Reformed Theological Seminary

What Reformed Theological Seminary does

Reformed Theological Seminary is a private, non-profit theological seminary founded in 1966 and headquartered in Jackson, Mississippi, operating in the Reformed theological tradition with a commitment to biblical inerrancy and the Westminster Confession of Faith. It delivers graduate theological education through nine degree-granting campuses across the United States (Jackson, Orlando, Charlotte, Washington DC, Atlanta, Houston, Dallas, and New York City) plus an international campus in São Paulo, Brazil, two extension sites (Chicago and Nashville), and the RTS Global online platform offering approximately 40 courses year-round. Degree programs include the Master of Divinity (106 semester hours), Master of Arts in Biblical Studies, Master of Arts in Theological Studies, Master of Arts in Religion, Master of Arts in Counseling, Master of Arts in Christian Counseling, Doctor of Ministry, and the newly approved Master of Theology, supported by certificate programs and specialized centers for church planting, campus ministry, faith/work integration, and ancient texts.

The seminary operates as a traditional educational institution without proprietary technology platforms, relying on the Canvas learning management system for course delivery and MyPortal for student administration. Its primary revenue streams are tuition and fees, supplemented by the Church Partnership Program — under which contributing churches are matched up to one-third of annual tuition for an effective 67% combined scholarship — and donor contributions managed through a Development office supporting one-time, recurring, stock, and planned giving. RTS does not participate in Federal Title IV financial aid and instead funds scholarships internally, awarding $4.6 million in 2019-20 and reporting that 85% of students graduate without seminary-related debt and 78% receive some form of financial aid. Over 90% of faculty are ordained ministers or active field counselors, which the seminary positions as a scholar-practitioner differentiator. The institution reports 6,900 alumni serving in over 65 countries across 60 denominations, with a 96% placement rate within six months of graduation.

Name

Reformed Theological Seminary

Legal name

Reformed Theological Seminary

Website

https://rts.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1966

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Reformed Theological Seminary is a private non-profit theological seminary founded in 1966, operating nine US campuses plus São Paulo and a global online platform to deliver Reformed graduate degrees (MDiv, MABS, MATS, DMin, ThM) to aspiring pastors, missionaries, counselors, and educators.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Theological 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

Christian Colleges with Theological Programs (EDAHAKAG)

Keywords

• Theological education
• Seminary degree programs
• Ministerial training
• Graduate theological studies
• Online seminary courses

Headquarters

HQ city

Jackson

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices12 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Students pay tuition for degree programs including MDiv (106 semester hours), MA programs (66 semester hours), DMin, and ThM. Tuition rates vary by campus and program with significant scholarship support available.
2. Church Partnership Program: Churches contribute toward student tuition costs, with the seminary matching contributions up to 1/3 of annual tuition, resulting in effective 67% scholarships for participating students.
3. Donor Contributions: RTS raises funds through its Development office, accepting one-time gifts, monthly giving, check donations, stock gifts, and planned giving through wills or estates.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Reformed Theological Seminary delivers graduate-level theological education leading to ministry credentials, including the Master of Divinity (MDiv, 106 semester hours), MA programs (MABS, MATS, MAR, MAC, MACC), DMin, and ThM degrees, along with certificate programs. Instruction is grounded in the Reformed theological tradition and the Westminster Confession of Faith and is delivered across nine U.S. residential campuses, an international campus in São Paulo, an extension-site network, and the RTS Global 100% online platform.

Product overview

Reformed Theological Seminary offers a comprehensive theological education ecosystem comprising nine residential campuses (Jackson, Orlando, Charlotte, Washington DC, Atlanta, Houston, Dallas, New York City, and Sao Paulo), RTS Global Education (100% online platform), and extension sites (Chicago, Nashville). The institution delivers graduate degrees including MDiv (106 semester hours), MABS, MATS, MAR, MAC, MACC, DMin, and ThM programs, alongside certificate programs and continuing education. Specialized centers focus on church planting, campus ministry, theology and public life, and faith/work integration. Students access coursework through Canvas LMS and manage academic records via MyPortal. The seminary publishes Faith & Practice journal and Ministry & Leadership magazine, and provides extensive financial aid including the Church Partnership Program and Hughes Scholarship.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Graduate Degree Programs (MDiv, MABS, MATS, MAR, MAC, MACC, DMin, ThM) Graduate theological degrees including Master of Divinity (106 semester hours), Master of Arts in Biblical Studies, Master of Arts in Theological Studies, Master of Arts in Religion, Master of Arts in Counseling (78 semester hours), Master of Arts in Christian Counseling, Doctor of Ministry, and Master of Theology, taught from a Reformed, confessional perspective.
• RTS Global Online Education 100% online theological education platform offering 40 courses year-round with audio and video components, allowing students to study at their own pace from anywhere and earn MABS or MATS degrees or certificates.
• Residential Campus Programs
• Extension Site Programs Local theological training centers in Chicago (up to 14 credit hours) and Nashville (up to 32 credit hours) offering approved coursework with pathways to degree completion through RTS Global, residential campuses, or hybrid programs.
• Hybrid MDiv Program
• Certificate Programs

Quantifiable outcome

• 96% of graduates placed within six months of graduation
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Reformed University Fellowship (RUF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRUF interns and current staff qualify for substantial tuition awards through partnership. RUF campus ministers can recommend students for up to 90% tuition awards for MDiv students. The partnership supports future campus ministers and those preparing for ministry.
• Campus Ministry OrganizationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnerships with RYM (Reformed Youth Mend), Campus Outreach, Cru, Young Life, Navigators, and InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. Staff members with at least two years of service qualify for 50% tuition awards for MDiv students.
• Missionary OrganizationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnerships with MTW (Mission to the World), Pioneers, Wycliffe, World Team, MAI, and SERGE. Missionaries on the field or preparing to go qualify for missionary awards and financial support.
• Christian CollegesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGraduates of Covenant College, Gordon College, Grove City College, Moody Bible Institute, Wheaton College, Belhaven University, and Reformation Bible College qualify for Christian College Alumni Scholarships.
• The Falls Church AnglicancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRTS Washington partners with The Falls Church Anglican to provide a course of study aimed at training Anglican ministers and church leaders.
• Local Churches (Extension Sites)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExtension site partnerships with Holy Trinity Church (Chicago), Crossway/Good News Publishers (Wheaton), Naperville Presbyterian Church (Chicago), and Covenant Presbyterian Church (Nashville) to provide local theological education.
• Church Partnership Program ChurchescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerChurches partner with RTS through the Church Partnership Program, contributing toward student tuition costs with seminary matching up to 1/3 of annual tuition for effective 67% scholarships.
• Paideia Center / Institute for Faith, Work and CulturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe IFWC at RTS Orlando facilitates development of biblically grounded vision for integrating faith and work in students and the wider church through conferences and programs.
• Edmiston Center for Christian Endurance StudiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Alonzo and Althea Edmiston Center at RTS Atlanta equips leaders to minister effectively within multi-ethnic, cross-cultural, and mono-ethnic contexts.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Princeton Theological Seminary: Mainline Presbyterian (PCUSA) seminary and one of the oldest theological institutions in the US. Comparable in offering MDiv and ThM programs with a Reformed theological heritage, though oriented toward mainline rather than evangelical Presbyterian constituencies.
• Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary: Interdenominational evangelical seminary with campuses in South Hamilton, MA, and Charlotte, NC, plus an extension in Jacksonville. Comparable in multi-campus strategy and degree portfolio, serving broadly evangelical students rather than a single confessional tradition.
• Dallas Theological Seminary: Large non-denominational evangelical seminary in Dallas, TX, offering ThM and DMin programs alongside the MDiv. Comparable scale and multi-campus model (Dallas + Houston + Atlanta + DC + online), though doctrinally dispensational rather than Reformed.
• The Master's Seminary: Calvary Chapel-affiliated seminary in Sun Valley, CA, focused on expository preaching and pastoral training. Comparable graduate theological degree portfolio and practitioner-faculty emphasis, with a different (dispensational-Calvary Chapel) theological orientation.
• Trinity Evangelical Divinity School: The divinity school of Trinity International University in Deerfield, IL, offering MDiv, ThM, and doctoral programs. Comparable evangelical theological graduate program with similar Reformed-evangelical theological leanings and scholarship aid programs.
• Asbury Theological Seminary: Wesleyan-Holiness evangelical seminary in Wilmore, KY, with a Florida extension site. Comparable multi-campus model, scholarship programs, and graduate theological degree portfolio, serving a different (Wesleyan) theological tradition.
• Covenant Theological Seminary: The denominational seminary of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), located in St. Louis, MO. Closely aligned with RTS in Reformed identity, PCA constituency, and ministry preparation focus; a natural head-to-head competitor for PCA candidates and Reformed students.
• Westminster Theological Seminary: Reformed seminary in Glenside, PA, founded in 1929 as a conservative alternative to Princeton Theological Seminary. The most doctrinally aligned peer to RTS, sharing Westminster Confession commitments and a Reformed theological curriculum serving pastoral and academic vocations.
• The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary: The flagship Southern Baptist seminary in Louisville, KY, offering MDiv and doctoral programs with similar multi-degree portfolio and residential/online delivery. Directly comparable as a confessional evangelical seminary serving ministerial candidates, though denominationally aligned with the SBC rather than the broader Reformed tradition.

Broad incumbents

• Fuller Theological Seminary: Large multi-denominational evangelical seminary in Pasadena, CA, with three schools (Theology, Intercultural Studies, Psychology). Comparable in offering ThM and doctoral programs at scale and in providing CACREP-style professional counseling tracks, but with a broader theological tent than RTS.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/rts_seminary
• Xx.com/ReformTheoSem
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheSeminary
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/reformed-theological-seminary

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles22 records

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 Reformed Theological Seminary