Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
Kansas City, Missouri · Private Nonprofit · 96.4% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 40/100 · Poor Value
Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, the Kansas City-based Southern Baptist seminary, is catalogued as a four-year institution in the Scorecard system and scores 40 out of 100 in the CampusROI framework, placing it in Poor Value tier. The underlying numbers reflect the mismatch between a seminary's vocational mission and a generalist labor-market metric. Tuition is $10,120, but net price is $23,006 (note the net-exceeds-tuition pattern, which signals that fees, books, and living costs dominate the cost stack and aid is modest). Four-year total cost is $92,024. There is no reported 6-year earnings figure; 10-year earnings come in at $50,535, which is solid for the credentialed-ministry pathway the school feeds. Median debt is moderate at $15,675, and payback period is 14.9 years. Completion rate is 48.3%, which is low and is the main score drag. Debt-to-earnings and repayment-rate subscores are imputed because the underlying data is sparse. The 96.4% admit rate confirms an open-access seminary posture, and the institution's value is best measured against ministry-track peers rather than the general college dataset.
The data raises concerns about Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score40/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $10,120/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $10,120/yr |
| Average net price | $23,006/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $92,024 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $50,535 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | N/A |
| Median debt at graduation | $15,675 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $166 |
| Estimated payback period | 14.9 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 48.3% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 747 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary is $10,120/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $23,006/year, or roughly $92,024 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $19,818/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $26,870/year.
The median graduate leaves with $15,675 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $166 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $50,535 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is N/A - (insufficient data to assess).
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $19,818 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $21,659 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $22,701 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $26,461 |
| $110,001+ | $26,870 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $19,818 net, the lowest bracket. Over four years that is roughly $79,272, which is steep for households with no parental contribution capacity. Pell coverage helps, but the seminary's aid budget is modest, and church-based scholarships are often part of the package for committed ministry candidates.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-$75,000 bracket pays $22,701, and the $75,001-$110,000 bracket pays $26,461. The aid curve is relatively flat, with smaller-than-typical discounts for need. Middle-income families effectively pay close to full price, and the math works mainly when church or denominational support supplements the family contribution.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $26,870 net, only $136 more than the $75-$110K bracket and well below the $10,120 stated tuition would suggest, because fees and living costs dominate. The pricing reflects a seminary model that is closer to flat-fee with limited high-income premium pricing.
Earnings by Major
Top 2 most popular majors at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Bible/Biblical Studies | $44,420 | C+ |
| Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology | $39,368 | A |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Bible/Biblical Studies
Bible/Biblical Studies is Midwestern's main undergraduate program with 37 graduates. Earnings are $42,567 at year one and $44,420 at year four, with a 0.549 debt-to-earnings ratio earning a C+ grade against $23,385 of debt. The flat earnings curve is consistent with ministry roles where pastoral pay scales modestly with experience. For students entering church-funded or denominationally supported ministry, the math is workable; the credential opens vocational doors that the general labor market does not signal.
Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology
Missions is the standout ROI program with 17 graduates: $39,368 in 1-year earnings, only $7,733 of median debt, and a 0.196 debt-to-earnings ratio earning an A grade. This is one of the cleanest small-major value cases in the dataset, primarily because mission-sending agencies often cover educational costs and graduates enter funded missionary deployment. Note that 4-year earnings are not reported, likely because many graduates work abroad and their earnings drop out of the federal data system.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | N/A | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | N/A | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 61.3% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 57.6% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 96.4% |
| Enrollment | 747 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 30.1% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,596 |
Midwestern admits 96.4% of applicants, an essentially open-access posture aligned with the school's ministry-formation mission. SAT and ACT mid-ranges are not reported because the seminary does not require standardized testing. The 48.3% completion rate is moderate and is consistent with a seminary population that often combines coursework with part-time ministry placements, which extends time-to-degree and depresses the federal completion metric.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Midwestern's peer set includes Mission University, another small Christian institution with a similar ministry-formation mission, and Southern Wesleyan University, which is a faith-affiliated comprehensive school. Avila University in Kansas City is a Catholic comprehensive with a much broader major mix. Peirce College and Parker University are outliers in the peer set. Within the directly comparable seminary and Christian-formation tier, Midwestern's $50,535 10-year earnings figure is competitive, and its lower median debt ($15,675) is a structural advantage.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (this school) | 40 | $23,006 | $50,535 |
| Avila University | 51 | $16,053 | $52,773 |
| Parker University | 39 | $29,135 | $42,091 |
| Peirce College | 38 | $12,148 | $50,660 |
| Southern Wesleyan University | 36 | $15,464 | $47,756 |
| Mission University | 15 | $21,383 | $38,641 |
Who Thrives Here
Midwestern fits Southern Baptist and broader evangelical students called to pastoral ministry, missions work, biblical scholarship, or denominational service. With 747 students and a 30.1% Pell rate, the population is mission-oriented and modestly resourced. Strong fits are students with a clear ministerial vocation, denominational sponsorship, or church-employer backing for tuition. Weak fits are students seeking a general liberal arts experience or a high-earning career trajectory; the seminary is built around a specific calling.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. With a net cost of $23,006 per year and median graduate earnings of only $50,535 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds 14.9 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost.
Areas of concern include weak earnings relative to cost and a 48.3% graduation rate and a long payback period.
Median debt of $15,675 against $50,535 in earnings is reasonable, though major choice matters significantly. Students in higher-earning programs will see better returns.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.