B. H. Carroll Theological Seminary is a graduate-level community of faith and learning which equips men and women called to serve Christ in the diverse and global ministries of His church.
We exist to serve Christ and His church through the worldwide provision of affordable, high-quality, accessible, and accredited theological education. Wherever there is Internet access, there is a classroom. Whether global or local, we equip students through the teaching of dedicated professors who are academically well-qualified, experienced in the diverse ministries of the church, and missions-minded.
Your calling.
Because God calls his servants from many different walks of life, we’ve constructed master’s and doctoral-level programs which help servant leaders pursue their calling and interests where they live, work and serve. Is your calling to serve as a pastor, music minister, children’s minister, young adult minister, youth minister, Christian counselor, professor, parachurch leader, or military, hospice or hospital chaplain? Whatever your calling, let us help you pursue it.
Your path.
Unlike most seminaries, we’re not tied to one location and use a variety of course delivery methods. Our flexibility has allowed us to keep costs low—about one-third the cost of most institutions—and you can obtain your degree at your own pace and in familiar surroundings.
His Kingdom.
Our core faculty is made up of biblically-faithful men and women who have pledged their lives to Kingdom service. This service is deeply rooted in our DNA at Carroll. We do what we do to bring glory and honor to the One who saved us from our sins, and who holds the only hope for the salvation of humanity—Jesus, the crucified, risen and reigning Christ.
- Theological Commitments and Diversity
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Summary of Theological Commitments
We believe there is one God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
We believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, and authoritative Word of God.
We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in his virgin birth, in his sinless life, in his miracles, in his vicarious atonement through his shed blood, in his bodily resurrection, in his ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in his personal and visible return in power and glory.
We believe humanity was created—male and female—in the image of God, that man was tempted by Satan and fell, and that, because of the exceeding sinfulness of human nature, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely necessary for salvation.
We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life, and by whom the church is empowered to carry out Christ’s Great Commission.
We believe in the bodily resurrection of both the saved and the lost; those who are saved unto the resurrection of life and those who are lost unto the resurrection of damnation.
Statement on Diversity
In the beginning God created one humanity, comprised of male and female, in His own image for holy fellowship with Him; consequently, humanity exists as a wholly other order of creation, different from the animals and all other elements and forms of life (Gen. 1:24-30; Gen. 2:15-22; Ps. 8:3-8; Acts 17:26; Heb. 2:7). God commanded humanity to be fruitful and multiply, to fill the earth, and to subdue it (Gen. 1:28; 9:1, 7). The original intent of God’s command was perverted by humanity’s fall into sin and its continued rebellion and degradation through its rejection of the only Creator God (Gen. 3:1-24; 6:5; Rom. 1:18-32).
Each human being created by the living God, through the biological and spiritual processes He has established in His wise counsel, is to be valued and respected as a unique creation of God regardless of gender, ethnicity, level of wealth, religious creed, nationality, or physical or mental disability; there is no partiality with God (Gen. 1:26-28; Ex. 23:3; Lev. 19:15; Deut. 1:7, 10:17, 16:19; Job 31:13-15, 34:19; Lam. 3:35-36; James 3:9).
Though the earth is home to numerous nationalities, God chose Israel as a treasured possession for Himself and, through it, delivered to the whole of humanity the one remedy for all human sinfulness—the incarnate God, His Son, Jesus Christ (Gen. 12:3, Deut. 7:6-8, 14:2; Ps. 135:4; Luke 24:47; John 3:16-17, 4:22; Rom. 1:16; Gal. 3:29; 1 Tim. 1:15; Heb. 2:16-18). The intent of the Church is, according to the instruction of the risen Lord Jesus Christ, to seek out the lost from among every tribe, tongue, people, and nation, sharing with them the gospel of reconciliation with God through the substitutionary, atoning sacrifice of His Son on the cross (John 3:16-17; Matt. 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; Rom. 5:5-9; 2 Cor. 5:11-21; 1 John 2:2). The restorative power of the
Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ alone breaks down the dividing wall of hostility between Jew and Gentile, as well as between all other ethnicities, nationalities, and genders (Acts 10:9-15; Eph. 2:11-14; Gal. 3:26-28). The Church is the means by which Christ unites the many sinners of those ethnicities, nationalities, and genders into one redeemed, restored, gifted, and functioning body, of which He is the Head; in doing so the Church displays the glory of God to humanity and to those in the heavenly realms, both now and in the future (Eph. 3:9-12; 4:7-16; Rev. 5:9-10, 7:9-10, 14:6-7).
Our mission is to equip men and women called to serve Christ in the diverse and global ministries of His Church. This equipping effort is conducted across denominational lines, though the Seminary itself adheres to traditional Baptist understandings of key theological, soteriological, and ecclesiological doctrines. B. H. Carroll Theological Seminary recognizes the doctrinal, ethnic, national, and gender diversity within the body of Christ as a beautiful gift of God and seeks to establish cooperative efforts in theological education with like-minded disciples in other cultures and lands. The faculty and staff of B. H. Carroll Theological Seminary does not share a single, uniform opinion on the role of women in the offices of the Church. Those differences of understanding the scriptural qualifications for pastor are purposefully excluded as barriers to fellowship with churches of differing persuasions.
The Seminary abides solely by the biblical witness with respect to its understandings of human sexuality and marriage as reflections of biblical cosmology and biblical morality, as well as the historical witness of the church faithfully teaching both (Gen. 1:26-28, 2:18-25; Matt. 19:4-6; Eph. 5:21-33; Heb. 13:4). Marriage is a God-ordained institution solely between one man and one woman, through which God depicts His love for His Church (Eph. 5:21-33; Col. 3:18-19). We are attentive to Scripture with respect to its views on human sexuality and apply those views consistently in employment decisions, admissions criteria, and behavioral standards (1 Cor. 6:9-11, 18-20; 2 Cor. 5:17; Eph. 4:15, 20-24, Col. 3:5).
Recognizing that Christ instructs and expects His disciples faithfully to imitate Him and love one another, those with whom we disagree, and those who actively reject the biblical witness on the created order and human sexuality, we leave open all paths of respectful, charitable, and informed dialogue in order to continue declaring the saving, reforming, and transforming Gospel of Jesus Christ (Matt. 5:13-16).
- Statement on ATS Accreditation
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B. H. Carroll Theological Seminary is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools (www.ats.edu) to award the Master of Divinity, Master of Arts in Christian Ministry, Master of Arts in Counseling, Master of Arts in Theological Studies, Doctor of Ministry, and Doctor of Philosophy degrees. Beginning in June 2021, the Board of Commissioners approved a three-year educational experiment where at least half of the PhD coursework is delivered online. In February 2025, the Board voted to grant an ongoing exception to the PhD residency requirement that at least half the coursework be completed on the school's main campus (Standard 5.15).
- Student Achievement
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B. H. Carroll Theological Seminary reports student achievement using measures recognized by the Association of Theological Schools (ATS), including retention, completion, time to degree, vocational placement, and student satisfaction. Data below are drawn from institutional tracking and surveys reported on the Seminary’s official Student Outcomes, Accreditation, and FAQ pages.
Accreditation and Authorization
B. H. Carroll Theological Seminary is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada (ATS) to award degrees at the master’s level. The Seminary is also approved by ATS to offer a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) as a three-year educational experiment in which at least half of the coursework is delivered online, as an exception to ATS Standard 5.15.
The Seminary is certified by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) and authorized by NC-SARA for interstate distance education.
Persistence (Retention)
Doctoral Programs
- Year-to-year retention rate: 91%
- Retention over a 17-year period: 72%
Master’s Programs
- Year-to-year retention rate: 61%
Degree Completion and Time to Degree
Doctoral Programs
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
- Completion rate: 78% (based on 2005–2020 data)
- Typical time to degree: approximately 5 years
- Number of graduates: 45
Doctor of Ministry (DMin)
- Historical completion rate: 78%
- A redesigned DMin launched in 2020; enrolled students are progressing toward completion
- Number of graduates: 9
Master’s Programs
Because many master’s students are employed in ministry while enrolled, degree completion commonly extends beyond standard full-time timelines.
Graduation rate within standard three-year plans: 25%
Most students who complete a degree do so within: 5–6 years
Average Time to Degree by Program
- MA in Counseling: 3.77 years
- Master of Divinity (MDiv): 5.46 years
- MA in Theology: 6.13 years
Number of Master’s Graduates (by Program)
- MA in Counseling (Licensure & Ministry): 48
- MA in Theology: 108
- Master of Divinity: 26
Vocational Outcomes
Doctoral Graduates (PhD)
- 33% serve as full-time faculty at theological institutions
- 42% serve as pastors or counselors and also teach as adjunct faculty
- 17% serve as full-time pastors
- 8% serve in denominational offices
Master’s Graduates
- 83% of surveyed graduates report serving in full-time or part-time ministry following graduation
Student Satisfaction
Based on the annual Graduating Student Survey (ATS-aligned categories):
- 100% very satisfied with quality of teaching
- 91% very satisfied with faculty accessibility
- 86% satisfied or very satisfied with library resources
- 100% strongly agree they were satisfied with their academic experience
- 91% strongly agree their experience enhanced spiritual formation
- 95% strongly agree their faith is stronger than when they began
Student Profile (Entering Students)
Data from the Entering Student Survey (August 2020–September 2023):
- 75% work more than 20 hours per week
- 65% enroll part-time
- 73% are married
- 59% are female
- 58% are age 40 or younger
- 55% attend churches with fewer than 500 members
- 69% held a church leadership role within the previous five years
- 35% entered with a prior graduate degree
Use of Student Achievement Data
B. H. Carroll Theological Seminary monitors student achievement data to assess educational effectiveness and compares degree outcomes with peer institutions through the Association of Theological Schools. Based on ATS comparative data, the Seminary reports that it meets or exceeds nearly all outcomes underpinning its degree goals.
This Student Achievement information is maintained in alignment with ATS expectations for public disclosure and transparency and is derived solely from B. H. Carroll Theological Seminary’s published Accreditation, Student Outcomes, and FAQ materials.
- Career and Vocational Outcomes
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Preparing You for Ministry, Leadership, and Service
B. H. Carroll Theological Seminary equips students not only with theological depth but also with practical preparation for service — whether in pastoral ministry, counseling, teaching, denominational leadership, or other faith-based vocations. The Seminary tracks career and vocational outcomes for graduates, including placement in ministry and theological service, and reports these statistics publicly as part of institutional accountability.
Vocational Outcomes: Where Our Graduates Serve
Doctoral Alumni (PhD)
Among PhD graduates from Carroll:
- 33% serve as full-time faculty at theological or collegiate institutions.
- 42% serve as pastors or counselors and also teach as adjunct faculty.
- 17% serve as full-time pastors.
- 8% serve in denominational leadership or denominational offices.
Master’s-Level Graduates
Based on graduate-survey data, 83% of surveyed master’s-level graduates report serving in full-time or part-time ministry following degree completion.
These outcomes reflect Carroll’s commitment to theological education that engages the church, local congregations, and broader ministry contexts.
Student Profile & Context — What Makes Carroll Different
Many Carroll students pursue studies while already engaged in ministry or vocational work. Recent entering-student survey data (2020–2023) show:
- 75% of students work over 20 hours per week,
- 65% enroll part-time,
- 73% are married,
- 69% held church leadership roles prior to enrollment,
- 35% entered with a prior graduate degree.
This context of working adults, bi-vocational ministry, and part-time study influences career outcomes, ministry placement, and long-term vocational impact.
As such, Carroll’s educational model emphasizes flexibility and ministry applicability rather than traditional full-time seminary residency.
Educational Effectiveness & Student Satisfaction
Feedback from graduating-student surveys indicates a high degree of satisfaction with Carroll’s educational programs:
- 100% of respondents report being very satisfied with teaching quality.
- 91% report strong satisfaction with faculty accessibility.
- 86% report satisfaction with library and learning resources.
- 95% strongly agree their faith grew stronger as a result of their theological education; 91% strongly agree the program enhanced their spiritual formation.
These results reflect both academic effectiveness and spiritual formation — a dual emphasis central to Carroll’s mission.
How to Access More Information
- For detailed breakdowns of student-outcomes, completion, retention, and vocational data, please consult the Seminary’s publicly available Student Achievement / Educational Effectiveness tab.
- The Seminary administers the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) Graduating Student Questionnaire for graduating cohorts, enabling ongoing tracking of post-degree outcomes, ministry placement, and student satisfaction.
