Seminary Review Rankings

Best Small Seminaries (Under 200 Students)

This list highlights intimate seminaries providing personalized mentoring, close-knit communities, and focused spiritual formation for individualized education.

Listed A–Z

  • Beeson Divinity School

    Birmingham, ALInterdenominationalEvangelicalSmall campus

    The mission of Beeson Divinity School is to prepare God-called persons to serve as ministers in the church of Jesus Christ. We accomplish this by providing face-to-face, classical graduate theological education, worshiping the triune God and encouraging the practices of Christian spirituality in covenanted community. Founded in 1988, Beeson offers three master’s degrees (Master of Divinity, Master of Arts in Theological Studies and Master of Arts in Christian Counseling) and two advanced degrees (Master of Theology and Doctor of Philosophy in Theology for the Church).

  • Bethany Theological Seminary

    Richmond, INChurch of the BrethrenProgressiveSmall campus

    Bethany Theological Seminary in Richmond, Indiana, a Church of the Brethren's seminary, underscores peace, simplicity, and fellowship. Offering degrees aligned with Brethren theological schools and other peace studies seminaries. Education incorporates nonviolence principles, Brethren heritage, communal discernment, and sustainable living, embodying core values.

  • Erskine Theological Seminary

    Due West, SCAssociate Reformed Presbyterian ChurchConservativeSmall campus

    Erskine Theological Seminary, situated in Due West, South Carolina, functions as a theological institution affiliated with the Associate Reformed Presbyterian (ARP) Church, emphasizing reformed principles and confessional standards. With origins dating back to 1837, the seminary is recognized for its significant role in Southern Reformed education and the preparation of ARP ministers, providing a setting that seamlessly integrates historical Presbyterian heritage with contemporary ministry needs for students seeking a grounded approach to faith-based learning. The seminary's graduate programs include the Master of Divinity, along with options like the Master of Arts in Theological Studies and Doctor of Ministry, focusing on confessional standards, chaplaincy preparations, doctrinal preaching skills, Psalms singing traditions, and covenantal theology.

  • Hood Theological Seminary

    Salisbury, NCAfrican Methodist Episcopal Zion ChurchProgressiveSmall campus

    Hood Theological Seminary, located in Salisbury, North Carolina, serves as a theological institution affiliated with the African Methodist Episcopal Zion (AME Zion) Church, with a strong emphasis on African-American liberation theology and social justice. Established in 1879, it is a notable option for students considering North Carolina's seminaries or AME Zion training programs. Its Southern context provides a foundation for studying prophetic ministry and community advocacy, appealing to those interested in faith-based approaches to liberation and equity.

  • Kenrick-Glennon Seminary

    St. Louis, MORoman CatholicConservativeSmall campus

    Kenrick-Glennon Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri, serves as a Catholic institution dedicated to rigorous priestly formation grounded in philosophical depth and Thomistic virtues. With roots tracing back to 1818, the seminary upholds a tradition of holistic education for diocesan clergy, making it a relevant choice for students interested in Midwest Catholic seminaries or programs focused on priestly development.

  • Mid-America Reformed Seminary

    Dyer, INOrthodox Presbyterian ChurchConservativeSmall campus

    Mid-America Reformed Seminary, located in Dyer, Indiana, serves as a theological institution affiliated with the United Reformed Churches, emphasizing confessional theology and Heidelberg Catechism principles. Established in 1981 in Indiana's Midwest plains, the seminary upholds Reformed piety through structured programs, making it a relevant choice for students interested in Reformed seminaries or confessional pastoral training in the state. It offers the Master of Divinity with a focus on Dutch heritage and psalmody, upholding Reformed traditions in faithful ministry preparation for those seeking to engage in doctrinal preaching and covenantal formations.

  • Nashotah House

    Nashotah, WIAnglicanConservativeSmall campus

    Nashotah House in Nashotah, Wisconsin, serves as an Anglican theological seminary rooted in the Anglo-Catholic tradition, dedicated to ministerial formation for effective service in Episcopal and Anglican churches. Established in 1842 to uphold traditional Anglican values, the institution maintains a legacy of immersive Catholic heritage education amid Wisconsin's serene lakeside setting. It is a distinguished option for students interested in Anglo-Catholic seminaries offering residential programs, providing studies in biblical theology, church history, Christian spirituality, and pastoral leadership within the breadth of Anglican practices.

  • Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary

    Weston, MARoman CatholicConservativeSmall campus

    Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary, situated in Weston, Massachusetts, is a Roman Catholic institution uniquely dedicated to the formation of priesthood candidates aged 30 and older, often referred to as second-career vocations. Founded in 1964 with the encouragement of Pope Paul VI, the seminary is taught by diocesan priests.

  • Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary

    Grand Rapids, MIReformedConservativeSmall campus

    Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary in Grand Rapids, Michigan, is a Reformed institution committed to preparing students for biblical, experiential, and practical ministry in the tradition of the Puritans. Founded in 1995 by the Heritage Reformed Congregations, the seminary emphasizes confessional theology and spiritual piety, making it a distinct choice for those interested in Dutch Reformed heritage and Puritan studies. It offers the Master of Divinity, Master of Arts, Master of Theology, and Doctor of Theology, with a focus on equipping pastors and scholars for faithful service in churches worldwide.

  • Saint Vincent Seminary

    Latrobe, PARoman CatholicConservativeSmall campus

    Saint Vincent Seminary in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, is a Benedictine Catholic institution founded in 1846, committed to forming priests and lay ministers through a holistic approach rooted in Benedictine spirituality. As the oldest Benedictine seminary in the United States, it emphasizes the integration of prayer, work, and study in a monastic campus environment shared with Saint Vincent Archabbey. The seminary offers the Master of Divinity, Master of Arts in Theology, Master of Arts in Ecclesial Ministry, and Master of Arts in Ministry with Specialization, preparing students for ordained and lay ministry with a focus on stability, hospitality, and communal living.

Rankings reviewed: August 23, 2025 — see our Ranking Methodology

Every school here has been hand-selected for this category. The order is not a ranking — schools are listed alphabetically.

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