According to data from The Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada, here are the theological schools in North America with the highest enrollment. Fuller is the largest. Southern Baptist Convention seminaries take up 5 of the top 10 spots.
Casual Name / Full Time Equivalent Enrollment / Real Name / Status / Independent, University-Affiliated, or College-Affiliated. / Predominate racial/ethnic identity / State / Denom
- Fuller 1940 Fuller Theological Seminary ACCRED I W CA INTER
- Southwestern 1477 Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary ACCRED I N TX SBC
- Southeastern 1430 Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary ACCRED I W NC SBC
- Southern 1364 Southern Baptist Theological Seminary ACCRED I W KY SBC
- Dallas 1108 Dallas Theological Seminary ACCRED I W TX INTER
- Gordon-Conwell 1037 Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary ACCRED I W MA INTER
- TEDS 908 Trinity Evangelical Divinity School ACCRED C W IL EFCA
- Asbury 781 Asbury Theological Seminary ACCRED I W KY INTER
- Golden Gate 772 Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary ACCRED I W CA SBC
- New Orleans 656 New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary ACCRED I W LA SBC
- Bethel 649 Bethel Seminary of Bethel University ACCRED C W MN BAPTGC
- Talbot 604 Talbot School of Theology ACCRED U W CA INTER
- RTS 584 Reformed Theological Seminary ACCRED I W MS INTER
- Princeton 578 Princeton Theological Seminary ACCRED I W NJ PCUSA
- Seventh Day Adventist 566 Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary ACCRED U W MI SDADV
- Luther Seminary 548 Luther Seminary ACCRED I W MN
- Duke 517 Duke University Divinity School ACCRED U W NC UMC
- Denver 479 Denver Seminary ACCRED I W CO INTER
- Ashland 473 Ashland Theological Seminary ACCRED U W OH BRCHAO
- Candler 458 Candler School of Theology of Emory University ACCRED U N GA UMC
- Covenant 451 Covenant Theological Seminary ACCRED I W MO PCA
- Concordia Seminary (MO) 450 Concordia Seminary (MO) ACCRED I W MO LUTHMS
See Table 1.2 on pages 7-11 of the to the 2009-2010 Annual Data Tables from ATS.
8 replies on “The 22 largest seminaries in North America”
Andy,
I noticed Regent in Vancouver didn’t make the list. Any idea what the enrollment is at your alma mater?
Regent College 319 Regent College ACCRED I W BC INTER.
I should have said that all of the schools are listed in the data. You can look them up easily! See pages 6-12 of http://www.ats.edu/Resources/Publications/Documents/AnnualDataTables/2009-10AnnualDataTables.pdf
Why did you choose to chart full time equivalent as opposed to head count?
Paul,
Head Count seems to take into account anyone who even takes one course. It seems to me that the Full Time Equivalent category is a way that ATS tries to standardize the numbers so that full-time people are weighted heavier than part-time people. But I could be wrong.
The explanation on page 6 is not very clear:
“Enrollment
The data report enrollment as of fall 2009.
HC
Head count enrollment is the total number of students enrolled.
FTE
FTE Enrollment is the number of students who would be enrolled if all students were attending full time.”
Are these just ATS accredited schools or does the list include some who aren’t in that network.
I’m thinking of several others who would make the top 25 and one that might break the top 10 if we included all seminaries.
Also, this has more to do with the SBC schools, is credit given for FTE in graduate work or does this number include undergraduate colleges? I ask because several of the above SBC schools have started undergraduate colleges and include those numbers in their “seminary totals” on a routine basis. Just curious. 🙂
Robert,
These are just ATS listed schools but included in the list are schools that are not accredited by ATS but are associated with it. However, the top 22 area all accredited.
The explanation of “status” on page 6 says:
“The three classes of membership are accredited (ACCRED), candidate for accredited membership (CAND), and associate
(ASSOC). Criteria for membership are published in Bulletin, Part 1, Procedures, Standards, and Criteria for Membership, and are on the ATS Web site in the “Accreditation” section. Status is reported as of the end of each calendar year.”
I can’t name off the top of my head any large seminaries that have nothing to do with ATS. Which ones are you thinking of that don’t pursue ATS accreditation?
I don’t know anything about undergraduate schools associated with Southern Baptist seminaries in which undergraduates get credit for graduate work or something like that. You are right that theoretically that could have a big effect on enrollment numbers.
What does the N racial/ethnic identity stand for? Anyone else notice that seminaries are dominated by white people?
Is this suppose to be sinful? My class in New Orleans Theo. Sem. also had african americans. Or are you looking to spit on the People of God and their love of Christ in wanting to serve him and their only fault is the color of their skin… white?