B. H. Carroll Theological Institute

What B. H. Carroll Theological Institute does

B. H. Carroll Theological Institute (legal name: B. H. Carroll Theological Seminary) is a private, non-profit theological seminary operating as an academic school within East Texas Baptist University in Marshall, Texas. Founded originally as Carroll Institute in 1909 and renamed in 1999, the institution became affiliated with ETBU in 2009 and has since been recognized as a fully accredited online seminary preparing men and women to serve Christ. It is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) to award six graduate and doctoral degrees—Master of Divinity, Master of Arts in Christian Ministry, Master of Arts in Counseling, Master of Arts in Theological Studies, Doctor of Ministry, and Doctor of Philosophy—and is certified by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and authorized through NC-SARA for interstate distance education.

The seminary delivers its six degree programs primarily via fully online distance learning accessible wherever internet is available, with flexible part-time pacing designed for working ministry professionals. Costs are positioned at approximately one-third of typical theological institutions. The PhD program, with at least half its coursework delivered online, received a three-year ATS educational experiment approval in June 2021 and an ongoing exception to the PhD residency requirement in February 2025. Reported operational performance includes a 90.4% five-year PhD retention rate, 83.8% five-year DMin retention rate, and a 78% PhD completion rate; graduating students report 100% satisfaction with teaching quality and 91% satisfaction with faculty accessibility.

The business model is tuition-driven through individual student enrollment across six degree tracks, with marketing executed through ETBU's institutional infrastructure, a graduate admissions portal, and organic social channels (Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn). There is no public revenue disclosure, no venture or institutional investment evidenced, and no B2B customer base; the institution is funded through tuition and university resources. The customer segment is individual ministry and church leadership professionals—pastors, counselors, chaplains, and parachurch leaders—who require accredited, affordable, flexible theological education compatible with active ministry roles.

Name

B. H. Carroll Theological Institute

Legal name

B. H. Carroll Theological Seminary

Website

https://bhcarroll.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

B. H. Carroll Theological Institute is a non-profit, ATS-accredited online seminary within East Texas Baptist University that delivers six graduate and doctoral theological degrees at roughly one-third the cost of peers, serving working ministry and church leadership professionals across the United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Theological Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Seminaries (Graduate Theology & Ministry) (EDAHAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Denominational Theological Colleges (e.g., Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, Evangelical) (EDAHAKAM), Divinity Schools (University-Affiliated) (EDAHAKAC), Ministerial Training Institutes (Clergy Formation) (EDAHAKAE)

Keywords

• Theological education
• Distance learning seminary
• Graduate theology programs
• Ministry training
• Pastoral counseling education

Headquarters

HQ city

Irving

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, Others

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

B. H. Carroll Theological Seminary is an accredited online theological seminary offering master's and doctoral degrees in theology, ministry, and counseling. Programs are delivered primarily through distance education accessible anywhere with internet access, with flexible pacing designed for working ministry professionals. The seminary operates as an academic school within East Texas Baptist University and provides ATS-accredited graduate theological education at approximately one-third the cost of comparable institutions.

Product overview

B. H. Carroll Theological Seminary operates as a graduate theological education institution offering master's and doctoral programs in theological studies, ministry, and counseling. The institution provides six core degree programs delivered primarily online with flexible pacing options for working ministry professionals. Programs include the Master of Divinity, Master of Arts in Christian Ministry, Master of Arts in Counseling, Master of Arts in Theological Studies, Doctor of Ministry, and Doctor of Philosophy. The seminary leverages distance learning technology to deliver accredited theological education at approximately one-third the cost of traditional seminaries, emphasizing accessibility for students serving in diverse church and ministry contexts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Master of Divinity (MDiv) A comprehensive three-year graduate theological degree preparing students for pastoral ministry, with a typical completion time of 5.46 years for part-time online students.
• Master of Arts in Christian Ministry A graduate-level degree equipping students for various church ministry roles, delivered online with flexible pacing for working professionals.
• Master of Arts in Counseling A master's program providing theological education combined with counseling skills for ministry and clinical settings, with an average completion time of 3.77 years.
• Master of Arts in Theological Studies A graduate theology degree focused on biblical and theological studies, with an average completion time of 6.13 years for part-time students.
• Doctor of Ministry (DMin) An advanced professional doctorate for ministry practitioners delivered online with flexible pacing.
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) A research doctorate in theology approved by ATS as a three-year educational experiment with at least half of coursework delivered online, with a 90.4% five-year retention rate and 78% completion rate.

Quantifiable outcome

• 78% PhD completion rate (based on 2005–2020 data)
• +4 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Association of Theological Schools (ATS)coreOthersATS accreditation body that has authorized B. H. Carroll Theological Seminary to award Master of Divinity, Master of Arts in Christian Ministry, Master of Arts in Counseling, Master of Arts in Theological Studies, Doctor of Ministry, and Doctor of Philosophy degrees. ATS approved the PhD as a three-year educational experiment with at least half coursework delivered online, with ongoing exception granted in February 2025 to the PhD residency requirement.
• Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB)coreOthersState regulatory body that certifies B. H. Carroll Theological Seminary to operate as a higher education institution in Texas.
• National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA)coreOthersNC-SARA authorization enables B. H. Carroll Theological Seminary to provide interstate distance education across participating states.
• East Texas Baptist University (ETBU)coreOthersB. H. Carroll Theological Seminary operates as an academic school within East Texas Baptist University, utilizing the university's infrastructure, admissions systems, administrative support, and physical campus in Marshall, Texas.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary: Flagship SBC seminary in Louisville offering MDiv, MA, DMin, and PhD programs with growing online options; the most direct denominational competitor with similar program structure and ATS-accredited graduate theological degrees.
• Denver Seminary: Non-denominational seminary offering master's and doctoral theological degrees with online and hybrid delivery; directly comparable on ATS accreditation, multi-denominational posture, and online learning options for working ministers.
• Dallas Theological Seminary: Non-denominational evangelical seminary in Dallas offering master's and doctoral theological degrees with extensive distance-learning options; directly comparable on ATS accreditation, online modality, and target student profile of working ministry professionals.
• New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary: SBC seminary offering MDiv, MA, DMin, and PhD programs with a long-established distance-learning model; comparable on Baptist identity, ATS accreditation, and a multi-state online student body.
• Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary: Kansas City-based SBC seminary offering graduate and doctoral theological degrees, including online and hybrid formats; directly comparable on Baptist denomination, ATS-accredited offerings, and online delivery model.
• Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary: Multi-denominational evangelical seminary with ATS-accredited master's and doctoral programs and growing online offerings (including Jacksonville and Charlotte extensions); directly comparable on evangelical identity, ATS accreditation, and graduate theological degree portfolio.
• Regent University School of Divinity: Virginia-based online-first divinity school offering master's and doctoral theological degrees; directly comparable on online-first modality, ATS-accredited offerings, and target student profile of working ministry and chaplaincy professionals.
• Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary: Fort Worth-based SBC seminary offering master's and doctoral theological degrees with significant online and distance-learning infrastructure; directly comparable in denomination, degree mix, and online delivery to B. H. Carroll.
• Biola University Talbot School of Theology: California-based evangelical seminary offering ATS-accredited master's and doctoral theological programs, including online and hybrid options; directly comparable on evangelical identity, ATS-accredited graduate offerings, and online modality.

Broad incumbents

• Liberty University John W. Rawlings School of Divinity: Large online-first university with an extensive graduate theological portfolio (MDiv, MA, DMin, DSL/EdD/PhD) at scale; a broader incumbent with overlapping online, accredited, distance theological degrees serving working ministers at competitive tuition.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/BHCarrollOnline
• Facebookfacebook.com/BHCarrollSeminary
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bhcarrollonline
• Instagraminstagram.com/bhcarrollseminary/?hl=en

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about B. H. Carroll Theological Institute