides modern, affordable, and safe housing for Seminary students as well as low-income and moderate-income households, individuals with disabilities, and single parents in the neighborhood. Units are affordable to households earning 20-80 percent of Area Median Income. Managed by Trek Development following the sale.
• University of PittsburghcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPTS students can cross-register with the University of Pittsburgh to earn a Master's in Social Work (MSW) in combination with seminary degrees (MDiv/MSW, MTS/MSW, MAPS/MSW), expanding educational opportunities in less time and at reduced cost.
• New College, University of Edinburgh (Scotland)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPittsburgh Theological Seminary and New College at the University of Edinburgh offer a collaborative Doctor of Ministry in Reformed Theology. Faculty from both institutions teach courses held at PTS in Pittsburgh and at New College in Edinburgh, Scotland, during two-week intensive blocks in January and June. The program explores ministry dynamics in both Scotland and the United States through the lens of Reformed theology.
• Antiochian House of StudiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPTS offers an Eastern Christian Doctor of Ministry cohort presented in partnership with Antiochian House of Studies, enabling study in Orthodox theological traditions alongside Protestant ministry preparation.
• Trek Development (formerly ACTION-Housing Inc.)minorOthersTrek Development manages the Stanton Highland Apartments (Alder and Maple buildings) that provide affordable housing near the Seminary campus. These newly renovated two- and three-bedroom apartments offer housing to Seminary students and PCHE graduate students, with utilities included and basic wireless internet provided.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary: PC(USA)-affiliated seminary in Louisville offering MDiv, MAPT, and DMin programs with hybrid delivery. Direct peer to PTS as a smaller denomination-specific seminary with comparable programmatic and enrollment profile.
• Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary: Multi-denominational evangelical seminary offering MDiv, ThM, and DMin programs with extensive online options. Comparable to PTS in graduate theological curriculum and hybrid delivery, though denominationally different.
• McCormick Theological Seminary: Historically Presbyterian (now interdenominational) seminary in Chicago offering MDiv and DMin programs. Direct peer to PTS in denomination heritage, program mix, and hybrid delivery.
• Princeton Theological Seminary: The largest Presbyterian-affiliated seminary in the U.S., offering MDiv, MTS, ThM, and PhD programs. Direct peer to PTS as a mainline Protestant seminary with similar denominational ties and degree portfolio.
• Fuller Theological Seminary: Large multi-denominational seminary offering MDiv, MAT, and DMin programs with a strong hybrid/online footprint. Competes directly with PTS for hybrid graduate theological students, especially DMin candidates.
• Union Presbyterian Seminary: PC(USA)-affiliated seminary with campuses in Virginia and North Carolina. Direct peer to PTS in Presbyterian identity, MDiv curriculum, and DMin offerings for active ministers.
• Columbia Theological Seminary: PC(USA)-affiliated seminary in Decatur, Georgia offering MDiv, ThM, and DMin programs. Direct peer to PTS in denomination, mission, and degree portfolio.
• Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary: PC(USA)-affiliated seminary in Austin, Texas offering MDiv and DMin programs with bilingual and hybrid options. Direct peer to PTS as a denomination-tied seminary of similar scale.

Broad incumbents

• Duke Divinity School: Methodist-affiliated divinity school at Duke University offering MDiv, MTS, ThM, and DMin programs. Broader incumbent to PTS — overlaps in mainline Protestant ministry training but operates within a larger research university context.
• Candler School of Theology (Emory University): United Methodist seminary at Emory offering MDiv, MTS, ThM, and DMin programs. Broader incumbent to PTS — overlapping mainline Protestant theological education within a larger university ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/pghseminary
• Facebookfacebook.com/149766845226
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pittsburgh-theological-seminary

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Pittsburgh Theological Seminary