NGU Named in Top 15 Best Online Ministry Degree Programs
Posted on: June 12, 2019
Tigerville, SC — Bachelor’s Degree Center (BDC), a free guide to traditional and online bachelor’s degree programs in all disciplines, has released four 2019 rankings of the best Ministry bachelor’s degree programs in the US. North Greenville University (NGU) ranks in the Top 15 Best Online Ministry Bachelor’s Degree Programs for 2019.
As BDC editors explain, “Traditionally, religious leaders have been educated in a wide variety of ways, from seminaries to apprenticeships to on-the-job training.” But in the 21st century, as religious organizations have grown more sophisticated, “it’s becoming more and more common to expect a pastor to have a college degree.” “In most American Protestant churches and denominations a formal higher education isn’t required for ordination or to lead a church,” as the editor’s note, but “many pastors and ministers (including youth ministers, music ministers, and other specialties) find, as they continue their career, that a higher degree and training can make them more effective leaders, help them earn recognition from their denominations, and make a higher income.”
BDC editors underline the importance of choosing between an on-campus or online degree program. As they explain, an on-campus program, provides mentorship, networking opportunities, and the chance to broaden a minister’s knowledge beyond their own denomination. Online learning, on the other hand, “can help earn the credentials they need without sacrificing their career and their congregation” – which is, of course, the true calling. An online degree “can be convenient, affordable, and just as comprehensive and in-depth as a traditional degree.” Either way, being called to the ministry today often means “recognizing their call as a call to preparation, with a bachelor’s degree in ministry, theology, biblical studies, or religion as their first step.”
Bachelor’s Degree Center has been providing advice, resources, and rankings on the best traditional and online bachelor’s degree programs since 2014. Completely independent and unbiased, BDC is working to be the ultimate resource for new high school graduates, working adults returning to school, and nontraditional students.
Like other BDC rankings, editors began by researching accredited ministry, religion, and bible degree online programs in the U.S. This process included schools with regional accreditation and accreditation by the Association for Biblical Higher Education. From our initial list, all schools were ranked according to five equally-weighted criteria: cost, reputation, graduation rate, employment rate, and alumni salary. Data was taken from College Scorecard, IPEDS, and Niche.
With these parameters, readers can trust that BDC has ranked programs that will have a real return on investment, providing opportunity to grow in leadership and faith while enhancing a career with meaning.
“As a Christian ministries major at NGU, you will spend much of your time completing two ministry practica. These can be completed in the context of a local church, ministry, or nonprofit organization. You will learn about articulation, analysis, application, critical thinking, and practical ministry, as well as how to apply this knowledge in your own career. By your senior year, you will have completed a senior thesis, concentrating on an area of interest and applying it to your own Christian ministry contexts,” said Dean of the College of Christian Studies Dr. Walter Johnson.
“Ultimately, the NGU Online Christian ministry degree will provide a strong education based on a biblical worldview that will prepare you for a variety of ministry-related pursuits,” Johnson said.
NGU offers online, on-campus, and virtual class sessions to provide adults with the most enhanced learning environments. This format offers the student the choice to shape their educational experience, fitting their life and learning style. In this flexible program, a student may choose to complete the degree fully online or take advantage of a blended learning environment with the opportunity to interact with professors and peers face to face, online, or in a virtual real-time session on a weekly basis.
For more information about NGU’s adult and online Christian Ministries Degree, visit www.ngu.edu/programs/christian-ministries-online/ or contact NGU’s Office of Adult and Graduate Admissions at 864-663-7515.
