Erskine Theological Seminary

What Erskine Theological Seminary does

Erskine Theological Seminary is a private, non-profit graduate theological seminary operating as the graduate school of Erskine College in Due West, South Carolina. Founded in 1837 by the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, it claims to be the oldest continuing evangelical seminary in North America. The seminary delivers graduate theological education through five primary degree programs: the Master of Divinity (90 credit hours), Master of Arts in Practical Ministry (36 hours), Master of Arts in Theological Studies (48 hours), Master of Theology (24 hours), and Doctor of Ministry (36 hours), plus specialized tracks in chaplaincy and missiology, graduate certificates through the David Livingstone Institute, and an accelerated BA/MDiv pathway. Coursework is delivered across three South Carolina campuses (Due West, Columbia, Greenville), via the Brightspace (D2L) learning management system through Erskine Online with NC-SARA multi-state authorization, and internationally through the Global Theological Diploma launched in 2024 in countries including Rwanda, Pakistan, and Mexico. The technology stack is conventional educational infrastructure: Brightspace LMS with multi-factor authentication via single sign-on, video conferencing for synchronous and hybrid instruction, and 8-week intensive course formats, all FERPA-compliant.

Revenue is generated primarily through per-credit-hour tuition ($550 for master's programs, $600 for ThM/DMin, $225 per audit course) supplemented by Title IV federal student loans (Stafford, Graduate PLUS), denominational and chaplaincy scholarships, military/VA education benefits, and charitable contributions. Clinical Pastoral Education is delivered through a strategic partnership with the Institute of Clinical Pastoral Training. The seminary holds dual SACSCOC and Association of Theological Schools accreditation and serves students from over 30 denominations, with denominational partnerships (ARP, PCA, PCUSA, EPC, NAPARC) and church-based networks functioning as the primary go-to-market recruitment channel alongside digital presence (website, Facebook, YouTube, Grace & Truth quarterly publication). Erskine does not have external investors or venture backing; it is governed by Erskine College's Board of Trustees.

Name

Erskine Theological Seminary

Legal name

Erskine Theological Seminary

Website

https://seminary.erskine.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1837

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Erskine Theological Seminary is a private, non-profit graduate seminary founded in 1837 and operating as the graduate school of Erskine College in Due West, South Carolina. It delivers accredited master's and doctoral theological degrees to ministry candidates, chaplains, and DMin students across three South Carolina campuses, online, and internationally through the 2024 Global Theological Diploma.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

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)

Keywords

• Theological education
• Seminary degrees
• Pastoral training
• Ministry education
• Graduate theology

Headquarters

HQ city

Due West

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 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. Graduate Tuition (MDiv, MAPM, MATS): Core tuition revenue from master's level degree programs charged at $550 per credit hour. Students in MDiv (90 hours), MAPM (36 hours), and MATS (48 hours) programs pay tuition for coursework completion.
2. Advanced Degree Tuition (ThM, DMin): Graduate theological degree programs charged at $600 per credit hour. ThM requires 24 credit hours; DMin requires 36 credit hours including dissertation writing.
3. Audit and Continuing Education: Course auditing at $225 per course for non-degree students and continuing education participants. Senior citizens (65+) and Erskine alumni can audit courses at no cost.
4. Federal Student Loans: Erskine participates in Title IV federal student loan programs including Federal Stafford Loans and Federal Graduate PLUS Loans for eligible degree-seeking students.
5. Institutional Scholarships: Denominational scholarships funded by ARP Church and contributors for students from various denominations. Presbyterian scholarships for ARP, PCA, PCUSA, EPC, NAPARC, RUF, Campus Outreach, and OPC students. Additional scholarships for chaplains, Mitchell Road Presbyterian members, and non-Presbyterian denominations.
6. Military Tuition Assistance and Veterans Benefits: Active duty military tuition assistance and VA education benefits including Montgomery GI Bill, Post-9/11 GI Bill, and Dependent Education Assistance for eligible student veterans.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Erskine Theological Seminary is a private, accredited graduate theological seminary offering master's and doctoral degrees (MDiv, MAPM, MATS, ThM, DMin) plus specialized tracks in chaplaincy and missiology. Programs are delivered through a residential main campus in Due West, SC, regional campuses in Columbia and Greenville, and the Brightspace-based Erskine Online platform, with international reach via the Global Theological Diploma program and CPE training through an ICPT partnership.

Product overview

Erskine Theological Seminary offers a comprehensive portfolio of graduate theological degrees and programs. The core offerings include Master of Divinity (MDiv - 90/84 credit hours), Master of Arts in Practical Ministry (MAPM - 36 hours), Master of Arts in Theological Studies (MATS - 48 hours), Master of Theology (ThM - 24 hours), and Doctor of Ministry (DMin - 36 hours). Specialized tracks include MDiv Chaplain Ministries (84 hours with CPE) and DMin with Missiology concentration. The seminary delivers education through multiple modalities: traditional on-campus instruction at Due West, Columbia, and Greenville locations; online delivery via Brightspace LMS through Erskine Online; and international programs via the Global Diploma. Additional programs include Clinical Pastoral Education through ICPT partnership and graduate certificates from the David Livingstone Institute. The BA/MDiv accelerated program enables completion of both degrees in five years.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Global Theological Diploma in Theology & Christian Leadership: A program extending Erskine's educational reach to countries including Rwanda, Pakistan, and Mexico.

Products and services

• Master of Divinity (MDiv) Professional ministerial degree equipping students for pastoral leadership in churches, Christian ministries, and chaplaincy contexts. Provides broad curriculum in Bible, theology, Church history, and ministry practice. Standard track is 90 credit hours; chaplaincy track is 84 credit hours including Clinical Pastoral Education. Priced at $550 per credit hour.
• Master of Arts in Practical Ministry (MAPM) Professionally oriented degree for leadership and service in Christian ministries not requiring ordination. Focuses on Bible and ministry practice. Requires 36 credit hours with optional 12 additional hours for concentrations. Priced at $550 per credit hour.
• Master of Arts in Theological Studies (MATS) Academically oriented degree for teaching Bible, theology, and Church history in ministry contexts and for advanced theological degrees. Requires 48 credit hours with capstone thesis or project option. Priced at $550 per credit hour.
• Master of Theology (ThM) Advanced academic degree building on MDiv for biblical and theological scholarship and teaching. Students focus on biblical studies or theological/historical studies. Requires 24 credit hours culminating in thesis. Priced at $600 per credit hour.
• Doctor of Ministry (DMin)

Quantifiable outcome

• Graduate students prepared for pastoral leadership, ordination, chaplaincy, and advanced theological scholarship
• +1 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, secondary, minor, support and primary.

• Institute of Clinical Pastoral Training (ICPT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with ICPT to offer accredited Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) for credit. Erskine students register for PM 774/775 CPE for academic credit while ICPT provides the training program with 800 hours total (600 hours ministry of presence, 200 hours didactic). ICPT awards CPE units which Erskine transcribes to 6 credit hours. Allows students to train without suspending conscience and faith.
• Association of Certified Christian Chaplains (ACCC)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation partnership enabling Erskine graduates to pursue board certification through ACCC after completing CPE requirements. Not required for Erskine credit but available for those serving in certain chaplaincy sectors.
• Spiritual Care Association (SCA)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership association for CPE training that works with ICPT to provide accredited clinical pastoral education recognized for chaplaincy certification.
• BibleMeshminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTransfer course partnership allowing Erskine students to take biblical and theological introductory courses and language courses through BibleMesh that transfer toward an Erskine Seminary master's degree. Provides access to courses not on Erskine's schedule for a particular semester.
• Carolina Theological Consortium (CTC)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperative agreement with Columbia International University, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary-Charlotte, and Reformed Theological Seminary-Charlotte. Provides Erskine students cross-registration and library privileges at member institutions.
• PASCAL (Partnership Among South Carolina Academic Libraries)supportOthersLibrary consortium providing Erskine students access to resources of over 50 academic libraries throughout South Carolina. Includes electronic journal databases: Academic Search Complete, ATLA, ERIC, JSTOR, New Testament Abstracts, and Old Testament Abstracts.
• Mitchell Road Presbyterian ChurchprimaryOthersChurch hosting Erskine's Greenville campus location at 207 Mitchell Road, Greenville SC 29615. Provides classroom space for seminary courses and scholarship support for church members.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Columbia International University: Columbia, SC-based evangelical seminary and Bible college sharing Carolina Theological Consortium cross-registration with Erskine, with overlapping degree offerings (MDiv, MA) and serving a comparable interdenominational evangelical student base in the same regional market.
• Covenant Theological Seminary: PCA-affiliated seminary (PCA being one of Erskine's core recruitment denominations) offering MDiv, MA, ThM, and DMin with hybrid and online options. Strong peer on Reformed theological positioning and PCA student pipeline overlap with Erskine.
• Columbia Theological Seminary: PC(USA)-affiliated seminary located in Decatur, GA, offering MDiv, ThM, and DMin with Reformed commitments. Peer on Presbyterian/Reformed theological positioning and the same broader PCUSA recruitment pool that Erskine also draws from.
• Reformed Theological Seminary: Multi-campus Reformed and evangelical seminary (Jackson, MS; Charlotte, NC; Washington, DC; Dallas; New York; Atlanta) offering MDiv, MA, ThM, and DMin. Closest direct competitor given overlapping Reformed theological commitments, multi-state physical and online distribution, and similar student segments to Erskine.
• Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary: Multi-location evangelical seminary with Charlotte campus that is part of the same Carolina Theological Consortium as Erskine, offering MDiv and doctoral degrees with strong online programs — directly comparable in target market and delivery model.
• Westminster Theological Seminary: Reformed/evangelical seminary (Philadelphia and California campuses) with strong academic profile in biblical and theological studies. Peer on Reformed theological orientation and doctoral (ThM, PhD) program offerings similar to Erskine's ThM.

Broad incumbents

• Dallas Theological Seminary: Major evangelical seminary with extensive online and modular programs, multiple graduate degrees, and a comparable chaplaincy-relevant curriculum. A broader incumbent peer whose online scale and brand recognition directly compete for the same online student pool.
• Trinity Evangelical Divinity School: Evangelical divinity school within Trinity International University offering comprehensive master's and doctoral theological degrees with significant online enrollment. Comparable in theological breadth, doctoral pipeline, and online delivery to Erskine.
• Asbury Theological Seminary: Multi-campus Wesleyan/evangelical seminary offering MDiv, ThM, and DMin with strong online programs (exstension locations in Florida and Kentucky). Comparable on interdenominational evangelical positioning and online delivery model to Erskine Online.
• The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary: Largest U.S. Southern Baptist seminary offering comprehensive graduate theological degrees, including the DMin and MDiv. Compares to Erskine on degree portfolio and online offerings, though denominationally distinct and significantly larger.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ErskineSeminary1837
• Facebookfacebook.com/erskineseminary

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 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 Erskine Theological Seminary