Garrett - Evangelical Theological Seminary

What Garrett - Evangelical Theological Seminary does

Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary is a private, non-profit United Methodist-affiliated graduate theological institution founded in 1855 (founded year listed as 1853 in some sources and 1855 in company records) and headquartered at 2121 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois, adjacent to Northwestern University. It serves prospective seminary students seeking ordination (Master of Divinity), chaplaincy and pastoral counseling (Master of Arts in Pastoral Care and Counseling), academic research (Master of Theological Studies, PhD), advanced ministry leadership (Doctor of Ministry), lay leaders (Laity Discernment Cohort and certificates), and culturally-specific communities such as Latiné learners through Centro Raíces Latinas. The seminary operates 11+ Centers and Institutes spanning preaching, ecological regeneration, Black church experience, Asian/Asian American ministry, ethics, spiritual formation, religion and global health, and Paulo Freire critical pedagogy, and extends reach internationally through partnerships in Chile and Argentina.

The institution delivers instruction through Canvas LMS with Yuja video integration and Microsoft 365 single sign-on, and distributes online learning via the Garrett Collective platform and Garrett Online. Course delivery is supplemented by Contextual Education placements and the Cátedra Paulo Freire conference series. Technology is built on commodity SaaS rather than proprietary systems; the differentiator is the academic and community programming layered on top of standard LMS infrastructure.

Revenue mechanics reflect a non-profit higher-education model: tuition (heavily discounted through 50–100% scholarships plus stipends), endowment and donor contributions, denominational support from the United Methodist Church and its conferences, and programmatic grants such as the $1.25 million Lilly Endowment Inc. award supporting the Hope for Creation curriculum. Customer segments are distributed across individual vocational ministry students, lay leaders, and church/congregation clients of continuing-education resources, with go-to-market executed via the seminary website, denominational referral partnerships, on-campus events (Homecoming, commencement, Escuela de Ministerio), and online self-serve access through the Garrett Collective.

Name

Garrett - Evangelical Theological Seminary

Legal name

Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary

Website

https://garrett.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1855

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary is a 170-year-old United Methodist-affiliated graduate theological institution in Evanston, Illinois offering accredited degrees (MDiv, MAPCC, MTS, DMin, PhD), certificates, and online learning via the Garrett Collective to ministry students, lay leaders, and diverse faith communities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Theological Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)

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

• Theological education
• Graduate ministry degrees
• Online seminary courses
• Pastoral counseling programs
• Church leadership training

Headquarters

HQ city

Evanston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary is a United Methodist-affiliated theological seminary offering graduate-level degree programs (MDiv, MAPCC, MATM, MTS, DMin, PhD), certificate programs, and continuing education for ministry and church leadership. The seminary delivers instruction both on its Evanston, Illinois campus and through the online Garrett Collective platform, supported by 11 specialized Centers and Institutes covering areas such as preaching, ethics, ecological regeneration, Latine ministries, and global health.

Product overview

Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary offers a comprehensive theological education portfolio centered around graduate theological degrees (MDiv, MAPCC, MATM, MTS, DMin, PhD), professional certificates, and continuing education programs. The institution operates through its primary campus in Evanston, Illinois and the online Garrett Collective platform. Key programmatic infrastructure includes 11 specialized Centers and Institutes covering areas such as preaching (Styberg Preaching Institute), ecological regeneration, Asian/Asian American ministry, church and Black experience, Latine communities (Centro Raíces Latinas), ethics (Stead Center), missional church engagement, spiritual formation (Rueben P. Job Institute), and global health. The seminary also maintains academic partnerships, contextual education placements, and the Cátedra Paulo Freire for critical pedagogy scholarship. Course delivery utilizes Canvas LMS with Yuja video integration. The institution has recently launched the Centro Raíces Latinas (2025) and Hope for Creation curriculum through the Midwest Bioregional Hub.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Garrett Collective: Flexible online learning designed for ministry, justice, and lifelong formation.
• Garrett Online

Products and services

• Master of Divinity (MDiv) Primary professional degree preparing students for ordained ministry, with concentrations in Peace Studies and LGBTQ Studies. For prospective pastors and ordained ministry candidates.
• Master of Arts in Pastoral Care and Counseling (MAPCC) Graduate degree preparing students for chaplaincy, spiritual care, and clinical pastoral counseling roles with Chaplaincy and Spiritual Care Track and Clinical Track.
• Master of Arts in Theology and Ministry (MATM) Graduate degree focused on theological studies and ministry formation for lay and vocational ministry leaders.
• Master of Theological Studies (MTS) Academic master's degree providing foundation in theological studies with specialization options including Liturgical Studies.
• Doctor of Ministry (DMin) Professional doctoral degree for ministry leaders with specializations in Leadership for Social Transformation, Strategic Leadership in Black Congregations, and Spiritual Direction.
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Research doctoral degree with six specializations including Biblical Studies, Christian Education and Congregational Studies, History of Christianity and Historical Theology, Liturgical Studies, Theological and Ethical Studies, and Pastoral Theology, Personality and Culture.
• Certificate Programs Post-baccalaureate certificate programs in Christian Theological Studies, Child Advocacy, Christian Education, Ecological Regeneration, Evangelism and Church Planting, and Foundations of Methodist Ministry.
• UMC Course of Study (Escuela del Curso de Estudio) United Methodist Church required course of study for ordained ministry, offered in English and Spanish (Escuela del Curso de Estudio), with an Advanced Course of Study option.
• The Garrett Collective Flexible online learning platform for ministry, justice, and lifelong formation providing continuing education, Bible studies, spiritual discipline guides, and congregational training materials.
• Laity Discernment Cohort Cohort program launching Fall 2025 to help lay people discern their call to ministry, with monthly discernment sessions and discounted $200 class trials for prospective students.
• Hope for Creation Curriculum 15-month earth-based curriculum through the Midwest Bioregional Hub for congregations partnering with communities for mutual thriving, supported by a $1.25 million Lilly Endowment grant.
• Deacon Studies Specialized studies for the United Methodist deacon ordination track.

Quantifiable outcome

• Accessible scholarships ranging from 50% to 100% tuition with stipends
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and minor.

• AETH (Association of Theological Schools)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership supporting Hispanic-Latinx theological education and research initiatives
• Hispanic Summer ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative program providing summer theological education opportunities for Hispanic students
• Hispanic Youth Leadership Academy (HYLA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnited Methodist leadership initiative providing intensive summer leadership academy and long-term mentoring for Hispanic-Latinx college students around topics of calling, education, and Latin@ identity
• Methodist Church of ChilestrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational partnership including workshop facilitation by Rev. Miguel Ulloa (Director of Methodist Seminary of Chile) at Escuela de Ministerio, and ongoing delegation exchanges
• Evanston Public LibraryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partnership engaging Latine communities in the Evanston area
• Biblica Virtual (Argentina)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational collaborator providing biblical and theological resources
• UCEL (University in Argentina)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership with Argentine university for mutual exchange and collaboration
• North Central Jurisdiction United Methodist ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMission Council grant supporting Escuela de Ministerio gathering of Latine pastors and lay leaders from six conferences

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Princeton Theological Seminary: Major ecumenical/mainline Reformed seminary offering MDiv, ThM, and PhD programs with similar degree structure and academic stature, drawing from overlapping student demographics.
• Candler School of Theology (Emory University): United Methodist-affiliated theological seminary offering MDiv, professional master's, DMin, and PhD programs in close alignment with Garrett's Methodist identity, degree portfolio, and ecumenical ethos.
• Iliff School of Theology: Methodist-affiliated theological school in Denver offering MDiv, MA, DMin, and PhD programs with social-justice focus closely mirroring Garrett's progressive, justice-oriented value proposition.
• Drew University Theological School: United Methodist-related seminary offering MDiv, STM, DMin, and PhD programs; former employer of Garrett's president and a direct peer in the Methodist theological education ecosystem.
• Boston University School of Theology: United Methodist-related seminary offering MDiv, STM, ThM, DMin, and PhD programs with a similar ecumenical and progressive theological identity, competing for the same national applicant pool.
• Claremont School of Theology: Methodist-related ecumenical graduate theological school offering MDiv, MA, DMin, and PhD programs with progressive theological commitments directly comparable to Garrett.
• Duke Divinity School: Mainline Protestant seminary offering MDiv, MTS, ThM, and DMin degrees with strong theological scholarship and Methodist-rooted ecumenical ethos; directly competes for graduate theological students with Garrett.

Broad incumbents

• Fuller Theological Seminary: Large multi-school seminary system offering MDiv, DMin, and PhD programs with significant online/distance-learning reach — a useful scale-and-online peer benchmark for Garrett Collective.
• Asbury Theological Seminary: Large interdenominational evangelical seminary offering MDiv, DMin, and PhD programs with substantial online enrollment — an instructive peer for Garrett's Garrett Collective growth strategy.
• Luther Seminary: Larger mainline Christian seminary with broader funding base offering MDiv and DMin programs; serves a related graduate theological education market even though Lutheran (not Methodist) in affiliation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/garrettseminary
• Facebookfacebook.com/30188542744
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/garrett-evangelical-theological-seminary

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Garrett - Evangelical Theological Seminary