Online Christian education is one of the major success stories of the recent distance education boom. Many of the major players in all of online education are Christian schools, as several of them had distance education departments that pre-date the internet. These schools were broadcasting their signal when that meant mailing out VHS tapes of lectures and mailing back completed assignments. Other schools are more recent entrants, but all share a Christ-centered focus on spiritual and intellectual growth. These schools come from all stripes of denominations and doctrines, so rather than rank them in a multifactorial fashion, we have simply ranked them by undergraduate hourly tuition to give you an idea of cost as you select the school that best fits the needs of your budget and your beliefs.
#1 – Luther Rice College and Seminary
Lithonia, Georgia
Apart from a small residency requirement for the Doctor of Ministry degree, all online degree programs at Luther Rice College and Seminary are 100% available digitally. The courses at this school are designed to be equally accessible to mobile devices and computers alike, providing flexibility to those whose screen time behind a laptop is limited. The school has been focused on distance education since its inception. Undergraduate online tuition at Luther Rice College and Seminary is just $284 per credit.
#2 – Indiana Wesleyan University
Marion, Indiana
The largest member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, Indiana Wesleyan University is an evangelical Christian university that is well respected for its balance of academic and spiritual discipline. The school offers many degree options at seven levels in a fully online or flexible hybrid format. Tuition varies by program, but the associate in general studies online starts at just $294 per hour of instruction. Indiana Wesleyan University is the largest private institution of higher learning in the Hoosier State and religiously affiliated with the Wesleyan Church.
#3 – Faulkner University
Montgomery, Alabama
Faulkner University reserves the right to reject the admission of students it feels do not reflect the high character and ideals of the school. The school offers online degrees at the associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels. Tuition varies by program, but starts at $320 per semester hour for undergraduate study. Receiving regional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges, Faulkner University is religiously affiliated with the Churches of Christ.
#4 – Toccoa Falls College
Toccoa Falls, Georgia
Online degrees at Toccoa Falls College are available at the associates and bachelor’s level. Tuition for the online degree programs is $333 per hour of instruction. The college is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges and is a member institution of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities. The school draws on the religious tradition of the Christian and Missionary Alliance. Toccoa Falls College was established in 1907 and the campus houses the 186 foot waterfall for which the school is named.
#5 – Grand Canyon University
Phoenix, Arizona
Grand Canyon University, ever sensitive to the financial needs of applicants, has not raised their tuition rates in 11 years. GCU tries hard to make applying for and financing school as painless as possible, getting back to applicants in as little as 24 hours regarding possible graduation dates and transcript requests. Hourly undergraduate tuition begins at $395 and graduate tuition at $340. Grand Canyon University is Christian and interdenominational and open to students of all creeds and beliefs. The school calls itself a missional community that pursues the teachings of Christ.
#6 – Baptist College of Florida
Graceville, Florida
With three associates, eighteen bachelor’s and two master’s degrees, the Baptist College of Florida offers all of their degrees traditionally and online. Focusing on degrees in ministry, education and music, the school charges an online hourly tuition of $350 for coursework. Sponsored by the Florida Baptist Convention, the Baptist College of Florida is accredited by the Southern Association of School and Colleges Commission on Colleges. The school was established in 1943 for the training of Baptist ministers.
#7 – LeTourneau University
Longview, Texas
LeTourneau University was founded after WWII by a businessman who saw an opportunity in educating returning GIs. Billing itself as the “Christian Polytechnic University,” the school occupies a unique niche in academia. The school’s statement of faith reports thusly, “We believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the only inspired, authoritative Word of God and are completely truthful and without error.” Tuition for online undergraduate programs clocks in at $355 per unit of instruction and up.
#8 – Saint Leo University
Saint Leo, Florida
Drawing on the educational tradition of the Roman Catholic Church, Saint Leo University offers degree programs designed specifically with the adult learner in mind. The school offers 66 online degree program at all four levels. Undergraduate tuition per credit hour is $360. Military discounts are available. Saint Leo University operates on a rolling admission basis, so applications are accepted year round for the school’s six annual start dates. The school also wants to help you take advantage of any course credit you may be eligible for through life experience or career training.
#9 – Ohio Christian University
Circleville, Ohio
The online tuition at Ohio Christian University starts at just $380 hourly for associates degrees. The school offers discounts for military affiliated students. Bachelor’s programs are open to students with more than 50 credit hours of college experience and a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better. Ohio Christian University was founded in 1948 to train ministers for the Churches of Christ in Christian Union denomination. The school’s regional accrediting body is the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association.
#10 – Oral Roberts University
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Oral Roberts University offers bachelor’s, master’s and certificates in the fields of business administration, Biblical literature, ministry, and education. Charging $385 per credit hour for undergraduate or graduate coursework, the school believes in “whole person education,” which encompasses the discovery your true calling and then making a path for your vision in the world. Oral Roberts University is founded on what it terms the “unchanging precepts of the Bible.” The schools sees its mission as forming leaders empowered by the Holy Spirit to heal the world through God’s impact.
#11 – Liberty University
Lynchburg, Virginia
With over 250 online programs, Liberty University is the largest online Christian institution of higher learning in the world. The school was founded by televangelist Jerry Falwell in 1971 and the distance education emphasis there goes back to the mid-1980s. The doctrinal statement of Liberty University reads, in part, “the Bible, both Old and New Testaments, though written by men, was supernaturally inspired by God so that all its words are the written true revelation of God.” Online undergraduate tuition starts at $390 per unit of instruction and varies by program.
#12 – North Greenville University
Tigerville, South Carolina
Open to students 22 and older, the online undergraduate studies at North Greenville University encompass six fields of study, including applied psychology, elementary educational studies, Christian ministries, and criminal justice. Tuition for undergraduate online study is $395 hourly. Affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention and the South Carolina Baptist Convention, the school was established in 1891. North Greenville University receives regional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges.
#13 – Asbury University
Wilmore, Kentucky
The Adult Professional Studies program at Asbury University runs accelerated 8 week courses to get you through the program faster, saving you money and time. Tuition for undergraduate coursework in $399 per unit of instruction and scholarship opportunities are available. Degrees are available in social work, business, education or ministry. Coming from the Wesleyan-Holiness tradition, Asbury University takes its name from Francis Asbury, one of the first bishops of the Methodist Episcopal Church founded by John Wesley.
#14 – Johnson University
Knoxville, Tennessee
Established in 1893, Johnson University traces its Christian heritage through the Restoration Movement of the Second Great Awakening in the US in the 19th century. Today the school offers associates, bachelor’s, master’s, doctorates, and certificates both 100% online and through the hybrid ExtendED program that partners with local churches. Charging just $400 per hour of instruction, Johnson University is an affordable option for a Christ-centered education. Indeed, affordability is one of the school’s core values, along with community and academic discipline.
#15 – Concordia University Saint Paul
Saint Paul, Minnesota
From associates to master’s, the online offerings of Concordia University Saint Paul have you covered. The application fee is waived for online students and students with an associates degree are eligible for a $2,000 scholarship upon transfer to CSP. Hourly undergraduate tuition starts at $420 per unit. Graduate tuition varies by field of study. Concordia University Saint Paul is part of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod’s nine school Concordia University system. The school was established in 1893.
#16 – Regent University
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Established by televangelist Pat Roberts, Regent University sees its mission as providing “Christian leadership to change the world,” according to the website. Providing online degrees in ten fields and at all four academic levels, the school offers eight and 15 week terms. Undergraduate tuition for online classes starts at $425 per credit hour and varies by field of study. Regent University holds that the Bible is (according to their Statement of Faith), “that the Holy Bible is the inspired, infallible, and authoritative source of Christian doctrine and precept.”
#17 – Geneva College
Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania
Open to high school graduates with 4-5 years of work experience, the online bachelor’s programs at Geneva College charge $433 per instructional hour. The school offers bachelor’s degrees in the following six areas: aging services, child and family services, criminal justice, human resources, management, and organizational leadership. There are also two online master’s degrees on offer, an MBA ($633 per unit of credit), and an MS in leadership studies ($609 per unit of credit). Geneva College is affiliated with the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America.
#18 – Gardner Webb University
Boiling Springs, North Carolina
Gardner Webb University offers bachelor’s degree completion options and master’s degrees in five academic areas. Affiliated with the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, the physical campus of the school contains a literal boiling spring from which the surrounding town takes its name. Admissions to the bachelor’s degree completion programs requires 44-48 existing hours of college credit and a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0. Graduate admissions standards vary by program of study. $435 is the tuition rate for the bachelor’s completion program.
#19 – University of Northwestern St. Paul
Saint Paul, Minnesota
A non-denominational Christian institution of higher learning, the University of Northwestern-St. Paul has three bachelor’s, graduate degrees in six fields, and a handful of Biblical studies programs offered 100% online. Undergraduate online tuition clocks in at $440 per semester hour. Graduate studies begin at $499 per semester hour. Putting the focus on intellectual and spiritual growth, the University of Northwestern – St. Paul offers a vision of “Christ centered education” that enables “God-honoring leadership” at every level of life service.
#20 – Graceland University
Lamoni, Iowa
Religiously affiliated with the Communities of Christ, Graceland University offers five bachelor’s, 6 master’s, and a doctorate of nursing practice online. While the religion and nursing program require brief on campus residencies, all other programs are 100% online. Tuition for online study varies by program, but undergraduate coursework starts at $460 per unit of credit. Graceland University was the first fully accredited junior college in Iowa. Today, the school is accredited by the North Central Association’s Higher Learning Commission.
#21 – Colorado Christian University
Lakewood, Colorado
Colorado Christian University’s website affirms their perspective: “We Believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word of God.” The school offers associate, bachelor’s and master’s degrees in a 100% online format. Tuition for undergraduate programs starts at $469 per hour of instruction for full time study. Colorado Christian University is affiliated with the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities and regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
#22 – Mississippi College
Clinton, Mississippi
The oldest institution of higher learning in the Hospitality State, Mississippi College features six online bachelor’s and more than twenty online graduate programs. Affiliated with the Mississippi Baptist Convention, the school is the second oldest Baptist institution in the US. Tuition for the online undergraduate programs is $514 per credit hour. Transfer applicants to Mississippi College should have at least 24 credit hours and a 2.0 out of 4.0 GPA. Graduate applicants are subject to a non-refundable $35 application fee.
#23 – California Baptist University
Riverside, California
With a 100% Christian faculty, California Baptist University offers more than forty bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate degrees fully online. Tuition for the programs starts at $589 hourly for undergraduate study. Graduate rates vary by program. Every program at CBU starts from a Christian perspective and is affiliated with the California Southern Baptist Convention. The school employs one-stop advisors to help with enrollment, transfer credit, and financial aid to save you scurrying from department to department over endless minutiae.
#24 – Dallas Baptist University
Dallas, Texas
With more than seventy five degree options fully online from associates to doctoral, Dallas Baptist University charges an online undergraduate tuition rate of $929 per credit hour. Graduate tuition is $959 per hour and doctoral tuition comes in at $989 hourly. The school is affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas. Their doctrinal beliefs are in line with Southern Baptists. Dallas Baptist University traces its history to 1898 and counts Noah Syndergaard as a notable recent alumnus.
#25 – Azusa Pacific University
Azusa, California
Azusa Pacific University identifies as an evangelical, inter-denominational Christian institution of higher learning. Hourly tuition for undergraduate studies runs $1,596. The school offers a bachelor’s of business administration and a bridge program that connects holders of nursing associates degrees with the APU BSN program. The school also offers master’s and doctoral programs online. Recognized nationally, for high earning graduates, Azusa Pacific University receives regional accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.