Summit Bible College

What Summit Bible College does

Summit Bible College (SBC) is a 501(c)(3) Christian educational institution founded in 1996 and headquartered at 3000 James Rd., Bakersfield, California. It offers theological education from the Associate of Biblical Studies level through Doctoral programs (D.Min., D.Th., D.Div.), with emphases in Pastoral Studies, Worship, Missions, Counseling, Apologetics, and Leadership. The college also delivers licensing and ordination services, the Marketplace Ministers Fellowship for workplace ministers, and a FAST TRACK program for active ministry leaders. Students are admitted based on a relationship to Jesus Christ rather than academic scores, with credit accepted from accredited and non-accredited institutions and for ministry or life experience.

The technology platform is modest and conventional: a Wix-hosted website, the SBC Student Portal, an SBC Grader system for course administration, video-based independent study courses, and live online classes delivered through GoToMeeting. Delivery is supported across on-campus instruction in Bakersfield, extension campuses in Bakersfield and Desert Valley, and a fully online option, with bilingual English/Spanish support and a regional SBC Asia initiative.

The business model combines tuition, donations, and ancillary fees. The full undergraduate program is priced at $10,532.50 (not per year), with active ministers receiving a 50% discount, spouses of students receiving free tuition, and a 10% discount for upfront full payment; aggressive discounting is a defining feature of the pricing strategy. Revenue is supplemented by tax-deductible donations (including vehicle donations and QCDs from IRAs), bookstore sales (English, Spanish, and Pastor/Leader titles), and licensing and ordination renewal fees (1- and 5-year options). Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer via the college website, social media (Facebook, YouTube, Instagram), a Wilkins Radio partnership, and a network of ministry affiliates including KCM Counseling, Magdalene Hope, Wellspring, Racers For Christ, and MissioGlobal.

Name

Summit Bible College

Legal name

Summit Bible College

Website

https://summitbiblecollege.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Summit Bible College is a Bakersfield-based, ACEA-accredited, IRS 501(c)(3) Christian college offering Associate through Doctoral theological programs via online, on-campus, and extension campus formats, primarily serving working ministers and ministry-track individuals at significantly lower tuition than comparables.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Theological Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Religious Organizations (8131)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Bible Colleges (Undergraduate Ministry & Biblical Studies) (EDAHAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Seminaries (Graduate Theology & Ministry) (EDAHAKAA), Ministerial Training Institutes (Clergy Formation) (EDAHAKAE)

Keywords

• Biblical higher education
• Theological degree programs
• Christian counseling education
• Ministry training programs
• Online bible college

Headquarters

HQ city

Bakersfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Program Fees: The college charges tuition for its degree programs. The full undergraduate program costs $10,532.50 total (not per year). Active ministers receive a 50% discount. Spouses of students receive free tuition. Full payment qualifies for a 10% discount.
2. Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Summit Bible College accepts tax-deductible donations for scholarships, technology updates, campus maintenance, community outreach, and general operations.
3. Licensing and Ordination Fees: The college offers ministry licensing and ordination services with associated fees, including 1-year and 5-year renewal options.
4. Bookstore Sales: Sale of English, Spanish, and Pastor/Leader books through the college bookstore.
5. Vehicle Donations: Charity car donation program accepting vehicles to support the college's mission, with free pickup in Kern County.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Summit Bible College is an IRS-authorized, ACEA-accredited nonprofit Christian college that delivers affordable biblical and theological education from associate through doctoral levels. Programs span theology, ministry, divinity, Christian counseling, and leadership, offered through on-campus instruction, live online classes, video-based independent study, and hybrid formats on an 8-week quarter schedule four times per year. The college also provides ministry licensing and ordination services, a Marketplace Ministers Fellowship for workplace ministers, and supporting resources including a bookstore and student portal.

Product overview

Summit Bible College is an IRS-authorized, ACEA-accredited Christian college based in Bakersfield, California, offering a comprehensive educational platform with programs from associate through doctoral levels. The institution provides biblical and theological education through multiple delivery formats including on-campus, live online, video, and independent study options, operating on an 8-week quarter format. Its core educational products include Associate, Bachelor, Graduate, Christian Counseling, and FAST TRACK Ministry Leader programs, supported by credentialing services for licensing and ordination, including the Marketplace Ministers Fellowship for workplace ministers. Supporting services include the SBC Grader student management system, an online student portal, a bookstore with English, Spanish, and Pastor/Leader resources, and a free resource library. The institution maintains multiple campus locations (Bakersfield, Desert Valley) and serves students globally through flexible online learning options.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Associate Program (Associate of Biblical Studies) Foundational degree program offering an Associate of Biblical Studies (ABS), providing introductory biblical education for students beginning their ministry training.
• Bachelor Program (Bachelor of Theology) Undergraduate degree program leading to a Bachelor of Theology with emphases in Pastoral Studies, Worship, Missions, Counseling, and more.
• Graduate Program (Master's and Doctoral degrees) Graduate-level degree offerings including Master's degrees in Theology, Ministry, Divinity, Counseling, Business, Apologetics, and Leadership; doctoral programs including D.Min., D.Th., D.Div., and specialized majors.
• Christian Counseling Program Specialized program focused on counseling skills grounded in Christian principles, equipping students to counsel according to God's Word to restore and heal those facing adversities.
• Ministry Leader (FAST TRACK) Program Accelerated program designed specifically for ministry leaders seeking to advance their credentials quickly.
• Licensing and Ordination Services Ministry credentialing services including licensing for active ministry service and ordination for broader ministerial recognition, with 1-year and 5-year renewal options; also covers chaplaincy and coaching certification.
• Marketplace Ministers Fellowship Licensing and fellowship program for Christians serving in the home, workplace, and ministry across government, healthcare, military, business, and other employment sectors.
• Bookstore Online bookstore offering English, Spanish, and Pastor & Leader books for students and ministry professionals.

Quantifiable outcome

• Students graduate without debt due to affordable tuition structure
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• KCM CounselingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliate organization providing Christian counseling resources and support. Listed as a partner organization on the SBC website.
• Magdalene HopeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization affiliated with Summit Bible College, focused on ministry support.
• WellspringminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliate ministry partner listed on the SBC website.
• Racers For ChristminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization serving the racing community with Christian ministry.
• MissioGlobalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal missions partner organization working with SBC.
• ACEA (Accrediting Council for Evangelical Education)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSBC is reviewed and accountable through ACEA. ACEA provides accreditation oversight and accountability for the college's educational programs and standards.
• Wilkins RadiominorGTM or Marketing PartnerRadio broadcast partnership for 'Listen Live' feature allowing SBC to reach audiences through Wilkins Radio programming.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Dallas Theological Seminary: DTS is a graduate-only evangelical seminary offering Master's and Doctoral theology degrees with online and hybrid options — directly comparable to SBC's graduate stack (Th.M., D.Min., D.Div.) and ministry-focused learner.
• Phoenix Seminary: Phoenix Seminary is a small, regionally accredited graduate seminary offering Master's and Doctoral ministry degrees with hybrid/online options — directly comparable to SBC's graduate theological offerings at similar small scale.
• Biola University: Biola is a Christian university in La Mirada, California, offering Talbot School of Theology graduate degrees alongside undergraduate ministry programs — directly comparable in California geography, theological curriculum, and degree mix.
• Moody Bible Institute: Moody is a Chicago-based, century-old Bible college offering Associate through graduate theological degrees with both on-campus and online modalities — directly comparable in mission, degree stack, and target student (aspiring ministers and lay leaders).
• Southeastern Bible College: Southeastern is a small, Birmingham-based Bible college offering Associate through Bachelor's ministry degrees — directly comparable in small-scale Bible-college mission, undergraduate focus, and tuition sensitivity.

Broad incumbents

• Grand Canyon University: GCU is a large for-profit Christian university with online theology and ministry programs; cited by SBC as a $60K tuition benchmark. Overlaps on online ministry credentials but serves a much broader student base.
• Indiana Wesleyan University: IWU is a regionally accredited Christian university with online graduate theology programs; cited by SBC as a $58K comparator. Comparable online delivery model but at much higher price point and broader scope.
• Colorado Christian University: CCU is a regionally accredited Christian university with online theological degrees; cited by SBC as a $56K tuition comparator. Broader portfolio but directly comparable online ministry programs.
• Liberty University: Liberty is a large, regionally accredited Christian university with a major online theological school; cited by SBC as a $50K tuition benchmark. Overlaps on ministerial degrees but operates at vastly greater scale and with federal financial aid access.

Emerging players

• Christian Leaders Institute: CLI is a tuition-free/low-cost online ministry training platform offering certificates and low-cost credentials to working ministers — directly comparable to SBC's affordability-led, online, working-minister positioning and a direct threat on price.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SummitBC
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/SummitBC
• Facebookfacebook.com/SummitBibleCollege
• Instagraminstagram.com/summitbc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/summit-bible-college

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Summit Bible College