The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

What The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary does

The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (SBTS) is a private nonprofit theological seminary founded in 1859 and headquartered at 2825 Lexington Road in Louisville, Kentucky. It operates as the flagship graduate theological institution of the Southern Baptist Convention, offering degree programs from diploma through doctoral level, including the Master of Divinity, Master of Arts, Master of Theology, Doctor of Ministry, Doctor of Education, Doctor of Educational Ministry, and Doctor of Philosophy, alongside the affiliated Boyce College for undergraduate studies. Programs are delivered through residential on-campus instruction in Louisville, the Global Campus (fully online), and hybrid-modular formats that combine online coursework with periodic on-campus intensives or conference-based course credits.

The institution generates revenue primarily through tuition and charitable donations. Master's-level courses are priced under $950 per course, while the 70-credit-hour PhD program totals $27,670 for SBC-affiliated students and $39,140 for non-SBC students, payable over 48 months. A 2024 residential M.Div. tuition cap delivers up to 40% savings on coursework beyond nine credit hours. Underlying technology centers on the Canvas learning management system for online delivery, supplemented by Parchment for transcript services, Handshake for career services, and standard SSO integrations (Google, Facebook, LinkedIn). Faculty have produced 411 published books and developed 678 courses, supported by 1,352 combined teaching years and 1,366 combined ministry years.

The seminary serves pastors, missionaries, theological scholars, and church ministry leaders, with admissions driven by event-based recruitment (Preview Days, campus visits), direct admissions counseling, and a Church Partnerships channel launched in February 2026 that formalizes accredited credit for church-based training. Student support includes the Writing Center and Office of Career Development. Governance rests with an independent Board of Trustees, and every faculty member signs the Abstract of Principles, the institution's foundational confessional document, as a condition of teaching appointment.

Name

The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

Legal name

The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

Website

https://sbts.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1859

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary is the flagship graduate theological institution of the Southern Baptist Convention, founded in 1859 in Louisville, Kentucky. It offers accredited residential, online, and hybrid degree programs from diploma through PhD, serving pastors, missionaries, scholars, and church leaders.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Theological Education and Ministerial Training

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Seminaries (Graduate Theology & Ministry) (EDAHAKAA)

Keywords

• Theological education
• Seminary degree programs
• Ministry training
• Graduate theological studies
• Doctoral ministry programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Louisville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Primary revenue from tuition for degree programs including Master's, Doctoral, and certificate programs. Tuition varies by program with Master's courses under $950 and doctoral programs at specific total costs.
2. Donations and Giving: The seminary receives charitable donations from supporters. A dedicated 'Give' section exists on the website for financial contributions to support the institution.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary delivers accredited theological education through degree programs spanning undergraduate (Boyce College), Master's (M.Div., M.A., Th.M.), and Doctoral (Ph.D., D.Min., Ed.D., D.Ed.Min.) levels. Programs are delivered in residential, fully online (Global Campus), and hybrid-modular formats, with specialized offerings including the Seminary Wives Institute, Conference Courses, Church Partnerships program, and a new PhD concentration in Islamic Studies. All programs are anchored in the institution's 1859 Abstract of Principles confessional framework.

Product overview

Southern Seminary is a theological seminary offering a comprehensive portfolio of theological education programs at undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels. The institution operates through its main seminary divisions (Master of Divinity, Master of Arts, Master of Theology, and doctoral programs in Ministry, Education, and Philosophy) alongside Boyce College for undergraduate education. Programs are delivered through multiple modalities: residential on-campus in Louisville, fully online through The Global Campus, and hybrid formats combining modular on-campus intensives with online coursework. Specialized offerings include Church Partnerships (allowing local church training to count toward seminary credit), Conference Courses (earning credit at external conferences), Seminary Wives Institute, and Experiential Modular courses (online with 3-day campus residencies). Student support services include a Writing Center and Office of Career Development. The seminary's academic structure includes the School of Theology and the Billy Graham School of Missions, Evangelism and Ministry.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Boyce College: An undergraduate liberal arts college affiliated with the seminary, offering foundational education for ministry and theological study.
• The Billy Graham School
• School of Theology
• Seminary Wives Institute
• The Global Campus Hub
• Southern Equip
• The Briefing Podcast
• Scene@Southern Newsletter
• Jenkins Center for a Christian Understanding of Islam

Products and services

• Master of Divinity (M.Div.) The most comprehensive form of ministerial training available, comprising courses in biblical studies, theology, church history, missions, and evangelism. Offered in residential, online, and hybrid-modular formats for prospective pastors and ministry leaders.
• Master of Arts (M.A.) Graduate-level theological education for ministry leaders and laypeople seeking biblical and theological formation.
• Master of Theology (Th.M.)
• Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.)
• Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) with Islamic Studies Concentration Research doctoral degree preparing scholars for academic and research positions, with multiple concentrations including Biblical Studies, Systematic Theology, and a new Islamic Studies concentration offered in modular format.
• Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)
• Doctor of Educational Ministry (D.Ed.Min.)
• Graduate Certificates
• Diploma Programs
• Boyce College
• The Global Campus (Southern Seminary Online)
• Experiential Modular Courses Online courses with 3-day on-campus intensives for online students, including meals, chapel attendance, and faculty interaction. Lodging and meals included in tuition.
• Church Partnerships Program Program allowing students to receive accredited seminary credit for ministry training happening in their local church through Ministry Apprenticeship Program, Contextualized Leadership Development, and Church-Based Seminary Courses.
• Seminary Wives Institute
• Conference Courses
• M.Div. Tuition Cap Program Tuition pricing program for residential Master of Divinity students offering a 9 credit hour tuition cap with up to 15 hours at no additional charge, yielding up to 40% savings on M.Div. tuition.

Quantifiable outcome

• 335 graduates from 38 states and 22 countries in Class of 2026
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Boyce CollegecoreOthersBoyce College is an undergraduate school of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary located on the same Louisville campus. It provides associate and bachelor's degree programs as a pipeline to SBTS seminary programs, creating an integrated theological education pathway from undergraduate through doctoral studies.
• Seminary Wives InstituteminorOthersA program at SBTS providing theological education specifically designed for seminary wives and women in ministry contexts, offering courses and resources for spiritual growth and ministry preparation.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary: Another SBC-affiliated seminary offering M.Div., Th.M., and doctoral programs in theological and ministry fields. Closest comparable peer given shared SBC denominational mission, similar degree portfolio, and similar student segments (pastors, missionaries, scholars).
• Reformed Theological Seminary: Multi-campus evangelical seminary with a Global Education distance program offering M.Div., M.A., and Th.M. Comparable to SBTS on residential and online modalities, conservative theological posture, and church-focused student segments.
• Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary: SBC seminary offering M.Div. and doctoral programs with a strong online presence and lower tuition positioning. Competes directly with SBTS Global Campus for distance learners and SBC students.
• Dallas Theological Seminary: Non-denominational evangelical seminary offering Th.M., M.A., and doctoral programs with strong online and modular offerings. Comparable to SBTS in theological conservatism, faculty scholarship, and student segments, though distinct denominationally.
• New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary: SBC-affiliated seminary offering comparable M.Div., doctoral, and graduate certificate programs with on-campus, online, and modular delivery. Directly competes for SBC students and donor dollars across the Southern U.S.
• Gateway Seminary: SBC-affiliated seminary serving the western U.S., offering similar degree programs including online M.Div. and D.Min. Direct competitor for SBC students and church-partnership channels.
• Liberty University School of Divinity: Large evangelical seminary offering online M.Div., M.A., and D.Min. at lower price points with very broad reach. Competes directly with SBTS Global Campus on convenience and price for non-residential students.
• Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary: SBC-affiliated seminary in Wake Forest, NC offering similar graduate theology degrees and online options. Direct competitor in SBC pipeline for pastors and church leaders.

Broad incumbents

• Southern Methodist University Perkins School of Theology: United Methodist-affiliated theological school offering M.Div. and Th.M. with similar academic profile. Comparable as a peer seminary in academic rigor, though more mainline theologically and not SBC-aligned.

Emerging players

• The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (Boyce College): Undergraduate affiliate of SBTS offering associate and bachelor's degrees with ministry focus. Functions as the seminary's pipeline product and could be compared to other undergraduate ministry programs (e.g., Biola, Bryan College).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sbts
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC_qUtVIh3-IAZUaKtsX3IKg
• Facebookfacebook.com/106355242732843
• Instagraminstagram.com/southernseminary
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-southern-baptist-theological-seminary-cp

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary