North Dakota's Bible training centers on Trinity Bible College and Graduate School in Ellendale, with University of Mary in Bismarck offering regionally accredited Catholic theology.
This guide compares both, explains North Dakota state aid, and lists the Minnesota and South Dakota schools plains students most often consider.
Bible and Christian colleges in North Dakota
North Dakota supports two very different institutions: a Pentecostal Bible college with graduate programs, and a Benedictine Catholic university. Between them, students can pursue everything from a two-year ministry certificate to a master's degree without leaving the state.
Trinity Bible College and Graduate School
Location
Ellendale (southeastern North Dakota)
Accreditation
Higher Learning Commission; ABHE association
Affiliation
Assemblies of God (Pentecostal)
Programs
Bachelor's degrees in Biblical Studies, pastoral ministry, worship, missions, education, and business, plus graduate programs in theology and ministry leadership.
Online
Yes — online undergraduate and graduate options available
Tuition
Modest private-college tuition with significant institutional and denominational scholarships.
Why students choose it: North Dakota's only full Bible college and graduate school, with a small residential campus, an Assemblies of God placement network, and both on-campus and online paths.
Ideal for: Pentecostal and evangelical students preparing for pastoral, worship, or missions ministry on the northern plains.
Theology, Catholic studies, and pastoral ministry programs alongside a full university curriculum, with graduate options in ministry and ethics.
Online
Yes — several online and accelerated programs
Tuition
Private university rates, with a well-known tuition guarantee and heavy institutional aid.
Why students choose it: The strongest regionally accredited option in North Dakota for theology, and the natural choice for Catholic students and lay ministry candidates.
Ideal for: Catholic students, lay ministers, teachers in Catholic schools, and pre-seminarians.
For a wider denominational range or a fully online path, North Dakota students commonly look to Minnesota and South Dakota, or enroll in an accredited online Bible college.
Accredited online Bible certificates and degrees, widely used by rural plains students.
How to choose a Bible school as a North Dakota student
1. Start with your tradition
Trinity is Assemblies of God; University of Mary is Catholic. If you are Lutheran — a large share of the state — you will likely look toward Minnesota seminaries or Concordia system schools. Our seminary hub breaks graduate options down by tradition.
2. Decide undergraduate versus graduate
Trinity is one of the few small plains colleges offering both, which lets you stay in one system from a bachelor's through a master's in ministry.
3. Factor in winter and distance
Ellendale is rural and winters are severe. If commuting is unrealistic, compare residential cost against online enrollment while you keep working in your home congregation.
Cost and financial aid in North Dakota
File the FAFSA, then review the North Dakota State Grant and North Dakota Scholarship through the North Dakota University System. The State Grant can be used at eligible participating in-state private colleges, so ask each financial aid office whether they participate.
Assemblies of God students should also ask their district office about ministerial scholarships, and Catholic students should ask their diocese about lay ministry formation funding.
Frequently asked questions
Are there Bible colleges in North Dakota?
Yes. Trinity Bible College and Graduate School in Ellendale is North Dakota's dedicated Bible college, affiliated with the Assemblies of God. University of Mary in Bismarck is a Catholic university with theology and ministry degrees, and Jamestown and Mayville area churches also send students to nearby Minnesota and South Dakota schools.
Is Trinity Bible College accredited?
Trinity Bible College and Graduate School holds accreditation with the Higher Learning Commission and has long been associated with the Association for Biblical Higher Education. That combination makes its credits widely transferable and qualifies students for federal financial aid.
What denomination is Trinity Bible College?
Trinity Bible College and Graduate School is endorsed by the Assemblies of God, so its chapel life, doctrine, and ministry placement network are Pentecostal. Students from other evangelical traditions attend as well.
Does University of Mary offer theology degrees?
Yes. University of Mary in Bismarck, a Benedictine Catholic university, offers theology and Catholic studies programs plus graduate ministry options, and is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Can I earn a Bible degree online in North Dakota?
Yes. Trinity offers online and graduate options, and many North Dakota students choose fully online accredited Bible programs so they can stay in rural congregations. Online study is especially common for bivocational pastors in the western oil-patch communities.
What state financial aid can North Dakota students use?
The North Dakota University System administers the North Dakota Scholarship and the State Grant program, and the State Grant can apply at eligible participating private colleges in the state. Always file the FAFSA first, then confirm participation with each school's financial aid office.
Tuition and accreditation details reflect published school information as of 2026 and change often. Always confirm current costs, program availability, and accreditation status on each school's official website and in the U.S. Department of Education accreditation database before applying.
