I need a distance learning bible college that is extremely affordable and accredited!

[Rhetorician]

First off let me describe my situation. I am thirty one years old and certainly tired of waiting to advance in my Christian faith. I need facts and I need them now! So please give me as much detailed information as you possibly can.

I just got married in July and my wife and I are staying with family in a rather large house. We do not have much as bills with no children but are hungry for the Lord. I have made plenty of money in the past and can do again in the future if I needed to; but that is not where the Lord will have me. That is just an empty road. I have learned that money doesn’t bring happiness nor does it keep out the rain. I am currently working part time making much less and she might be getting another second part time job to make ends meet and save some money.

What I am trying to say is that we are in the situation by choice entirely. We are trying to save are pennies; get our certifications; degrees and have time for ourselves while at the same time spend time with family. We are by no means hurting but also by no means well off. She already has a degree and is currently seeking a certification and I am going to a community college for business world and working part time.

What I need is a real and practical solution to a bible college that is accredited and realistic; and what I mean realistic is extremely affordable with a good reputation. I am looking for a college to where I can take classes at a reasonable rate or at my own pace. Take a few here and there part time or full time or maybe even just one at a time. As far as prices go anything close to 400 or even 200 is absolutely crazy per credit hour. I mean how in the world is someone suppose to be able to afford 1200.00 per class. I can be somewhat flexible on some of these things but I need a good balance of everything. I wouldn’t mind actual books too and not just CDs or mp3s. I think someone else mentioned that once before. Also someone else said you can’t have your cake and eat it too. Well it 2011 with technology today I would think you could have your cake and eat it too but I could be wrong. So if I am just hit it between my eyes and tell me my facts.

To sum it up I am just looking for a clean good bible college that is accredited with a good reputation so that when I am finished with all of my schooling in any capacity with my secular degree and my biblical degree I can go in any direction God has for me. I do not want to end up creek without a paddle because I made the wrong decision and cut corners. Money is a concern because if it is expensive I just can’t go. And where does that leave me?

Considerations from raw internet searching:

Accredited

Moody Bible Institute / Global University / South African Theological Seminary / Etc …

Non-Accredited

Andersonville Theological / Columbia Evangelical Seminary / Etc …

The above credited options are still between 150-200 per semester hour. So basically even the cheaper accredited colleges are going to cost me over 500.00 per class? Are you serious? How is anyone suppose to afford that? Or do I just have the all wrong?
The non-accredited schools seem to be my only financial solution needing any under 100.00 per credit hour. One just takes the chance that his Biblical Degree might not have as much spunk as his accredited counterpart.

I guess what I am thinking if I am looking at this for more of hobby reasons like casual discipleship for the Lord in my church and personal growth the non-accredited colleges would be a fine choice? Or would they? If I wanted to one day branch out and do something professional for the Lord I would need to go into debt and partake in a more expensive school? Is that what everyone is telling me?

Well anyhow thank you so much for taking the time in reading my thread. Any and all input would be greatly appreciated and well taken. So let’s blow up this thread and figure some things out.

CM,

Did you tell us anything about calling, gifting, "what you want to be when you grow up" ministerially speaking?

Where would you like to be 20 years from now? Do you have the "heart of the pastor?"

All of these things could help you clarify what school to attend. If you decide now what your "calling" is then you can attend the correct school that will help you do the best at that job.

It is not altogether unlike what they told you when you graduated from high school. "What do you want to be when you grow up?" Figure that out and then get the education that will get you the minimum entry level in that profession.

"My two cents worth!"

"That is all!" :smilewinkgrin:

 

[webdog]

CM,

Did you tell us anything about calling, gifting, "what you want to be when you grow up" ministerially speaking?

Where would you like to be 20 years from now? Do you have the "heart of the pastor?"

All of these things could help you clarify what school to attend. If you decide now what your "calling" is then you can attend the correct school that will help you do the best at that job.

It is not altogether unlike what they told you when you graduated from high school. "What do you want to be when you grow up?" Figure that out and then get the education that will get you the minimum entry level in that profession.

"My two cents worth!"

"That is all!" :smilewinkgrin:

Without going back through the thread, I think he may have addressed this in the first couple of pages.

 

[ChristianMaker]

I am still not sure which one to pick?

 

[humblethinker]

I am still not sure which one to pick?

What about now?

 

[JBrock]

CM:

I'm not sure if you ever got what you were looking for, but if you have a undergraduate degree you might consider Maranatha Baptist Seminary www.mbbc.edu/seminary . This is a regionally accredited program. They have one 100% online Master's degree in Bible. They also have an M.Div. program which can be taken in a combination of on-line and virtual (join the class live on your home computer). They have some really inexpensive introductory rates, and you will not find any regionally accredited M.Div programs at lower rates. Maranatha is Dispensational, Seperatist, and Unashamedly Baptist. If you don't have a undergraguate degree, they have a accredited BS degree-completion program (have to be 25+ years of age with 60 completed credits at undergrad level.

 

[blackbird]

Luther Rice!!!

 

[ChristianMaker]

You can get some financial aid.

Check out Wheaton, Fuller, Regent and Gordon-Conwell.

From what I understand Nations University will be DETC and cost currently os 100 a year.

First I must ask, ... .

There is also south african theological seminary. Affordable and accredited, but they are of the reformed view if that matters to you.

HI!

I think I can help you...

I have degrees ...

Hope this helps!

I think you are dreaming ... .

Well, as a low ...

Not saying he shouldn't, but my point is that it is hard to provide quality education that is accredited AND affordable at the same time. LU and NOBTS are out of his price range too.

Also Boyce College -- Southern Seminary's undergrad program.

Of course if you are not SBC then the costs are higher. SBC folks get half price.

And if we are thinking the SBC route, College @ Southeastern (or College @ Southwestern) would be a better choice ((Just b/c it's not Southern ))

Not LU; not if he does the Home Bible Institute. Not sure where he lives, but NOBTS last time I checked, was 140 per credit hour for in class instruction of SBC students...

Just you saying this makes me angry... Southern is #1! (Southeastern, maybe....but Southwestern? Really? Everyone that I know that comes from there is a flake..)

Honestly, I only know a few from SWBTS (profs of SEBTS who got PhDs from SWBTS). But SEBTS is the best of the 6!!!

Have you tried Luther Rice Seminary???

www.lru.edu

I don't know anything about it - but have you heard of Schofield Graduate School


By the way, I used to live in Forest Park and Lake City. I used to be stationed at Atlanta Army Depot - years ago -

Correct. They are currently unaccredited.



Actually ...

Online Graduate Certificate Programs | luonline-old | Liberty University



I think that Nations, SATS, or one of the two Liberty programs I mentioned above, would ALL serve you well.

MILL!!

ICAATS (its accreditor) is an accrediting mill...

LHBI is 950 if paid in full, 1250 with payments. The 42 hours are only credited to a BA and require testing and $100 per class bringing the cost up an additional 1400.

Thanks. I knew there was something! Still thats 62 dollars per credit altogether. Not bad!

Though I think the Wilmington route might be better, since they are actual credits, and do not require testing (and can be transferred...)

Most of the ... .

They are absolutely a diploma mill. They are housed out of a church in my hometown, Modesto, CA. which strangely has a near epidemic of internet religious snake oil dealers... Universal Life Church online...

Anyway, I looked into them a handful of years ago in a similar searching and found them to be a typical diploma mill. If you want cheap unaccredited with the possibility of accreditation I would look at Nations University, otherwise Liberty, Luther Rice, Tennessee Temple, you have plenty of accredited options.

Check out Mid-Continent University in Mayfield, Kentucky

http://www.midcontinent.edu
It's a four-year, liberal arts school with two divisions. The Baptist College of the Bible and the Baptist College of the Arts and Sciences.

Also has an Accelerated Degree Program where one who has some college can get his degree in 18-20 months, going to class one night a week in the town where he lives.

One may also get a degree on-line. And MCU has just begun offering Master's degree curriculum in business.

The website will give you full information.

I have to agree about Southwestern and I am an alumni. I am shocked at the people SWBTS is now turning out.

When people are talking about SBC they are talking about the denomination The Southern Baptist Convention. They mention that because a lot of the Southern Baptist churches want you to have a degree from a Southern Baptist college.

That is correct. And more so, if one IS Southern Baptist, one's tuition is cut in half over what someone who is not SBC (though they can still attend!) would pay. The half not paid by the applicant is paid by the churches who send funds via the cooperative program to make that happen.

Here is the link for Boyce (named after James P. Boyce, a founder of Southern Seminary).

Homepage - Boyce College
http://www.boycecollege.com/academics/onlinelearning/

The program is FULLY accredited, ... .

I don't agree with them about a lot of things, but Moody is way, way better than most of those links you posted. It is a historic and committed Christian institution and they have many fine people teaching there.

Moody's no Wheaton, Fuller, Regent or Gordon-Conwell, though.

Technically, yes it is! :laugh:

Re-read you sentence.

CM,

Did you tell us anything about calling, gifting, "what you want to be when you grow up" ministerially speaking?

Where would you like to be 20 years from now? Do you have the "heart of the pastor?"

All of these things could help you clarify what school to attend. If you decide now what your "calling" is then you can attend the correct school that will help you do the best at that job.

It is not altogether unlike what they told you when you graduated from high school. "What do you want to be when you grow up?" Figure that out and then get the education that will get you the minimum entry level in that profession.

"My two cents worth!"

"That is all!" :smilewinkgrin:

Without going back through the thread, I think he may have addressed this in the first couple of pages.

What about now?

CM:

I'm not sure if you ever got what you were looking for, but if you have a undergraduate degree ... .

Luther Rice!!!

Hello everyone! I am back.

I still have not made a decision. However, I am ready to pull the trigger on something ASAP.

Since I created this thread I have learned a lot and have been blessed a lot.

I have started a community group in my local church, got a fabulous job and have been saving money, and have a baby on the way.

I am no longer trying to ever keep up with the Jones's or try to get the best of the best. I 100% just want a solid distance learning online program that is NOT accredited. I just care about reputation and honor. That if I graduate from their program that it will be respected and people will know that I received a good education.

I have already completed my BA with a 4.0, I am looking for a Master Degree.

I would go to Moody in a heart beat by here is no way I am paying 400.00 per credit hour for about 1200.00 per class. Not in this world.

So if you guys don't mind, I am looking for something extremely affordable because I am doing this just because I feel it is on my heart from God. I am looking at it like advance bible study with a certificate on the side after completing. Don't really want to pay an arm and a leg for that.

Please let me know what everyone thinks. It would be greatly appreciated.

 

[xlsdraw]

Take a look at Landmark Bible College in Haines City, Florida.

 

[ChristianMaker]

Take a look at Landmark Bible College in Haines City, Florida.

That is what I am more leaning towards. Something a lot more affordable but respectable. I am more or less looking for something that is like an advance bible study for myself but I get a certificate at the end. However, I do not want to attend a Diploma Mill either.

Anyone else have any new schools that are affordable and yet respectable? Does not necessarily need to be accredited. Just at least have a good reputation of producing good Christian Students with sound doctrine.

 

[saved41199]

I have a BA in biblical studies from Liberty through their online program. I'm still thinking about a master's degree but not sure if I can pursue it. I was recently in a very bad car accident that has essentially ended my working ability. So, since I'd probably never use a Master's in anything I doubt I will do it.

However, a degree from LU is well accepted in the SBC and IFB world.

 

[ChrisTheSaved]

I have a BA in biblical studies from Liberty through their online program. I'm still thinking about a master's degree but not sure if I can pursue it. I was recently in a very bad car accident that has essentially ended my working ability. So, since I'd probably never use a Master's in anything I doubt I will do it.

However, a degree from LU is well accepted in the SBC and IFB world.

I doubt OP is still around as that post is six or seven years old. If you want to do a masters with little money saved41199 I'd check out NationsU that are even accredited.