TOP 12 AFFORDABLE ONLINE DOCTOR OF MINISTRY DEGREES

Luther Rice University & Seminary distributes an online D.Min degree that requires four one week intensives on campus. It is a 30 credit hour program with all other courses 100% online. Tuition at Luther Rice College and Seminary is $316 per credit for the online doctor of ministry. The program requires a minimum GPA of 3.0 in all graduate courses and a 10-15 page paper for admission (see full guidelines on the application site). Courses in the program include ethics in ministry and issues in counseling. The program does not specifically require an M.Div as a prerequisite.

A 30-hour program, Piedmont International University has an online D.Min degree that offers seven concentrations: Pastoral Leadership; Bible Exposition; Biblical Counseling; Missions; Discipleship; Christian Education; and Interdisciplinary. Education in the online doctor of ministry program at Piedmont International University goes for a tuition rate of $340 per academic unit. Admission requirements include current ministry involvement, previous ministry experience, a statement of call to minister, and a writing sample, which may be a book review or a scholarly, graded paper written for a previous seminary course.

The online D.Min degree at Apex School of Theology is a 42 credit hour program composed of online work combined with two residential intensives per year and peer group sessions in fall and spring. The doctoral program has four competency tracks: Biblical Studies; Christian Counseling; Developing Effective Series, and Leading for Congregational Change. The school asks for current ministry employment, three years of ministry employment, a $50 fee, as well as three letters of recommendation and a five-page personal essay (both outlined in the application form) as conditions for admission. Apex University charges an online hourly tuition of $358.33.

The online D.Min degree at North Greenville University is a 32 credit degree that allows up to three years for completion. The final project in this effort involves an aspect of the Great Commission explored in your personal ministry. The program is looking for applicants with at least two years of post-MDiv full-time ministry experience, preferably. Also required for admission is a recent MAT score and five character reference forms. North Greenville University charges of $395 per unit of instruction in the online doctor of ministry.

Grace College and Theological Seminary's online D.Min is a 30 credit hour degree. Effective biblical leadership and contemporary theological issues are two of the courses required in this program. The school asks applicants to supply written agreement with the Grace Doctrinal Statement, have three years of ministry experience after achievement of master's degree, demonstrable evidence of scholarly ability, and a GPA of 3.0 or higher. $400 per credit hour is the rate of tuition at Grace School of Theology for the online doctor of ministry.

Liberty University's online Doctor of Divinity is a 30 credit hour program that includes ten specializations to choose from: Biblical Studies; Chaplaincy; Church Revitalization; Discipleship; Evangelism and Church Planting; Expository Preaching and Teaching; Pastoral Counseling; Ministry Leadership; Theological Apologetics; and Worship. Liberty University offers an online tuition cost of $458.33 per unit of instruction. The program can be completed in just two years and allows up to six credits to be transferred in.

The 36 hour online D.Min degree at Lexington Theological Seminary mandates one on-campus, intensive session for two core courses, and allots 12 hours in electives and six hours in a doctor of ministry project. Among the admission requirements are a minimum GPA of 3.0 in graduate work and three years of ministry experience after the master's degree. The degree utilizes a cohort model, moving the same group of students through classes each term. Tuition for the online doctor of ministry at Lexington Theological Seminary is $480 per credit.

A 48 credit hour program, Indiana Wesleyan features an online D.Min that comes with two weeks of intensive, residential courses mandated each year with the remaining coursework completed online. A three-year long cohort group explores the concepts of transformational leadership and spiritual formation. Indiana Wesleyan requires three years of ministry, a ministry resume, three recommendations, a spiritual journey and calling essay, and an artifact demonstrating academic research abilities for consideration for admission. Indiana Wesleyan University offers a tuition rate of $515 per unit for the online doctor of ministry.

Mandating 1-2 week intensives each year (of the three years), in either St. Paul, MN or San Diego, CA, Bethel University has an online D.Min that is a 48 credit hour program with six specializations. The specialization options include biblical and theological engagement, church leadership, missional effectiveness, and congregation and family care. Bethel University offers an online per-credit-hour tuition rate of $382 for the St. Paul intensive options and a rate of $550 for the San Diego intensive options.

The online D.Min at George Fox University is a 36 credit hour, three-year program that is cohort-based, with coursework customized by the student and a faculty advisor. One academic retreat per year is held in Cannon Beach, Oregon, and the remainder of the coursework is completed online. Hourly tuition at George Fox University is $560 for the online doctor of ministry. Applicants are expected to possess an M.Div or 72 hours of equivalent graduate course credit.