New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

What New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary does

New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (NOBTS) is a private theological seminary founded in 1917 and headquartered at 3939 Gentilly Blvd in New Orleans, Louisiana. Affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention, the institution trains church leaders through a multi-tiered academic portfolio spanning Leavell College (associate and bachelor's degrees), 40+ master's degree plans (MDiv and various MAs), and doctoral programs including PhD, EdD, DMin, DEdMin, DMA, and ThM. Delivery occurs through a main campus, the synchronous NOLA2U online video platform (enabled across 49 states via NC-SARA reciprocity), and extension centers in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia, including a prison site at Angola.

Instruction is delivered on Canvas LMS, supported by the John T. Christian Library, the Martin Music Library, and a Writing Center using Purdue OWL resources. Specialized centers — Global Mission Center, NAMB Center, Caskey Center for Church Excellence, and Prepare Network — embed missionary mobilization, bivocational minister scholarships, and church-residency credit-earning partnerships within the academic structure. The seminary holds accreditations from SACSCOC (institutional), ATS (theological), NASM (music), CACREP (counseling, through March 31, 2031), and NC-SARA.

Revenue is generated through a credit-hour tuition model (approximately $355/credit hour for SBC church students) supplemented by donations and endowment contributions managed by the development office. Free-tuition scholarships for bivocational ministers through the Caskey Center and campus housing at roughly half city-rate costs anchor the value proposition for SBC-affiliated students. The customer base is denominational rather than individual — primary segments are SBC church-supported undergraduates, graduate ministerial candidates, doctoral researchers, and bivocational/small-church pastors across the Southern United States, with leaders and faculty deeply connected to the broader SBC academic and missions ecosystem (IMB, state conventions, peer seminaries).

Name

New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

Legal name

New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

Website

https://nobts.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1917

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary is a private SBC-affiliated theological seminary founded in 1917, training church leaders through undergraduate, master's, and doctoral degrees delivered on-campus, online via NOLA2U, and at extension centers across the U.S. South, with credit-earning ministry residencies and an integrated Global Mission Center.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Theological Higher Education / Seminary 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 industries

Bible Colleges (Undergraduate Ministry & Biblical Studies) (EDAHAKAB), Denominational Theological Colleges (e.g., Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, Evangelical) (EDAHAKAM), Faith-Based Education & Formation (Seminaries, Religious Schools, Catechesis) (BPAGAJAD)

Keywords

• Theological education
• Seminary degrees
• Ministry training
• Graduate theological programs
• Religious higher education

Headquarters

HQ city

New Orleans

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

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: Credit-hour based tuition for undergraduate and graduate programs. Students from SBC churches pay approximately $355 per credit hour for on-campus courses. Additional fees for specific programs and services.
2. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Development office manages individual donations, planned giving, and endowment contributions. Multiple giving vehicles including monthly giving programs, legacy gifts, and specific fund campaigns such as Providence Fund for student support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary is a private SBC-affiliated theological seminary that equips church leaders and ministers through accredited undergraduate (associate and bachelor's), master's (MDiv and more than 40 MA plans), and doctoral (DMin, DEdMin, PhD, EdD, DMA, ThM) programs. Programs are delivered on the New Orleans campus, via the synchronous NOLA2U online platform (available in 49 states), at regional extension centers in Georgia, Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi, and through the Prepare Network of SBC church-based mentoring and residencies. Auxiliary offerings include the Global Mission Center for missionary mobilization, the Caskey Center for Church Excellence (full-tuition scholarships for bivocational ministers), the John T. Christian Library with hymnological research collections, the Writing Center, and on-campus housing and guest lodging.

Product overview

New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary operates as a comprehensive theological education institution offering a multi-level academic portfolio across undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs. The institution is organized into distinct colleges: Leavell College (undergraduate), Graduate Studies (MDiv, MA degrees), and Doctoral Studies (professional and research doctorates). The product portfolio includes core degree programs (DMin, DEdMin, PhD, EdD, DMA, ThM), supplementary learning platforms (NOLA2U online learning, Extension Centers), support services (Writing Center, John T. Christian Library, Martin Music Library), and specialized centers (Global Mission Center, Caskey Center, Prepare Network). The institution also offers auxiliary services including Providence Guest House, MissionLab, and travel programs, creating a comprehensive ecosystem for theological education and ministry preparation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Leavell College Undergraduate Degree Programs Undergraduate theological education through Leavell College offering associate and bachelor's degrees preparing students for foundational church leadership and ministry roles within Southern Baptist and evangelical contexts.
• Master's Degree Programs (MDiv, MA, MTS, MMus) Graduate-level seminary degrees including Master of Divinity and more than 40 Master of Arts plans (e.g., Christian Apologetics, Biblical Studies, Christian Education, Church Planting, Counseling, Discipleship, Ministry Leadership, Missiology, Pastoral Ministry, Worship Ministries) plus the Master of Theology and Master of Music in Church Music, providing advanced theological scholarship, ordination preparation, and specialized ministry competencies.
• Doctor of Ministry (DMin) Professional doctoral degree providing practical training for excellence in ministry leadership, targeting working ministers seeking advanced credentials.
• Doctor of Educational Ministry (DEdMin) Professional doctoral degree focused on equipping individuals for leadership in religious education or teaching roles within church and ministry contexts.
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Research doctoral degree offering advanced study and leadership development in theological disciplines for academic and senior ministry careers.
• Doctor of Education (EdD) Research doctoral degree with three majors - Ministry Leadership, Educational Leadership, and Teaching/Pedagogy - preparing leaders in educational ministry and pedagogy.
• Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) Doctoral degree specializing in church music, equipping persons for research, performance, teaching, ministry, and denominational leadership in music and worship.
• NOLA2U Online Learning Synchronous video-based distance learning platform enabling students to attend seminars and courses remotely from home or office via a personal computer; ATS-approved for comprehensive distance education and authorized in 49 states through NC-SARA reciprocity.
• Extension Centers Physical classroom locations in multiple states (Dacula GA, Duluth GA, Angola LA, Blue Mountain MS, Clinton MS, Birmingham AL) providing face-to-face theological education for degree programs beyond the main campus, including the Angola Prison site offering MDiv and MA in Pastoral Ministry.
• Prepare Network Ministry Partnership Program Network of approved SBC churches, local Baptist associations, and parachurch ministries providing structured mentorship and residency programs in which students earn course credit through approved ministry partnerships.
• Global Mission Center (GMC) Center providing training, education, and mobilization for students toward international missionary service and Great Commission engagement, partnering with the International Mission Board (IMB) for application and pipeline support.
• Caskey Center for Church Excellence Center providing full tuition scholarships for Baptist bivocational and small-church ministers from selected states (applicable to certificate, undergraduate, or master's students) and offering practical church ministry training resources.
• Korean DMin Program Korean-language Doctor of Ministry program designed for Korean-speaking ministry leaders seeking professional doctoral training.
• Spanish Language Programs Spanish-language theological education and ministry preparation programs for Spanish-speaking students.
• MissionLab Mission and service opportunity program enabling students to engage in practical ministry, service, and evangelism in the New Orleans community and beyond.

Quantifiable outcome

• 88% of New Orleans residents unaffiliated with an evangelical church
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration11 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU)coreOthersNOBTS is an institutional member of CCCU, a global higher education association dedicated to advancing faith and intellect for the common good. CCCU represents more than 180 Christian institutions around the world, including more than 150 in the U.S. and Canada and more than 30 from an additional 18 countries. NOBTS participates in CCCU events and doctoral education councils.
• International Mission Board (IMB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership for missionary training through Global Mission Center (GMC). IMB representatives served at NOBTS as seminary and pipeline liaisons, assisting students in the application process to become IMB missionaries. The couple Austin and Megan Holcomb served a 3-year term as IMB liaisons at NOBTS. GMC helps mobilize students toward the mission field.
• Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) Churches and ConventionscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNOBTS partners with SBC through local churches, local associations, and state conventions for fulfillment of ministry training mission. Students can earn course credit through NOBTS-approved residency programs with SBC churches. Alumni luncheon at SBC Annual Meeting highlights practical partnerships. Denominational affiliation and endorsement pathways for graduates.
• Prepare NetworkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNetwork of ministry partners including local churches, local Baptist associations, and parachurch ministries designed to help practically train students through mentorship and residency programs. Students earn course credit through approved residency programs or mentoring relationships with approved mentors while gaining practical experience with older ministry leaders.
• University of MobileminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNOBTS alumni and IMB liaisons Austin and Megan Holcomb will lead the new Tom Elliff Center for Missions at University of Mobile beginning Fall 2026. Similar to the Global Mission Center at NOBTS, the new center will build missional culture by providing training and mobilizing students toward the mission field.
• Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Southwestern Seminary, and Southeastern SeminarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHistoric multi-seminary partnership for international mission trip to Indonesia - the first international mission trip where multiple SBC seminaries partnered together. More than 35 total participants including graduate and college students as well as faculty. Trip organized through collaboration of missions professors at IMB training center in Richmond. Represents unity among SBC seminaries in missions departments.
• SBC Crossover Evangelism InitiativecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual convention-wide evangelism effort during SBC Annual Meeting. NOBTS students led by Professor Preston Nix participated in door-to-door evangelism in Orlando during Crossover 2026. Students earned class credit for participation. Combined results across three SBC seminaries: 544 Gospel conversations and 46 decisions for Christ.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Liberty University: Large Baptist-affiliated university with a School of Divinity offering fully online MDiv, MAR, and doctoral programs; serves a similar faith-based student base at materially larger scale and lower price points.
• Biola University: Private evangelical university with a Talbot School of Theology offering seminary-equivalent accredited graduate degrees; competes with NOBTS for the same faith-based graduate student market with broader non-theological offerings.
• Dallas Theological Seminary: Large, established non-denominational evangelical seminary with comparable ThM/PhD/DMin programs and a strong online/Distance Education track; competes for the same conservative evangelical graduate student pool.

Direct peers

• Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary: Wake Forest, NC-based SBC seminary; direct peer in degree offerings and SBC pipeline, and the prior institution of NOBTS President Dr. Jamie Dew, indicating tight denominational and leadership overlap.
• Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary: SBC-affiliated seminary in Fort Worth, TX; the historic NOBTS mission-trip partner, offering parallel degree programs and an extension/online delivery footprint targeting SBC churches across the Southwest.
• Reformed Theological Seminary: Multi-campus evangelical seminary with similar distance/extension model and overlapping MDiv/doctoral offerings; comparable in size, delivery philosophy, and evangelical positioning.
• Gateway Seminary: Ontario, CA-based SBC seminary on the West Coast; competes directly with NOBTS for western-state online students and operates a similar multi-campus extension model feeding SBC churches.
• The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary — Boyce College: Undergraduate arm of SBTS — direct counterpart to NOBTS's Leavell College in providing bachelor's-level ministry preparation within the SBC ecosystem.
• The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary: Sister Southern Baptist Convention seminary in Louisville, KY; offers comparable MDiv/MA/doctoral programs with similar denominational pipeline, accreditation stack (ATS/SACSCOC), and on-campus plus online delivery model.
• Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary: Kansas City, MO-based SBC seminary offering comparable undergraduate through doctoral theological degrees, with parallel online and extension delivery strategies.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NOBTS_Live
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/nobtspublications
• Facebookfacebook.com/320317386489
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/new-orleans-baptist-theological-seminary

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary