Minnesota has one of the strongest Christian higher education clusters in the upper Midwest: large Twin Cities universities, Pentecostal and C&MA schools, small missions-focused Bible colleges, and two major ATS-accredited seminaries.
This guide covers six accredited undergraduate schools and two seminaries, with accreditation, tuition, online options, and how each fits different ministry callings.
Best for
Academically rigorous Christian university: Bethel University
Media, broadcasting, and online: University of Northwestern
Assemblies of God / Pentecostal: North Central University
Missions training with field internship: Bethany Global University
C&MA and missions: Crown College
Low-cost small Bible college: Oak Hills Christian College
Bible colleges and Christian universities in Minnesota
Minnesota's undergraduate Christian education ranges from large Twin Cities universities to tiny rural Bible colleges. The Twin Cities schools dominate in breadth and online reach; the smaller schools dominate in cost and missions focus.
Bethel University
Location
St. Paul (Arden Hills campus)
Accreditation
Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
Denomination
Converge (Baptist General Conference)
Programs
Bachelor's degrees in Biblical and Theological Studies, Christian Ministries, Reconciliation Studies, Youth Ministry, and Worship Arts, plus graduate programs including the MA in Theology and Ministry and the Doctor of Ministry.
Online
Yes — online graduate and selected undergraduate programs
Tuition
Published undergraduate tuition in the upper-$30,000s before aid; Bethel awards substantial institutional scholarships.
Why students choose it: Bethel is one of the most academically respected Christian universities in the Midwest. Its Department of Biblical and Theological Studies is large and well-published, and its reconciliation-studies program is nationally distinctive.
Ideal for: Converge/Baptist students, students interested in reconciliation and justice ministry, and those who want a rigorous Christian liberal-arts university near the Twin Cities.
Bachelor's degrees in Biblical Studies, Christian Ministries, Intercultural Studies, Worship Arts, Youth Ministry, and Biblical Languages, plus graduate programs in ministry and theological studies.
Online
Yes — extensive online undergraduate and graduate programs
Tuition
Published undergraduate tuition in the upper-$30,000s before aid; significant institutional scholarships available.
Why students choose it: UNW is a Christian liberal-arts university with a strong media and broadcasting heritage, a required Bible core, and one of the larger Christian online programs in the upper Midwest.
Ideal for: Interdenominational evangelical students, media and worship arts majors, and students who want a Twin Cities Christian university with strong online options.
Associate and bachelor's degrees in Biblical Studies, Christian Ministry, Missions, Worship Arts, Youth Ministry, and Biblical Counseling, plus online adult completion and graduate programs.
Online
Yes — extensive online and adult degree-completion programs
Tuition
Published undergraduate tuition in the mid-$20,000s to low-$30,000s before aid; Crown is known for strong institutional aid.
Why students choose it: Crown is a C&MA school with a missions DNA, dual HLC and ABHE accreditation, and a strong emphasis on preparing students for church ministry and global missions. Its online division serves working adults across the country.
Ideal for: C&MA students, missions-minded students, and working adults who need an accredited online Bible or ministry degree.
Bachelor's degrees in Biblical Studies, Christian Ministries, Pastoral Studies, Worship Arts, Youth Ministry, Intercultural Studies, and Theological Studies.
Online
Yes — online undergraduate and graduate programs
Tuition
Published undergraduate tuition in the upper-$20,000s before aid; AG district scholarships and institutional aid widely awarded.
Why students choose it: North Central is the Assemblies of God university for the north-central region. Its urban Minneapolis campus and strong worship-arts program make it a hub for Pentecostal students, worship leaders, and urban ministry.
Ideal for: Assemblies of God and Pentecostal students, worship leaders, and students who want an urban campus experience.
Bachelor's degrees in Intercultural Ministry Studies, Worship Arts, and Bible and Theology, all built around a required global missions internship.
Online
Yes — selected online programs and distance learning options
Tuition
Low published tuition compared with regionally accredited peers; the program is designed to minimize debt for missionaries-in-training.
Why students choose it: Bethany Global University is a missions-training school that requires every student to complete an overseas internship. It is ideal for students who want Bible training tightly integrated with cross-cultural field experience.
Ideal for: Students called to international missions, missionary kids, and those who want a low-debt Bible degree with field experience.
Associate and bachelor's degrees in Bible and Ministry, Biblical Studies, Worship Arts, and Intercultural Studies, with a heavy Bible core and small-class mentoring.
Online
Limited — primarily residential with some online courses
Tuition
Among the lowest published tuition of accredited Bible colleges in Minnesota.
Why students choose it: Oak Hills is a small ABHE-accredited Bible college in northern Minnesota's lake country. Its low cost and heavy mentoring model appeal to students who want an intimate, Bible-saturated environment.
Ideal for: Students seeking a small, low-cost, accredited Bible college in a rural northern setting.
Minnesota is unusual among Midwestern states for having two major ATS-accredited seminaries in the same metro area. Luther Seminary serves the ELCA and other Lutheran traditions; United Theological Seminary serves mainline and progressive Protestant students.
Luther Seminary
Location
St. Paul
Accreditation
ATS
Denomination
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)
Programs
Master of Divinity, Master of Arts, Master of Theology, Doctor of Ministry, and PhD. The largest ELCA seminary and one of the largest seminaries in North America.
Online
Yes — hybrid and online options, including distributed learning programs
Tuition
Competitive for a mainline seminary; substantial scholarships and congregational assistance programs available.
Why students choose it: Luther Seminary is the flagship ELCA seminary and a major center for Lutheran theological education. Its public leadership and congregational mission emphases are nationally recognized.
Ideal for: ELCA and Lutheran students preparing for ordained ministry, chaplaincy, or theological scholarship.
United Church of Christ and United Methodist ecumenical
Programs
Master of Divinity, Master of Arts, Master of Theology, Doctor of Ministry, and certificates in areas such as spiritual direction and social transformation.
Online
Yes — hybrid and online programs
Tuition
Competitive tuition with substantial institutional aid; denominational assistance available for UCC and UMC candidates.
Why students choose it: United is a progressive, ecumenical ATS seminary serving mainline and justice-oriented ministry students across the upper Midwest.
Ideal for: UCC, UMC, and progressive Protestant students preparing for ordination, social justice ministry, or chaplaincy.
Bethel, Crown, Northwestern, and North Central hold regional HLC accreditation. Bethany Global and Oak Hills hold ABHE accreditation, which is USDE-recognized and aid-eligible. For seminary, Luther and United are ATS-accredited. Choose based on whether you plan to transfer credits or pursue graduate study.
2. Tradition
Minnesota offers clear denominational options: Converge/Baptist at Bethel, Assemblies of God at North Central, C&MA at Crown, ELCA at Luther Seminary, and UCC/UMC at United. Interdenominational students can choose Northwestern or Oak Hills.
3. Cost and format
Oak Hills and Bethany Global are the lowest-cost options. Bethel and Northwestern are the most expensive but offer the broadest program catalogs and strongest name recognition. Working adults should compare Crown, Bethel, Northwestern, and North Central online programs.
Cost and financial aid for Minnesota Bible students
File the FAFSA first for federal aid. Minnesota residents may qualify for the Minnesota State Grant and other state programs at participating private colleges. All of the schools above participate in federal aid, and most award substantial institutional scholarships.
Minnesota Bible colleges at a glance
School
City
Accreditation
Tradition
Published tuition
Online
Bethel University
St. Paul
HLC
Converge/Baptist
~$38,000/yr
Yes
University of Northwestern
St. Paul
HLC
Interdenominational
~$36,000/yr
Yes
Crown College
St. Bonifacius
HLC + ABHE
C&MA
~$28,000/yr
Yes
North Central University
Minneapolis
HLC
Assemblies of God
~$27,000/yr
Yes
Bethany Global University
Bloomington
ABHE
Missions
Low
Some
Oak Hills Christian College
Bemidji
ABHE
Interdenominational
~$18,000/yr
Limited
Published full-time undergraduate tuition before institutional aid, rounded; graduate and adult programs are priced per credit hour. Always confirm current rates with the school and verify net price in the NCES College Navigator.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best Bible colleges in Minnesota?
Bethel University and the University of Northwestern – St. Paul are the largest regionally accredited Christian universities. Crown College and North Central University are strong for Pentecostal and Assemblies of God students. Bethany Global University and Oak Hills Christian College are smaller, missions-focused ABHE schools. For graduate theology, Luther Seminary and United Theological Seminary are the two ATS-accredited seminaries in the Twin Cities.
Is Bethel University a Bible college?
Bethel is a Christian university, not a Bible college, but it has robust Bible, ministry, and theology programs within a full liberal-arts university. It is affiliated with Converge (Baptist General Conference) and regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
What denomination is Crown College?
Crown College is affiliated with the Christian and Missionary Alliance (C&MA) and is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. It also holds ABHE accreditation and has a strong emphasis on missions and ministry formation.
Is North Central University Assemblies of God?
Yes. North Central University in Minneapolis is the Assemblies of God university for the north-central United States. It is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and known for worship arts, pastoral ministry, and biblical studies.
What can I study at Luther Seminary?
Luther Seminary in St. Paul is the largest seminary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). It offers the M.Div., MA, Master of Theology, and doctoral programs, with strong emphases on public leadership, congregational mission, and Lutheran theology.
Are there online Bible degrees from Minnesota schools?
Yes. Bethel, Crown, University of Northwestern, and North Central all offer online undergraduate and graduate programs. Luther Seminary and United Theological Seminary also offer hybrid and online seminary degrees.
How much does Bible college cost in Minnesota?
Published undergraduate tuition ranges from roughly $16,000–$22,000 per year at Oak Hills and Bethany Global to the upper-$30,000s at Bethel and Northwestern before aid. Minnesota private colleges typically award substantial institutional scholarships.
Minnesota schools in our directory
Compare details, formats, and tuition ranges for the Minnesota schools we track.
Tuition figures reflect official school publications and published rates as of mid-2026 and are subject to change. Always confirm current costs, program availability, and accreditation status on each school's official website before applying.
