Online colleges are a relative term since so many brick-and-mortar colleges offer online courses and degree programs. There are really only a few colleges in the nation that are Pentecostal-affiliated that have online offerings.
School Comparison
All online Pentecostal colleges have a population size of less than 1,000 enrolled students. The table below provides location and tuition costs for the campus bases.
| School Name | Institution Type | Main Campus Location | Tuition (2019-2020) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Urshan College | 4-year, private not-for-profit | Florissant, MO | $7,650** |
| Emmanuel College | 4-year, private not-for-profit | Franklin Springs, GA | $20,712** |
| Southwestern Christian University | 4-year, private not-for-profit | Bethany, OK | $16,330** |
| Pentecostal Theological Seminary | Graduate, private not-for-profit | Cleveland, TN | $11,995** (graduate) |
Sources: *College websites, **National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
Online Pentecostal Colleges Overview
All of these colleges have main campuses that can be attended, should you so choose. However, all offer online courses and programs.
Urshan College
Urshan College has no on-campus housing, and they are aware that many of their students are adults, continuing their education. There are currently four online programs available, with another one being developed. You can earn your Bachelor of Arts in either Christian Ministry or Organizational Leadership. Both of these focus on Christian principles and teach students how to prepare for work in ministry. The cost for distance learning at Urshan is $199 per credit. To be considered full-time, you must take four courses each semester. After fees are included, the average cost for a full-time online semester is $2,388.
Emmanuel College
At Emmanuel College, all online offerings have an on-campus counterpart. For this reason, faculty can gauge the amount of work put into the course to guarantee the 2,100 minutes of class engagement required for each credit hour is met. Some of the online course offerings include emergency management, counter terrorism, principles of microeconomics, principles of marketing, and theater appreciation. On campus, student to faculty ratio is 13:1. Since whole programs are not available online, students will be required to complete some graduation requirements. For instance, all full-time students must attend service on Tuesday morning. Students must also take part of at least 12 Cultural Awareness Program (CAP) events over their matriculation. These events help to broaden student's perceptions of people around them. Every student receives an Emmanuel College email. For those who live close to campus, many of the college's updates, CAP events, activity schedules, and information will be notified through this email.
Southwestern Christian University
While the most populous of the schools presented here, Southwestern Christian University is also the only college to offer graduate programs. There are three wholly-online programs available to those who are not near the main campus or that want to earn their degree through online formats. In fact, there are no requirements to attend anything on campus, and all exams can be completed online. Those three degree programs are the Bachelor of Business Administration, the Bachelor of Science in Human Services, and the Bachelor of Science in Christian Leadership. Tuition online as of the 2020-2021 school year was $395 per credit. While programs are available fully online, financial aid is also granted to those who take the online programs and fill out a FAFSA.
Pentecostal Theological Seminary
This is the only college of the four that focuses on graduate degrees. There are five master's degree programs available online. Along with church ministry and theology, these programs look at mental health and counseling through a Pentecostal-lens. These programs are available fully online, and can be completed in roughly two years. The exception is the Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, which requires students to complete 78 credits for the program rather than the 48 credits the other programs require. The Clinical Mental Health program meets the academic requirements needed by the National Board of Certified Counselors. On campus, students attend chapel, where there are often Pentecostal guest speakers. These can be watched online live.
