Luther Rice Seminary

What Luther Rice Seminary does

Luther Rice College & Seminary is a private, independent Christian higher education institution founded in 1962 in Lithonia, Georgia, by Robert G. Witty — known as the 'Father of Theological Distance Education.' It delivers 100% online degree programs from the associate level through the PhD across more than 30 program offerings in ministry, Bible, theology, counseling, business, and leadership. The institution serves adult learners, working professionals, military chaplain candidates, bivocational ministers, and high-school dual-enrollment students, with a stated community exceeding 8,000 students and alumni across all 50 U.S. states and 22 countries.

The technology backbone is a Moodle-based learning management system accessed through a single-sign-on MyCampus portal, complemented by an interactive MyPath academic planner and a mobile digital ID system. Operational integrations are third-party and conventional for higher education: Akademos (textbook services), BankMobile (financial aid disbursements), Parchment (transcripts), Nelnet (tuition payment plans), and Big Interview (career services). The institution holds triple accreditation — SACSCOC, ABHE, and TRACS — and complies with Title IX, FERPA, ADA, and the Clery Act, supporting federal Title IV aid eligibility and military tuition assistance acceptance.

Revenue is generated primarily through per-credit-hour tuition ($397-$652 depending on program level) plus a $195 per-course technology fee, with additional streams from for-credit and not-for-credit certificate programs, course auditing, and graduation fees. Distribution is exclusively direct-to-consumer via the website and MyCampus portal, supplemented by alumni referrals through the 'Send Us Your One' program and articulation partnerships with the Technical College System of Georgia and Boston Baptist College that feed the enrollment pipeline.

Name

Luther Rice Seminary

Legal name

Luther Rice College and Seminary

Website

https://lutherrice.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1962

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Luther Rice College & Seminary is a private, accredited Christian institution delivering 100% online associate-through-doctoral programs in ministry, theology, business, and leadership to adult learners across all 50 U.S. states and 22 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Theological Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAHAKAA

Seminaries (Graduate Theology & Ministry)

Education/Higher Education (Colleges & Universities)/Religious & Theological Colleges

SECONDARYEDAHAKAB

Bible Colleges (Undergraduate Ministry & Biblical Studies)

Education/Higher Education (Colleges & Universities)/Religious & Theological Colleges

SECONDARYEDAHACAF

Religiously Affiliated Liberal Arts Colleges

Education/Higher Education (Colleges & Universities)/Liberal Arts Colleges

Keywords

• Online theological education
• Seminary degree programs
• Biblical higher education
• Distance learning ministry
• Christian college programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Lithonia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Degree Program Tuition: Primary revenue stream from tuition charged per credit hour or per course across undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, and PhD programs. Tuition varies by program level with technology fees per course.
2. Certificate Programs: For-credit and not-for-credit certificate programs generate tuition revenue at different rates than degree programs.
3. Textbook Services: Third-party textbook services through Akademos partnership. Luther Rice does not directly profit but facilitates textbook sales through the partnership.
4. Graduation Fees: One-time graduation fees ranging from $100-$245 depending on degree level, plus $35 reorder fee for diplomas.
5. Course Auditing: $100 per course fee for auditing on-campus and hybrid courses.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Luther Rice College & Seminary delivers fully online, accredited Christian higher education programs ranging from certificates through doctoral degrees (Associate of Arts, Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts, Master of Divinity, Doctor of Ministry, and PhD) covering ministry, biblical studies, theology, leadership, counseling, and business. All programs are 100% online with no residency requirements, built for working adults, bivocational pastors, and ministry professionals seeking flexible theological training.

Product overview

Luther Rice College & Seminary offers a comprehensive portfolio of online Christian education programs, from certificates through doctoral degrees. The institution provides 100% online accredited degree programs including Associate (AA), Bachelor (BA), Master (MA/MS), Doctorate (DMIN), and PhD levels across ministry, Bible, theology, counseling, business, and leadership disciplines. Key program structures include the Master of Divinity (81-hour and 90-hour tracks with optional biblical languages), Master of Arts in Ministry/Christian Leadership, Master of Science in Organizational Leadership, and PhD programs in Christian Scripture and Organizational Leadership. Specialized offerings include the Nall School of Business, Waddle School of Leadership, Military Chaplaincy track, Dual Enrollment for high school students, and articulation partnerships with Technical College System of Georgia. The institution is accredited by SACSCOC, ABHE, and TRACS, serving 8,000+ students across all 50 states and 22 countries since 1962.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Nall School of Business: A business school within Luther Rice offering Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration and related programs.
• Waddle School of Leadership

Products and services

• Associate of Arts program Online undergraduate associate-level program providing foundational training in ministry and biblical studies for working adults entering or continuing ministry work.
• Bachelor of Arts program Online undergraduate bachelor's degree program for adult learners pursuing accredited theological and ministry education without relocating for residency.
• Master of Arts program Online graduate program in ministry, biblical studies, theology, leadership, counseling, or business for working professionals and ministry leaders seeking advanced credentials.
• Master of Divinity program Online graduate professional degree designed for pastors, chaplains, and ministry leaders requiring a recognized credential for vocational ministry and ordination pathways.
• Doctor of Ministry program Online doctoral program for active ministry practitioners pursuing advanced applied study in ministry leadership and practice.
• PhD program Online doctoral research degree for scholars and educators in biblical, theological, or ministry studies pursuing academic and research-oriented careers.
• Certificate programs Online certificate offerings for adult learners seeking short-form credentials in ministry-related subjects without committing to a full degree program.

Quantifiable outcome

• 97% of graduates reported that a Luther Rice education improved the quality of their ministry service
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, moderate and minor.

• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)coreOthersInstitutional accreditation body providing regional accreditation for higher education institutions in the Southern United States. Essential for federal financial aid eligibility and transfer credit recognition.
• Association of Biblical Higher Education (ABHE)coreOthersSpecialized accreditation agency for biblical higher education institutions, ensuring academic quality and biblical fidelity in theological education programs.
• Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS)coreOthersAccrediting agency providing accreditation for Christian colleges and schools, supporting institutional credibility and recognition.
• Boston Baptist CollegemoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership allowing BBC students to enroll in Luther Rice online courses while remaining enrolled at Boston Baptist. Courses are accredited and transferable. No additional tuition costs for BBC students.
• Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG)moderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerArticulation agreement enabling TCSG associate degree holders to transfer credits toward bachelor's degree programs at Luther Rice.
• First Baptist Church of ConyersminorOthersCommencement ceremony venue partner hosting annual graduation exercises for Luther Rice graduates.
• The Church on Main (formerly First Baptist Church of Snellville)minorOthersGraduation banquet venue partner hosting annual pre-commencement celebration for graduates and families.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Dallas Theological Seminary: Conservative evangelical seminary offering ThM, MDiv, and DMin with online and hybrid options. Comparable on doctrinal posture, graduate theology focus, and distance-learning infrastructure.
• New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary: SBC seminary with well-established online MDiv and extension center model serving bivocational ministers. Comparable on conservative evangelical doctrine and explicitly serving bivocational ministry audiences.
• The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary: Flagship SBC seminary with growing online graduate and doctoral programs. Comparable on conservative biblical inerrancy doctrine and seminary-level graduate portfolio targeting pastors and ministry leaders.
• Columbia Biblical Seminary (Columbia International University): Bible college and seminary offering online MDiv and graduate ministry degrees from a conservative evangelical posture. Comparable on biblical higher education positioning and distance-learning emphasis.
• Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary: SBC seminary with established online MDiv and graduate programs serving working ministers. Closely comparable on conservative evangelical positioning and online ministry-focused degree offerings.
• Gateway Seminary (formerly Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary): SBC-affiliated seminary serving the western US with online MDiv and DMin programs. Comparable on denomination, doctrine, and online graduate ministry training, though more geographically concentrated on the West Coast.
• Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary: SBC-affiliated conservative evangelical seminary offering MDiv, DMin, and PhD programs with significant online delivery. Directly comparable to Luther Rice on doctrine, denomination, program mix, and online-first posture.

Broad incumbents

• Liberty University: Largest private online Christian university with full seminary offering including online MDiv and DMin. Overlaps with Luther Rice across nearly every degree level, but operates at materially greater scale and breadth.
• Regent University: Online-first Christian university with a seminary college offering MDiv and doctoral programs. Comparable conservative evangelical orientation and online delivery model, but with a broader university portfolio.

Emerging players

• Moody Bible Institute: Bible-focused institution expanding online undergraduate and graduate theological programs. Comparable on biblical higher education identity and growing online presence, though more concentrated in undergraduate Bible education.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Luther_Rice
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCwRVnyfoBL_uCMQDuDEzgSA
• Facebookfacebook.com/SeminaryOnline
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/groups/4746486

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Luther Rice Seminary