Grace College and Theological Seminary

grace college majors

Engaged, Evangelical Christian Education at GCTS

Grace College and Theological Seminary appears in our ranking of the 50 Most Affordable Master’s in Theology Degree Programs Online.

Named the Midwest’s 70th best choice by the U.S. News & World Report, Grace College and Theological Seminary is a private, nonprofit NAICU member in Winona Lake that grants six associate, 74 bachelor’s, 12 master’s, and two doctoral degrees, including 13 entirely online, at a 20:1 student-teacher ratio. For example, the B.A. in Elementary Education Mild Intervention builds a 120-credit, CAEP-accredited curriculum headed by Dr. Laurinda Owen for 100 percent dual K-6 Indiana licensure success after 150 practicum hours and student teaching placements like Lakeland Christian Academy. Chaired by Dr. Jeffrey Fawcett, the 120-credit B.S. in Marketing blends on-campus or online courses with internships from Zimmer Biomet to Mark 2 Ministries, PCM certification prep, and Go Encounter trips.

Online on Moodle since 2010, the M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling follows a 60-credit, CACREP-accredited path of 6-8 semesters under Dr. Rhonda Ladd with only one seven-day Grace College residency each year plus three 200-hour fieldwork assignments and the CPCE exam. Directed by Dr. Freddy Cardoza, the M.A. in Local Church Ministry uniquely provides 42-credit deploy training at post-graduates’ own parishes for intensive 5000-level courses from Biblical Hermeneutics to Cultural Diversity with six credits of hands-on practicum.

Other Grace degrees include the B.S. in Quality Management, B.S. in Psychology, B.S. in Environmental Biology, B.A. in Spanish, B.A. in Visual Communication Design, M.S. in Higher Education, M.B.A. in Business, and Doctor of Intercultural Studies.

About Grace College and Theological Seminary

Grace College and Theological Seminary originated in 1937 when the National Fellowship of Brethren Churches appointed President Alva J. McClain to found a conservative seminary. On September 7, 1948, a two-year undergraduate division was added for liberal arts degrees. In April 1958, Philathea Hall was dedicated adjacent to McClain Hall. One decade later, Grace College assumed operation of the Winona Lake Christian Assembly. On August 23, 1969, the Indiana General Assembly chartered it as the Grace Schools. In August 1978, President Homer Kent Jr. inaugurated its earliest nursing program. In 1981, Grace joined the Mid-Central College Conference and earned accreditation candidacy. In 1996, Grace College and Theological Seminary partnered with CE National: Youth Ministries. By 2011, GCTS was welcomed into the Christian University Global Network.

Endowed for $17.4 million, Grace College and Theological Seminary now employs 104 staff serving 1,392 undergrad and 239 post-grad Lancers from 30 denominations online or on the 180-acre Wayne Township campus near Warsaw with 20+ clubs like Cinema Conversations. In 2019, GCTS had the Indiana Council on Exceptional Children Student Member of the Year Award recipient. In 2018, Grace boasted eight Indiana INTERNnet Impact Award finalists. Grace College and Theological Seminary accepted a 2018 CLC Research Award too. The U.S. News & World Report ranked Grace the 53rd best Midwestern value and 44th best for vets college. On Niche, GCTS has America’s 125th most conservative students, 302nd best communications degrees, and 419th top business school. College Factual positioned GCTS 114th nationally for religious studies. Times Higher Education included Grace in the top 601-800.

Grace College and Theological Seminary Accreditation Details

On June 4, 2019, the Higher Learning Commission on North Central Association (HLC-NCA) Institutional Actions Council voted to reaffirm the Level V accreditation at Grace College and Theological Seminary through another 2028-29 evaluation under President Bill Katip, Ph.D., who earned a North American Coalition for Christian Admissions Professionals Award. Located 122 miles west via Interstate 90 in Chicago, this giant 19-state Great Lakes Region accreditor is recognized by the U.S. Education Department and Indiana Commission for Higher Education (CHE). The 2019-20 Academic Catalog also lists the following accreditations:

  • Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation
  • Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs
  • Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs
  • Association of Theological Schools Commission on Accrediting

Grace College and Theological Seminary Application Requirements

Getting into Grace College and Theological Seminary is classified “moderately difficult” by Peterson’s since 3,299 of the 4,204 Fall 2018 applicants were chosen for 78 percent acceptance. First-year Lancers need to complete a qualifying college-prep secondary curriculum or its GED equivalent. The Class of 2022 achieved an average 3.59 GPA. The middle 50th percentile had SAT scores of 470-590 for reading and 460-580 for math. Mid-range admitted ACT scores were 21-27. Successful transfers generally have 12+ regionally accredited credits and GPAs above 2.0. The Indiana Statewide Transfer General Education Core (STGEC) is fully transferrable with grades of C or better. Graduate programs mandate a four-year bachelor’s from a recognized institution. Most require overall baccalaureate GPAs of 2.5 and greater. The Theological Seminary only admits doctoral candidates who’ve finished a Master of Divinity with GPAs of 3.0. Prerequisite courses, such as Biblical Hebrew and Christian Theology, are needed. D.Min. cohorts also need three years of full-time experience.

Grace College and Theological Seminary set freshman deadlines of November 1st for Early Action or March 1st for Regular Decision. The Presidential Scholarship Competition closes on January 15th. Transfers can file until August 1st for Fall or December 1st for Spring enrollment. Graduate & Adult Programs consider applicants on a rolling basis though. Accordingly, complete the GCTS Application online or by paper for $30. Forward official transcripts to 200 Seminary Drive in Winona Lake, IN 46590. Send testing results via SAT/TOEFL code 1252 or ACT code 1198. Attach supplemental materials, such as the Church reference, resume or CV, recommendation letters, and 500-word essay. Contact (888) 249-0533 or [email protected] with questions.

Tuition and Financial Aid

For 2019-20, Grace College and Theological Seminary is charging traditional full-time undergrads $12,756 per semester or $25,512 annually. Part-time campus study costs $908 per credit. Overload credits above 18 are $570 apiece. Summer session courses are $566 per credit. The comprehensive student fee is $750 each year. Residing at the Winona Lake housing like Kent Hall adds $4,900 to $5,534 for yearly rent. Standard meal plans for Alpha Dining Commons are $4,416 extra. Annual bachelor’s attendance equals about $35,578 on-site or $26,262 if commuting. Online program enrollment requires a $300 course fee. Adult completion degrees are $474 per credit. Master’s students spend $546 per credit. The Doctor of Ministry and Doctor of Intercultural Studies are priced $1,896 per unit.

According to the NCES College Navigator, the Office of Student Financial Aid in the Indiana Residence Hall connects 100 percent of incoming GCTS Lancers to median tuition assistance of $13,040 each for $4.55 million combined. Institutional programs include the Charis Fellowship Scholarship, Millennial Scholar Academy Scholarship, Salutatorian Scholarship, Dean’s Scholarship, Shepherd’s Endowment Seminary Scholarship, Honors Scholarship, Winona Merit Scholarship, McClain Scholarship, Achievement Scholarship, Diversity Scholarship, and Faculty Scholarship. The President’s Scholarship covers full tuition for freshmen exceeding the minimum 1260 SAT or 27 ACT minimum. The $1,250 FGBC Transfer Scholarship has a March 1st deadline for Fellowship of Grace Brethren Church members with college GPAs above 3.0. Federal resources, such as the Pell Grant or Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant, require FAFSA applications coded 001800. Hoosiers could also claim the Indiana Adult Student Grant, Frank O’Bannon Grant, Horatio Alger Scholarship, Mitch Daniels Scholarship, and more.

Search four accredited divisions for 90+ close-knit, Christ-centered programs placed 131st overall by Washington Monthly at the Grace College and Theological Seminary website.