Texas Bible College

What Texas Bible College does

Texas Bible College (TBC), founded in 1964 and headquartered in Lufkin, Texas, is a private denominational Bible college owned and operated by the Texas District of the United Pentecostal Church International (UPCI). The college delivers theological and ministerial education through three parallel distribution channels: a residential on-campus program at 3900 College Dr, a fully online distance-learning program (TBC Online) delivered through the Populi student information system, and the ExCeLL (Extension Centers for Learning on Location) church-based extension program in which licensed UPCI pastors host courses at their local congregations. The ExCeLL network spans 60+ sites across 16 states, supplemented by electronic attendance (e.g., Skype) for remote participants. The college offers Associate of Arts and Bachelor of Arts degrees in Theology, Missiology, Christian Counseling, and Music Ministry, with curriculum specifically aligned to UPCI ministerial licensure reading requirements at Local, General, and Ordination levels.

The business model is tuition-driven across multiple price points: on-campus tuition is $145/credit hour (approximately $5,500/semester full-time), online courses are $435 per 3-credit course plus a $150/semester technology fee, ExCeLL extension courses are $240 per course, and the AMA (Accelerated Ministerial Advancement) fast-track licensing program is $35 per course. Supplementary revenue comes from application fees ($50 early / $100 regular), the Center for Leadership Excellence Masterclass at $178/course, merchandise sales (hoodies, t-shirts, hats), donations and tithing through a dedicated portal, and select textbook revenue via Pentecostal Publishing. GI Bill benefits are accepted on-campus only. Customer segments include aspiring UPCI ministers (primary), current licensed ministers seeking advanced degrees, transfer/continuing-education students (including Diploma-to-Degree and Concurrent Study for high schoolers), and lay church members accessing the Masterclass — all concentrated within the UPCI and adjacent Oneness Apostolic denominations.

TBC holds degree-granting authority through a 2007 Texas Supreme Court ruling acknowledged by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, full UPCI endorsement, and Texas Veterans Commission approval. The college is pursuing SACSCOC accreditation with candidacy expected Fall 2024, and maintains a credit-transfer partnership with Angelina College. The institution operates without disclosed revenue or external funding, relying on tuition, denominational support, and donations.

Name

Texas Bible College

Legal name

Texas Bible College

Website

https://tbcnow.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Texas Bible College is a private UPCI-affiliated Bible college in Lufkin, Texas, founded in 1964, delivering theological and ministerial education through on-campus, online, and 60+ church-based ExCeLL extension sites, primarily serving aspiring and current United Pentecostal Church ministers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Theological Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Denominational Theological Colleges (e.g., Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, Evangelical) (EDAHAKAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Missionary Training Colleges & Schools (EDAHAKAF)

Keywords

• Theological education
• Ministerial training
• Pentecostal bible college
• Online ministry degree
• Christian higher education

Headquarters

HQ city

Lufkin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. On-Campus Tuition: Full-time on-campus students pay approximately $5,500 per semester. Credit hour rate is $145 per credit hour. Revenue is recurring per academic semester with regular enrollment cycles.
2. Online Course Tuition: Online courses charged at $435 per course (3 credit hours) plus $150 technology fee per semester. Payment plans available for $50 fee for students taking 2+ courses. Recurring per semester enrollment.
3. ExCeLL Course Tuition: Extension program courses cost $240 per course for 11-week or 8-week semesters. Textbook costs additional. Program brings classroom to local churches through pastor-led instruction.
4. AMA (Accelerated Ministerial Advancement) Program: Fast-track online licensing program at $35 per course. Textbooks purchased separately from Pentecostal Publishing ($9.99-$19.99 each). Focuses on ministerial licensing rather than degree completion.
5. Masterclass Courses: Center of Leadership Excellence non-academic courses at $178 per course. Provides certificate of completion without academic obligations.
6. Application Fees: Early application fee of $50, regular application fee of $100. One-time fees collected during admissions process.
7. Merchandise Sales: Online shop selling TBC branded merchandise including T-shirts ($20), hoodies ($30), crewnecks ($30), hats ($20), and music-related products through the online storefront.
8. Donations and Tithing: Donation portal accepting tithing, offerings, missions contributions, and other donations. Supports the college's mission and ministry operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Texas Bible College is a faith-based higher education institution that offers Associate, Bachelor's, and Master's degree programs in Theology, Missiology, Christian Counseling, and Music Ministry to prepare students for Pentecostal Christian ministry. Courses are delivered through three channels — on-campus in Houston, Texas, fully online through TBC Online, and via a church-based extension program called ExCeLL — with all course delivery managed through the Populi learning management system.

Product overview

Texas Bible College offers a multi-channel educational platform centered on Bible college training for ministry. The core offerings include TBC Online (fully online degree programs through the Populi portal), TBC ExCeLL (church-based classroom extension program with instructors at local churches nationwide), and on-campus programs. Supporting products include the AMA (Accelerated Ministerial Advancement) fast-track licensing program, Center of Leadership Excellence Masterclasses for non-academic professional development, and various certificate programs including Christian Counseling. The institution offers Associate and Bachelor degrees in Theology, Christian Ministry, Christian Counseling, Missiology, and Music Ministry, with pathways including Diploma to Degree completion and Concurrent Study for high school students. A partnership with Angelina College enables credit transfers. All programs align with UPCI ministerial licensing requirements.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BAMM Program (Biblical Arts Music Ministry): Music ministry program preparing Apostolic men and women for exceptional service in music ministry, advancing God-given talents while learning music ministry skills.

Products and services

• On-Campus Degree Programs (Theology, Missiology, Christian Counseling, Music Ministry) Residential, on-campus Associate, Bachelor's, and Master's degree programs in Theology, Missiology, Christian Counseling, and Music Ministry delivered at Texas Bible College's Houston, Texas campus for traditional students pursuing Pentecostal ministerial credentials.
• TBC Online (Online Degree Programs) Fully online degree programs in Theology, Missiology, Christian Counseling, and Music Ministry delivered via the Populi learning management system for working adults, remote learners, and current ministry practitioners who need flexible scheduling.
• ExCeLL (Church-Based Extension Program) Church-based extension education program that delivers accredited theological coursework at affiliated UPCI churches, allowing students to pursue ministerial credentials without relocating to the Houston campus.

Quantifiable outcome

• Graduates prepared for all three levels of UPCI ministerial licensure
• +3 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

Integration2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Angelina CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew partnership focused on expanding opportunities for students both academically and professionally. Collaboration allows students to pursue ministry training at Texas Bible College while gaining access to college-level coursework and transferable academic credits through Angelina College. Partnership designed to help students grow spiritually, educationally, and vocationally.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Liberty University: Large accredited evangelical university offering extensive online theology and ministry programs. Listed in TBC's academic resources as accepting TBC graduates; represents the competitive threat of large, accredited online alternatives.
• Evangel University: Assemblies of God-affiliated comprehensive university in Springfield, MO offering undergraduate and graduate programs including theology and ministry. Comparable as an established Pentecostal institution with broader academic portfolio and stronger accreditation footprint.
• Lee University: Church of God-affiliated university in Cleveland, TN offering theology, ministry, and liberal arts programs. Comparable as a regionally accredited Pentecostal institution with residential programs, online options, and similar ministerial training pathways.
• Oral Roberts University: Charismatic/Pentecostal university in Tulsa, OK offering theology and ministry degrees with strong brand recognition. Comparable as a larger, well-established Pentecostal institution targeting similar ministerial candidates with broader academic scope.
• North Central University: Assemblies of God-affiliated university (formerly North Central Bible College) in Minneapolis offering ministry and liberal arts degrees. Comparable as a larger Pentecostal Bible college with regional accreditation, broader degree offerings, and similar ministerial training mission.

Direct peers

• Urshan Graduate School of Theology: UPCI-affiliated graduate seminary offering master's and doctoral degrees in theology and ministry. Directly comparable as the graduate-level extension of UPCI's ministerial education ecosystem, sharing the same denominational endorsement and licensure pathway focus.
• Indiana Bible College: Independent Pentecostal Bible college in Indianapolis offering diploma and degree programs in ministry and music. Comparable as a small, denominationally-aligned Bible college targeting aspiring Pentecostal ministers, with similar program structure and student demographics.
• Pentecostal Theological Seminary: Church of God-affiliated graduate seminary offering master's and doctoral theology degrees. Comparable as a denominational Pentecostal seminary serving the same ministerial licensing and graduate theological education market.
• Houston Graduate School of Theology: Interdenominational graduate seminary in Houston, TX offering master's degrees in theology. Listed in TBC's own academic resources as accepting TBC graduates for master's programs; comparable in Pentecostal/evangelical theological education space.
• Global University: UPCI-affiliated distance learning Bible college offering undergraduate and graduate theology degrees worldwide. Directly comparable as the primary UPCI-endorsed online/distance ministerial training provider, competing for the same non-residential student population.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries3 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 Texas Bible College