Distance Bible education in America is older than the internet by almost a century — Moody launched correspondence Bible study in 1901, and printed lesson booklets are still mailed to hundreds of thousands of students a year. Alongside them now sit fully accredited online degrees that are academically identical to campus programs.
The two are easy to confuse and very different in what they deliver. This guide separates them clearly, so you do not spend two years on courses that will never count toward a degree you wanted.
Distance and correspondence programs compared
| School | Location | Accreditation | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moody Bible Institute — Distance LearningCredit and non-credit distance courses; the original Moody Correspondence School lineage | Chicago, Illinois / at a distance | HLC, ABHE | ~$465/credit (online undergrad) |
| Emmaus Worldwide (Emmaus Correspondence School)Classic mail-based Bible courses; not degree credit, widely used in prison and church ministry | Dubuque, Iowa / by mail and online | Non-credit ministry courses | ~$10–$25 per course |
| Global University — Berean School of the BibleAssemblies of God credentialing track; fully self-paced | Springfield, Missouri / at a distance | DEAC (undergraduate), ABHE | ~$200–$300/credit |
| Liberty University OnlineLargest distance Bible and divinity catalog; 8-week terms rather than self-paced | Lynchburg, Virginia / online | SACSCOC, ATS (divinity) | ~$390–$455/credit |
| Ohio Christian University TrailblazerAdult-completion ministry degrees delivered fully at a distance | Circleville, Ohio / online | HLC | ~$400/credit |
| Nazarene Bible CollegeBuilt for working adults pursuing Nazarene ministry credentials | Colorado Springs, Colorado / online | HLC, ABHE | ~$395/credit |
| Christian Leaders InstituteFree ministry training; no transferable credit and no federal aid | Online | Not institutionally accredited | Free / donation |
| Charles Spurgeon / church-run correspondence programsVerify accreditation before paying — many are training, not degree programs | Varies | Varies, often none | Varies |
Correspondence study: cheap, self-paced, usually non-credit
Emmaus Worldwide, the modern form of the Emmaus Correspondence School, is the largest operation of this kind — printed courses on individual books of the Bible for a few dollars each, graded by volunteers, used heavily in prison ministry and small churches. There are no admissions requirements, no deadlines, and no credit.
That model suits lay leaders, small-group teachers, and anyone studying for their own growth. It does not suit someone who needs a credential. If a "college" offers you a degree entirely through mailed lessons for a flat fee, treat that as a warning sign and check it against the Department of Education accreditation database.
Accredited distance degrees
Moody Bible Institute remains the reference point in Illinois and nationally, holding HLC and ABHE accreditation for both campus and distance study. Global University's Berean School of the Bible is the self-paced option that still carries credit — the standard route to Assemblies of God ministerial credentials. Liberty University Online offers the widest catalog, from an undergraduate biblical studies degree to an ATS-accredited MDiv.
All of these participate in Title IV, so the FAFSA applies. One rule catches people out: federal aid treats correspondence coursework far more restrictively than online coursework, so a self-paced print-based program may limit your aid even at an accredited school. Ask the financial aid office how your specific program is classified.
Bible correspondence courses in Illinois
Illinois has the deepest history here. Moody's Chicago campus has run distance Bible study continuously since 1901, Emmaus serves Illinois churches from just over the Iowa border, and most Chicago-area denominational offices maintain their own lay-training correspondence tracks. If you want campus options instead, see Bible colleges in Illinois and the Chicago guide.
How to choose
- Decide whether you need credit. Personal growth or lay teaching — correspondence is fine and nearly free. Ordination, employment, or graduate school — you need accredited credit.
- Verify accreditation yourself. Use the DAPIP database, not the school's marketing page. Our accreditation check walks through it.
- Match the pace to your life. Self-paced sounds ideal and has high dropout rates. Term-based online programs finish more students.
- Price the whole degree, not the course. See what online Bible college costs.
Related reading
Compare with accredited online Bible colleges, tuition-free online programs, or free Bible schools if cost is the deciding factor.
Frequently asked questions
- What is a distance learning Bible college?
- A distance learning Bible college delivers biblical and ministry coursework to students who never come to campus. Modern versions are fully online with terms, deadlines, and transferable credit; older correspondence programs mail printed lessons that students complete at their own pace and return for grading. Both are legitimate, but only accredited credit-bearing programs lead to a recognized degree.
- Are Bible correspondence courses free?
- Many are. Emmaus Worldwide charges only a few dollars per printed course, and several ministries — including Christian Leaders Institute and various denominational programs — offer free Bible study courses outright. Free courses are almost always non-credit: valuable for personal study or lay ministry, but they will not transfer toward a degree.
- Do correspondence Bible course credits transfer?
- Usually not. Non-credit correspondence courses carry no academic credit to transfer. Credit-bearing distance courses from an accredited college — Moody, Liberty, Nazarene Bible College, Global University — do transfer, subject to the receiving school's policy. Always confirm the school's accreditation in the U.S. Department of Education database first.
- What is the difference between correspondence and online Bible college?
- Correspondence study is self-paced and asynchronous with no cohort — you receive materials, complete them on your own schedule, and submit work for grading. Online programs run on academic terms with classmates, discussion boards, deadlines, and instructor contact. Federal aid rules treat them differently too: correspondence coursework has strict limits under Title IV, while online coursework generally qualifies for full aid.
- Where can I take Bible correspondence courses in Illinois?
- Moody Bible Institute in Chicago has offered distance Bible study since 1901 and still runs credit and non-credit distance courses. Emmaus Worldwide, just across the state line in Dubuque, Iowa, serves many Illinois churches with printed courses, and Illinois-based congregations frequently use Berean School of the Bible for credentialing. See our Illinois Bible colleges guide for campus options.
- Can I earn a full Bible degree by distance learning?
- Yes. Accredited associate, bachelor's, master's, and even doctoral degrees in Bible, ministry, and theology are all available fully at a distance. Liberty, Moody, Ohio Christian, Nazarene Bible College, and Global University all award complete degrees without campus residency, and eligible students can use federal financial aid.
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