Lexington Theological Seminary

What Lexington Theological Seminary does

Lexington Theological Seminary (LTS) is a private, nonprofit theological institution founded in 1865 and headquartered in Lexington, Kentucky. It operates as an ecumenical seminary affiliated with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) while serving students from multiple denominations including the United Church of Christ and Roman Catholic laity. The seminary's core products are accredited graduate degree programs — a 76-credit Master of Divinity, a 40-credit Master of Theological Studies, a 40-credit Master in Pastoral Studies, and a 30-credit Doctor of Ministry — delivered approximately 90% online with on-campus intensives held twice yearly, alongside certificates in Pastoral Ministry, African American Ministry, Hispanic Ministries, and Climate Challenges.

Technically, LTS runs on commodity education infrastructure: Canvas for the learning management system, Populiweb for enrollment and student information, and Office 365 for communications. Course delivery is primarily asynchronous video with optional synchronous Zoom sessions. The differentiators are pedagogical rather than technical — a competency-based, congregationally-centered model, the Reflection-Action-Reflection research framework in the DMin, and ATS accreditation that makes credits transferable across denominations.

LTS monetizes through tuition at $480 per credit hour (76/40/30 credits for MDiv/MTS-MPS/DMin respectively), discounted 30–50% for affiliated denominations, plus application fees, technology fees, donations, federal student loan facilitation, and Lilly Endowment grant funding. Students typically graduate with minimal debt; over 50% graduate with zero debt. Distribution is direct-to-consumer through the seminary's own application portal, with recruitment driven heavily by denominational referral channels — Disciples of Christ, UCC, the Diocese of Lexington, and specialized offices for African American and Hispanic ministries. The seminary operates as a fully online institution under NC-SARA reciprocity, enrolling students nationwide while maintaining a small Lexington campus for intensives.

Name

Lexington Theological Seminary

Legal name

Lexington Theological Seminary

Website

https://lextheo.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1865

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Theological Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

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
• Ministry training
• Pastoral studies
• Online seminary

Headquarters

HQ city

Lexington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Revenue model

1. Tuition Revenue: Primary revenue stream from tuition charges per credit hour for degree and certificate programs. Standard rate of $480 per credit hour with various denominational discounts ranging from 30% to 50%. Additional fees for technology ($30/month), registration, and course drops.
2. Donations and Charitable Gifts: Revenue from financial gifts supporting scholarship funds, continuing education opportunities, award-winning faculty, technological infrastructure, and physical space. Multiple giving options including online giving, stock transfers, IRA charitable rollovers, charitable annuities, and planned giving/bequests.
3. Application Fees: Non-refundable application fee of $65 charged to all applicants for processing admissions applications.
4. Federal Student Loans: Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans for degree-seeking students attending at least half-time (2.5 credits per quarter). The seminary facilitates federal student aid as a financing option for tuition.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Lexington Theological Seminary is a private theological seminary that offers accredited graduate degree programs (Master of Divinity, Master of Theological Studies, Master of Professional Studies, Doctor of Ministry) and certificate programs in biblical studies, theology, and ministry. Programs are delivered through a hybrid online format with occasional on-campus intensives, designed for working adults preparing for professional ministry, chaplaincy, lay leadership, and continued theological education.

Product overview

Lexington Theological Seminary offers a suite of theological education products centered around degree programs and certificate offerings. The core portfolio includes four degree programs: the Master of Divinity (76 credits, hybrid online/in-person), Master of Theological Studies (40 credits, online), Master in Pastoral Studies (40 credits, online), and Doctor of Ministry (hybrid). Specialized MTS concentrations exist in African American Studies and Latinx Studies (bilingual with first year in Spanish). Supporting these are certificate programs including Pastoral Ministry (24 credits), African American Ministry (12 courses), Hispanic Ministries (12 courses in Spanish), and a Climate Challenges certificate. The institution also provides non-degree options including auditing, Lay School of Theology classes, and webinar series. All programs follow a congregationally-centered model integrating theological study with practical ministry experience.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Master of Divinity (MDiv) Three-year graduate professional degree preparing students for ordained ministry, chaplaincy, and related vocations; delivered in a hybrid online format with brief on-campus residencies.
• Master of Theological Studies (MTS) Academic master's degree for students seeking advanced theological education for teaching, further graduate study, or deepened lay leadership; hybrid online format.
• Master of Professional Studies (MPS) Professional master's degree designed for working adults pursuing theological education without ordination goals; offered in a flexible hybrid online format.
• Doctor of Ministry (DMin) Professional doctorate for experienced ministers emphasizing practical ministry leadership, with cohort-based hybrid delivery and a dissertation/project component.
• Certificate Programs Short-form non-degree certificates in focused areas of biblical, theological, and ministerial study for lay leaders and continuing education; delivered online.
• Center for Pastoral Excellence Resource and program center supporting clergy wellbeing, vocational discernment, and pastoral leadership development for ministers and congregations.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 50% of students graduate with zero debt
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

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

• Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary denominational affiliation. LTS is an ecumenical seminary of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Students from this denomination receive 50% tuition scholarship when under care of their ordaining body. The seminary receives programmatic support and student referrals through this relationship.
• United Church of ChristcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor denominational partner. Students from UCC receive 50% tuition scholarship when under care of their ordaining body. Seminary engages UCC students through judicatory channels and receives student referrals.
• Diocese of Lexington (Roman Catholic)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Diocese of Lexington for Master in Pastoral Studies program designed specifically for Roman Catholic lay people. Roman Catholic students receive 50% tuition discount. Program prepares lay leaders for Catholic parish ministry.
• Office of African American Clergy Leadership DevelopmentkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Certificate in African American Ministry program providing theological, biblical, spiritual, and leadership training for African American pastoral leaders. Partially funded by Lilly Endowment Thriving in Ministry Project.
• National Convocation (Christian Church Disciples of Christ)keyStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Certificate in African American Ministry program. The National Convocation collaborates with LTS and the Office of African American Clergy Leadership Development to provide specialized training for African American church leaders.
• Central Pastoral Office for Hispanic Ministries (Christian Church Disciples of Christ)keyStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of Certificate in Hispanic Ministries (Certificado en Ministerios Hispanos). Program provides theological, biblical, and ministerial training for Hispanic and bilingual congregations. Courses examine 16 competencies required by the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
• Hispanic Summer Program (HSP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium membership in Hispanic Summer Program, providing additional academic opportunities for Hispanic theological students.
• Kentucky Council of ChurchesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState-level ecumenical body for which LTS is a member. Facilitates connections with other Kentucky denominations and church organizations.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Brite Divinity School (TCU): UCC-affiliated ATS-accredited divinity school offering MDiv and DMin programs with Disciples of Christ historical ties; closely comparable in mainline Protestant, ecumenical, and ATS-accredited profile.
• Eden Theological Seminary: UCC-affiliated ATS-accredited seminary offering hybrid and online MDiv and DMin programs; highly comparable as a mainline Protestant partner of the same UCC denominational ecosystem.
• Iliff School of Theology: ATS-accredited progressive/mainline seminary offering hybrid and online MDiv, MTS, and DMin degrees with United Methodist heritage; comparable in graduate theological degree portfolio and online delivery.
• Asbury Theological Seminary: ATS-accredited evangelical seminary in Wilmore, KY offering extensive online MDiv, MTS, and DMin programs; directly comparable in geography, ATS-accredited online theological degree portfolio, and Disciples/Methodist adjacency.
• Chicago Theological Seminary: UCC-affiliated ATS-accredited seminary offering online and hybrid MDiv, MTS, and DMin programs; comparable in denomination, online format, and graduate theological degree mix.
• United Theological Seminary (Dayton, OH): Multi-denominational ATS-accredited seminary offering fully online MDiv, DMin, and certificate programs; directly comparable ATS-accredited online theological education model targeting working adults.
• Payne Theological Seminary: AME-affiliated ATS-accredited seminary historically focused on African American ministerial leadership; closely comparable specialized African American ministry training focus.

Broad incumbents

• Fuller Theological Seminary: Largest ATS-accredited multi-denominational seminary offering extensive fully online MDiv, MTS, and DMin programs; broader evangelical/charismatic focus but overlapping ATS-accredited online portfolio.
• Vanderbilt Divinity School: Top-tier non-denominational divinity school at Vanderbilt University offering MTS and DMin programs; broader research-university affiliation with overlapping graduate theological degree portfolio.

Regional players

• Catholic Theological Union: Roman Catholic ATS-accredited seminary offering MDiv, MTS, and DMin programs; relevant comparator for LTS's Roman Catholic MPS lay ministry partnership with the Diocese of Lexington.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/LexTheoSeminary
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/LexTheoSeminary
• Facebookfacebook.com/32423243516
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lexington-theological-seminary
• Instagraminstagram.com/lextheo_seminary

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Lexington Theological Seminary