Sharpened for a Lifetime of Faithful Ministry
Helping churches equip faithful pastors and leaders for gospel ministry worldwide
Theological Education That Is...
Biblical
The Holy Scriptures will shape your preaching, teaching, counseling, and leadership, rooting your ministry in God’s unchanging truth.
Confessional
CBTS fully subscribes to the 1689 London Baptist Confession, one of the clearest, most comprehensive, and time-tested summaries of biblical truth.
Pastoral
A pastoral heart is vital to a student’s ministry preparation. Students receive pastoral mentoring, and our professors all have real pastoral experience.
Church-Centered
Your training at CBTS doesn’t pull you out of your church, but keeps you anchored in it to nurture and mentor you for your future ministry.
Serving Students and Local Churches
We offer rigorous, affordable, and accessible theological education designed for real-life ministry. Our approach provides flexible learning for busy students, keeps training financially affordable, maintains trusted academic standards, and makes high-quality instruction available to students around the world.
Flexible Learning
Made for students balancing work and family responsibilities, CBTS offers a unique, flexible learning program that you can complete anytime from anywhere.
Graduate Debt-Free
CBTS is priced so that students don’t take on debt or place financial strain on their families. Our generous supporters help us to provide low-cost, high-value education.
Accredited
Committed to continuous advancement in academic excellence, CBTS is accredited by the Association of Reformed Theological Seminaries (ARTS).
Global Reach
Students can pursue a degree at CBTS from anywhere around the globe. Wherever you are, our training is available to you.
Learn from Trusted Faculty
You’ll be learning from men who understand ministry not just theoretically, but practically—men who have shepherded congregations and carry the weight of pastoral responsibility with grace and faithfulness.
Flexible Learning Options
CBTS combines the best of the in-person classroom experience with the flexibility of taking courses online. You can enroll in courses at any time, from anywhere, and take as many courses as you like, allowing you to prepare for ministry while remaining in your own local church.
Degree Programs
For a variety of ministry paths.
“CBTS has been inestimably beneficial to my ministry and my understanding of the faith. The affordability and flexibility allowed me to pursue a rigorous theological and pastoral education while balancing the duties of husband, father, and church planter. What a great blessing it has been to train under such passionate, informed, and biblically faithful teachers!”
Pastor of Shepherd Reformed Baptist Church, Joliet, IL
"The seminary’s emblem—a sword and a shepherd’s crook—is a fitting symbol of its mission. CBTS trains its students to handle the Word of God with care and precision, but also to cultivate a shepherd’s heart—a spirit marked by gentleness, humility, and love."
Pastor of Trinity Reformed Baptist Church, La Mirada, CA
“The faculty at CBTS are high-quality scholars and godly Pastors. Under these men, any student will learn how to engage informed scholarship with a pastoral heart. The curriculum developed at the seminary is historical, confessional, and rigorous. This is a place in which you will study well and deeply.”
Pastor of Mount Carmel Baptist Church, Williamstown, KY
Are You Ready to Train for Gospel Ministry?
FAQs
Absolutely. CBTS is built for distance learners:
• Live‑streamed semester courses for real‑time interaction.
• Self‑paced online courses.
• Modular classes – In-person courses where lectures are delivered over a few days during holiday weekends.
Yes. You may study either full-time or part-time. CBTS operates in view with the needs of students who work full-time and have families. Evening live streams and self‑paced courses accommodate bi-vocational schedules.
You can progress at a pace that fits your schedule and responsibilities. Some full-time students complete around 24–25 credits per year, while some students take a part-time approach of about 12–13 credits per year.
In general, students requirements include being a professing Christian walking in repentance and faith and an active member in good standing of a local church. Additional requirements may apply depending on the program—for example, pastoral programs require a pastoral recommendation letter and are limited to men. Please view the entire list of qualifications at cbtseminary.org/apply.
Yes. Graduate credits (C or higher) that match CBTS program requirements may be transferred up to two‑thirds of your degree, subject to approval by the academic committee. At least one‑third must be completed at CBTS.
Yes. Since 2019, CBTS has been an accredited member of the Association of Reformed Theological Seminaries (ARTS), recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). ARTS accreditation assures that CBTS meets rigorous academic and theological standards. Credits are usually transferable among accredited evangelical institutions.
Tuition: $100 per credit hour. ThM: $200/hour. PhD: See program page.
Semester Enrollment Fee: $450 each January & August
Application Fee: $100 (one‑time)
Graduation Fee: $250
Auditing: Free onsite evening classes; $20 per online course
Yes, scholarships & financial assistance are available to qualifying students. Also, our Church Partnership Program allows students of partnering churches to study tuition-free. Church-partner students must still pay semester fees.
Yes. In our payment portal, you can choose to pay for your classes and/or semester fee in 5 installments.
Online application → official transcript → pastoral recommendation (if required) → online interview → admission decision.
Our rolling enrollment system means you can apply and start learning at any time. Aim to submit your application, transcripts, and interview materials at least a month before you wish to start.
Still have questions?
Let us know how we can help.