Memphis Theological Seminary

What Memphis Theological Seminary does

Memphis Theological Seminary (MTS) is a private, nonprofit theological seminary in midtown Memphis, Tennessee, operating as an institution of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and governed by a Board of Trustees elected by the denomination's General Assembly. Founded in its current form in 1964 (with institutional roots tracing to 1821), MTS is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) and SACSCOC and serves an ecumenical student body drawn from more than 21 denominations across the Mid-South, with students who are approximately 68.9% African American. The institution offers an 84-hour Master of Divinity, a 42-hour Master of Arts in Christian Ministry with multiple specializations, a Doctor of Ministry, and a non-degree Program of Alternate Studies for ordination candidates, plus dedicated Houses of Study for Cumberland Presbyterian, Methodist, and Black Church ministry, and a Center for Pastoral Wholeness and Chaplaincy Studies.

MTS operates on a tuition-based business model charging per credit hour ($640 for Master's, $650 for DMin, $430 per PAS course, with alumni auditing at $210 per course), supplemented by an approximately $15 million endowment (of which roughly $12 million is tied to Cumberland Presbyterian ministerial education), denominational scholarships, federal aid, and foundation grants including a $1 million grant to the House of Black Church Studies from the Assisi Foundation. Delivery is through on-campus instruction at 168 E Parkway South, supplemental synchronous and asynchronous distance education via Canvas LMS, and chaplaincy clinical placements with West Cancer Center and Methodist LeBonheur Healthcare. Reported outcomes are strong (84% MDiv graduation rate versus an ATS average of 61%, 100% graduate placement in 2023 and 2024, 91.2% retention, 0% student loan default rate), but the institution has been placed on probation by ATS for failing Standard 10.3 on Financial Resources and announced it will conclude operations on July 31, 2026, with students transitioned through a teach-out arrangement at Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University and academic records transferred to Bethel University.

Name

Memphis Theological Seminary

Legal name

Memphis Theological Seminary

Website

https://memphisseminary.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1964

Operating status

Closed

Short description

Memphis Theological Seminary is a private, ATS- and SACSCOC-accredited Cumberland Presbyterian seminary in Memphis, Tennessee, offering graduate theological degrees and chaplaincy training to a multi-denominational, predominantly African American student body; it will cease operations on July 31, 2026.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Theological Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), 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

• Theological education
• Seminary degree programs
• Ordained ministry training
• Chaplaincy education
• Graduate divinity school

Headquarters

HQ city

Memphis

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: Graduate theological education with tuition charged per credit hour. Master students pay $640/credit hour, DMin students pay $650/credit hour. Additional fees apply for registration, add/drop, and withdrawal.
2. Program of Alternate Studies (PAS): Non-degree certificate program for alternate route to ordination. Tuition is $430 per course with additional book costs of approximately $50 per course.
3. Alumni Auditing: Alumni may audit master's level courses at a special half-off rate of $210 per course.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Memphis Theological Seminary is an ecumenical graduate theological institution delivering accredited Master of Divinity (84 hours), Master of Arts in Christian Ministry (42 hours), and Doctor of Ministry degrees, along with the non-degree Program of Alternate Studies (PAS) as an alternate ordination route. Specialized ministry formation is provided through the Cumberland Presbyterian House of Studies, House of Black Church Studies, Women in Ministry, and the Center for Pastoral Wholeness and Chaplaincy Studies, complemented by healthcare chaplaincy internships at partner institutions.

Product overview

Memphis Theological Seminary is an ecumenical theological institution offering a portfolio of graduate degree programs and specialized ministry programs. The core academic offerings include the Master of Divinity (MDiv), Master of Arts in Christian Ministry (MACM) with multiple specializations, and Doctor of Ministry (DMin). The seminary also provides alternative educational pathways through the Program of Alternate Studies (PAS) for those seeking ordination through non-traditional routes. Specialized programs include the Cumberland Presbyterian House of Studies, House of Black Church Studies, Women in Ministry, and the Center for Pastoral Wholeness and Chaplaincy Studies. Additional educational resources include lecture series, library services, and student support services including career development and counseling referrals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Master of Divinity (MDiv)
• Master of Arts in Christian Ministry (MACM)
• Doctor of Ministry (DMin)
• Program of Alternate Studies (PAS)
• Cumberland Presbyterian House of Studies (CPHS)
• House of Black Church Studies
• Women in Ministry
• Center for Pastoral Wholeness and Chaplaincy Studies
• MTS Lecture Series
• MTS Library

Quantifiable outcome

• MDiv graduation rate of 84% in 2022 (compared to ATS average of 61%)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist UniversityflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 January 2026Comprehensive teach-out arrangement for students following MTS closure in July 2026. Includes 100% tuition scholarships for eligible MTS students who transfer to Perkins, seamless degree continuation with minimal disruption, academic advising and transcript coordination, and continued accreditation compliance throughout the teach-out period.
• West Cancer CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYear-round chaplaincy internship program where MTS students serve as chaplain interns. Partnership has grown significantly from summer-only to full-year program. Noah Quinton (MDiv, '15) serves as mentor for interns.
• Bethel UniversityflagshipImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTranscript services transitioned to Bethel University following MTS closure. Bethel University Office of the Registrar handles all future transcript requests and degree verifications for MTS alumni and former students.
• Cumberland Presbyterian ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent denomination that founded MTS. Board of Trustees elected by General Assembly of Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Endowment of approximately $12 million designated for Cumberland Presbyterian theological education will be retained by a Cumberland Presbyterian organization.
• Methodist LeBonheur HealthcarecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. David Weatherspoon, chaplain at Methodist LeBonheur Healthcare, teaches classes on chaplaincy in hospital settings. Dr. Sarita Wilson-Anderson, Director of Spiritual Care, offers classes on trauma-informed ministry.
• Center for Chaplaincy StudiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership ended at end of 2024 academic year as MTS began developing its own course offerings for chaplaincy studies.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Perkins School of Theology (Southern Methodist University): The flagship teach-out partner for MTS students. Perkins is an ATS- and SACSCOC-accredited United Methodist seminary offering MDiv, MAM, and DMin degrees with comparable denominational formation and ecumenical programs, making it the most direct operational and curricular comparator.
• Howard University School of Divinity: ATS-accredited HBCU divinity school offering MDiv, MAR, and DMin programs with significant Black Church and ecumenical focus. Comparable to MTS in African American student-body composition, accreditation, and multi-denominational service model.
• Columbia Theological Seminary: An ATS- and SACSCOC-accredited Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) seminary in Decatur, Georgia offering MDiv, MAMC, and DMin programs. Comparable ATS-accredited regional mainline Protestant seminary with denominational formation model parallel to MTS.
• Asbury Theological Seminary: An ATS- and SACSCOC-accredited multi-denominational evangelical seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky offering MDiv, MA, and DMin programs. Comparable in denominationally diverse Methodist-heritage formation and regional Mid-South draw to MTS.
• Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary: An ATS- and SACSCOC-accredited Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) seminary in Kentucky offering MDiv, MAM, and DMin. Closest Presbyterian-heritage peer to MTS with comparable accreditation, regional draw, and denominational formation structure.
• McAfee School of Theology (Mercer University): An ATS-accredited Baptist-affiliated seminary at Mercer University in Atlanta offering MDiv and DMin programs. Comparable ATS-accredited regional Baptist seminary profile with denominational formation houses similar to MTS's Cumberland Presbyterian House.
• Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond: An ATS- and SACSCOC-accredited multi-denominational (primarily Baptist) seminary in Virginia offering MDiv, MACE, and DMin. Comparable mid-sized ecumenical seminary with strong Black Church and African American student representation similar to MTS.
• Vanderbilt Divinity School: An ATS-accredited non-denominational divinity school at a research university offering MDiv and MTS degrees with ecumenical focus. Closest geographic and accreditation peer to MTS within Tennessee.
• Christian Theological Seminary: An ATS- and HLC-accredited ecumenical seminary affiliated with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Indianapolis offering MDiv, MACE, and DMin programs. Similar ecumenical identity, accreditation profile, and mid-sized independent seminary operating model to MTS.
• Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC): A consortium of historically Black seminaries in Atlanta accredited by ATS and SACSCOC, serving multiple Black Church denominations with strong ecumenical formation. Highly comparable to MTS in mission, ATS accreditation profile, and focus on African American theological education.

Market position

Strengths2 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/mts_admissions
• Facebookfacebook.com/103700473001938
• Instagraminstagram.com/memphistheologicalseminary
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/memphis-theological-seminary

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles21 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Memphis Theological Seminary