Union Theological Seminary

What Union Theological Seminary does

Union Theological Seminary is an independent, ecumenical Christian seminary and graduate school of theology founded in 1836 in New York City and incorporated in 1839 under a charter from the New York State Legislature. It delivers graduate theological education across seven degree programs — Master of Divinity (M.Div.), Master of Arts in Religion (M.A.R.), Master of Arts in Social Justice (M.A.S.J., offered online), Master of Sacred Theology (S.T.M.), Master of Professional Studies (M.P.S.), Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), and Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) — plus advanced certificate programs, lifelong-learning courses, and Clinical Pastoral Education. Instruction is delivered on the Manhattan campus in Morningside Heights (adjacent to Columbia University) and online via the Moodle learning management system, with field-education placements that include two New York State correctional facilities.

The institution is supported by three revenue streams: tuition and fees (with over 90% of students receiving scholarships or grants averaging 75% of tuition, and PhD fellows funded via full tuition plus a $30,000 annual stipend for four years), donations and charitable giving through annual funds and the 1836 Legacy Circle, and grants from foundations led by Lilly Endowment Inc. (including a $5 million grant for the TIDEL initiative in December 2022 and a $1.25 million eco-justice grant in November 2023). It maintains deep academic and physical integration with Columbia University (Burke Library is part of the Columbia Libraries system; dual-degree programs with Columbia School of Social Work and Hunter College CUNY), cross-registration agreements across the New York Theological Consortium, and partnerships with the Chaplaincy Innovation Lab, the Beacon, the Law Rights & Religion Project, and the Academic and Student Experience Collaborative. It is governed by an independent Board of Trustees, accredited by the Association of Theological Schools and the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, and led by its 17th president, Rev. Dr. Lisa L. Thompson, who succeeded Rev. Dr. Serene Jones in April 2026.

Name

Union Theological Seminary

Legal name

Union Theological Seminary

Website

https://utsnyc.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1836

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Union Theological Seminary is an independent, ecumenical Christian graduate school founded in 1836 in New York City, offering M.Div., M.A., S.T.M., Ph.D., and D.Min. degree programs alongside online and lifelong-learning options, serving aspiring clergy, scholars, and social-justice leaders.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education / Theological Education

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Seminaries (Graduate Theology & Ministry) (EDAHAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Interfaith & Ecumenical Theological Colleges (EDAHAKAL)

Keywords

• Theological education
• Graduate seminary degrees
• Ministerial training
• Religious scholarship programs
• Social justice studies

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Graduate theological education with tuition varying by degree program and enrollment status (full-time vs. part-time). Over 90% of students receive scholarships or grants. PhD students receive full tuition fellowship plus $30,000 annual living stipend.
2. Donations and Charitable Giving: Annual giving programs including the Union Fund (areas of greatest impact), financial aid support, and student support including emergency funds and summer stipends. Also includes planned giving through the 1836 Legacy Circle.
3. Grants and Foundation Support: Major grants from Lilly Endowment Inc. including $5 million for TIDEL and $1.25 million for eco-justice initiatives. Also receives grants for various programmatic initiatives through Lilly Program's Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Union Theological Seminary is an independent, ecumenical Christian graduate school that delivers accredited theological degree programs including Master of Divinity, Master of Arts in Religion, Master of Arts in Social Justice, Master of Sacred Theology, Master of Professional Studies, Doctor of Philosophy, and Doctor of Ministry, alongside advanced certificate programs, lifelong learning, and field education. It serves aspiring clergy, working ministry professionals, doctoral scholars, and social justice advocates through on-campus and online learning with substantial financial aid.

Product overview

Union Theological Seminary offers a portfolio of graduate theological degree programs including Master of Divinity (M.Div.), Master of Arts in Religion (M.A.R.), Master of Arts in Social Justice (M.A.S.J. - available online), Master of Sacred Theology (S.T.M.), Master of Professional Studies (M.P.S.), Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), and Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.). The institution also provides Advanced Certificate Programs, Lifelong Learning non-credit offerings, and Field Education placements. Notable specialized offerings include the TIDEL technology initiative, Center for Earth Ethics, Encore Transition Program for midcareer professionals, and Clinical Pastoral Education. Dual degree options are available with Columbia University School of Social Work and Hunter College. The institution operates as a traditional seminary with online program capabilities, primarily using Moodle for course delivery and Jenzabar for student information management.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Master of Divinity (M.Div.)

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 90% of students receive scholarship or grant support
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration12 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered strategic and core.

• The BeaconstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 July 2025Landmark partnership between Union Theological Seminary and The Beacon to combat hateful policies and uplift multifaith voices of dissent. Together they equip a network of faith and community leaders with tools to fight for a better tomorrow.
• Columbia UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership allowing students to be part of a larger university community while immersed in seminary life. Includes MDiv/MSSW dual degree program with Columbia School of Social Work, cross-registration with Columbia's Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and School of International and Public Affairs. Burke Library is part of Columbia Libraries system. Students access Columbia Health, fitness center, and university programming.
• New York Theological ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCross-registration agreements allowing students to enroll in courses at partner institutions enriching their Union degree with diverse electives. Partner institutions include General Theological Seminary, Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS), Fordham University Graduate School of Religion & Religious Education, Hebrew Union College (HUC), St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary, Teachers College Columbia University, and Drew University.
• Chaplaincy Innovation LabstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership aims to enhance chaplaincy education, innovation, and impact in diverse contexts. Collaboration fosters innovative approaches to chaplaincy education and training, producing well-equipped professionals capable of navigating complex challenges.
• Academic and Student Experience Collaborative (ASEC)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunded by Lilly Program's Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative. Collaborative initiatives with other independent seminaries in areas of student support, career development services, curricular development, course sharing, and academic office administrative operations. Partner institutions: Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School (CRCDS) and New York Theological Seminary (NYTS).
• Campus Service Alliance of Northern Manhattan (CSANM)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunded by Lilly Program's Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative. Leverages opportunity to work with mission-aligned, physically proximate postsecondary institutions to increase quality of campus services and reduce costs. Partner institutions: International House (I-House), Manhattan School of Music (MSM), and The Riverside Church (TRC).
• Technology, Innovation, and Digital Engagement Lab (TIDEL)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner5-year Lilly Endowment Pathways for Tomorrow-funded initiative aiming to expand capacity for theological schools and faith-based organizations to maximize their mission and confront critical challenges through creative and effective use of technology. Partnership with Pennsylvania College of Art & Design (PCA&D).
• Hunter College CUNYcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMDiv/MSW dual degree program with Hunter College School of Social Work, providing students with integrated understanding of spiritual and social contexts and drawing upon entwined histories of social justice and community empowerment.
• Kairos Center for Religions, Rights and Social JusticestrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated institute at Union working on religions, rights, and social justice issues, connecting academic study with grassroots organizing and movement building.
• Center for Earth EthicsstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnion institute focused on environmental ethics and eco-justice, working to equip faith communities to address climate change and environmental degradation.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Yale Divinity School: Graduate professional school offering M.Div., M.A.R., and Ph.D. programs; directly comparable to Union in degree mix, ecumenical profile, and Northeast elite-scholar recruitment.
• Harvard Divinity School: Non-denominational graduate school of religion offering M.Div., M.T.S., and Ph.D.; comparable to Union in academic rigor, interdisciplinary theological scholarship, and progressive, pluralistic orientation.
• Duke Divinity School: Top-tier mainline Protestant seminary offering M.Div., Th.M., and Ph.D.; comparable in faculty reputation, scholarship funding, and ordination-track preparation.
• Iliff School of Theology: United Methodist seminary in Denver offering M.Div., M.A., and D.Min. with progressive Methodist orientation; comparable in degree mix, social-justice emphasis, and scholarship support.
• General Theological Seminary: New York City–based Episcopal seminary offering M.Div. and advanced degrees; a close geographic peer in the New York Theological Consortium cross-registration network and a direct M.Div. competitor.
• Princeton Theological Seminary: Elite mainline Protestant graduate seminary offering M.Div., Th.M., and Ph.D. programs; competes with Union for top doctoral candidates and ordination-track students in the Northeast U.S.
• Pacific School of Religion: Mainline, progressive multidenominational seminary in Berkeley offering M.Div. and doctoral programs; closely comparable in progressive theology brand and social-justice mission.
• Candler School of Theology (Emory): United Methodist seminary at Emory offering M.Div., Th.M., and Ph.D.; comparable in mainline Protestant identity, scholarship aid levels, and ordination-track programming.
• Vanderbilt Divinity School: Graduate theological school offering M.Div., M.T.S., and Ph.D. with a progressive, multi-faith orientation similar to Union; competes for the same cohort of ecumenically-minded students.

Regional players

• Jewish Theological Seminary: NYC-based graduate rabbinical and academic seminary; a New York Theological Consortium partner with cross-registration, offering parallel graduate theological degrees though in a Jewish tradition.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/unionseminary
• Facebookfacebook.com/101239591547
• Instagraminstagram.com/unionseminary
• Xx.com/unionseminary

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Union Theological Seminary