Your Guide to the Top 10 Charismatic & Pentecostal Universities & Seminaries

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Charismatic and Pentecostal universities and seminaries seek to blend rigorous academics with Spirit-empowered formation.

This guide profiles a selection of these institutions. Though far from exhaustive, it provides a representative list of the charismatic and Pentecostal movements’ diverse educational offerings. Whether your eventual goal is ministry leadership, theological scholarship, or broader professional study within a charismatic and/or Pentecostal context, you’ll find insights into each school’s distinctive programs and what it’s like to learn in a Spirit-filled environment.

What is a charismatic or Pentecostal university or seminary?

Charismatic and Pentecostal universities and seminaries train students for ministry, theology, and Christian leadership. Many offer programs in business, education, health sciences, law, the arts, and more. These institutions aim to integrate rigorous academic study with Spirit-empowered theology, spiritual formation, and practical ministry experiences.¹

A defining feature of these schools is their emphasis on the experiential nature of the Christian faith, encouraging students to engage both mind and spirit. This holistic approach to education is shaped by the active work of the Holy Spirit and includes the practice of spiritual gifts such as prophecy, healing, and speaking in tongues, as observed in charismatic and Pentecostal traditions.²

Differences between Pentecostal and charismatic movements

Pentecostalism began in the early twentieth century—particularly through the 1906 Azusa Street Revival in Los Angeles—resulting in a global movement emphasizing spiritual gifts and personal encounters with God. Its rapid spread spawned numerous denominations committed to holiness, evangelism, and ongoing Spirit-empowerment.

Charismatic Christianity emerged in the 1960s and 70s, bringing those same gifts into Catholic, mainline Protestant, and other churches without forming separate denominations. The charismatic renewal revitalized existing congregations, emphasizing experiential faith and ecumenical unity.

Today, Pentecostal and charismatic believers number nearly 700 million worldwide.³

Top US charismatic & Pentecostal universities & seminaries

The following institutions are pillars of charismatic and Pentecostal higher education in the United States, preparing students to lead ministries, engage in theological scholarship, and serve their communities.

This list is not exhaustive I have limited my selection to major seminaries and universities that explicitly self-identify as Pentecostal or charismatic, as opposed to schools which may have significant Pentecostal or charismatic student populations but do not label themselves as such. Additionally, my list aims to capture a representative cross-section of denominational and theological diversity within the tradition, while focusing solely on institutions based in the United States. The schools selected represent some of the flagship institutions within these identified cross-sections.

Graduation rates, where provided, reflect the six-year completion rate and may vary by program or academic year.

1. Southeastern University (SEU), Lakeland, FL

Degrees: bachelor’s; master’s; doctoral
Enrollment: 10,400 (undergraduate: 9,167; graduate: 1,233), as of 2023–24
Graduation rate: 43%
Founded: 1935 by the Assemblies of God, originating as Southeastern Bible Institute in Alabama. It relocated to Lakeland in 1946 and eventually became a liberal arts college in 1970.
Distinctives: Strong emphasis on leadership development and practical ministry alongside traditional academics. SEU is also known for its innovative partnerships with churches around the country through extension sites that offer SEU degrees. SEU’s campus spiritual life is often described as vibrant: chapel services, student-led ministry teams, and an overall environment of spiritual growth are integral to the student experience.
Online degrees: yes
Affiliation: Assemblies of God
Subject areas: theology and ministry; business administration; education; communication and media; leadership and management; psychology; behavioral sciences; worship ministries

SEU provides it students in the Barnett College of Ministry and Theology with Logos through a Logos for Education partnership.

2. Regent University, Virginia Beach, VA

Degrees: bachelor’s; master’s; doctoral
Enrollment: 10,168 (undergraduate: 4,577; graduate: 5,591), as of fall 2023
Graduation rate: 54%
Founded: 1978 by Dr. M. G. “Pat” Robertson
Distinctives: Integration of a Christian worldview across all disciplines. Regent University, originally founded as a graduate institution, emphasizes “Christian Leadership to Change the World” in fields like government, law, education, business, media, as well as ministry. Students in programs ranging from theology to cinema to law are encouraged to approach their fields with a Christ-centered, Spirit-led perspective.
Online degrees: yes
Affiliation: interdenominational charismatic
Subject areas: theology and ministry; business and leadership; communication and media; government and international affairs; education; arts and humanities; law; psychology

3. Oral Roberts University (ORU), Tulsa, OK

Degrees: bachelor’s; master’s; doctoral
Enrollment: 5,365 (undergraduate: 4,565; graduate: 800), as of fall 2023
Graduation rate: 47%
Founded: 1963 by healing evangelist Oral Roberts
Distinctives: Emphasis on charismatic Christian education and global missions. ORU’s mission is “to build Holy Spirit-empowered leaders through whole person education to impact the world with God’s healing.”
Online degrees: yes
Affiliation: interdenominational charismatic (ORU is independent but decidedly charismatic in orientation; it attracts students from many denominations)
Subject areas: theology and ministry; missions and global studies; health sciences and nursing; education and counseling; business and leadership; arts and media (over 130 undergraduate majors/minors and numerous graduate programs are offered)

4. Lee University & Pentecostal Theological Seminary (PTS), Cleveland, TN

Degrees: bachelor’s; master’s; doctoral
Enrollment: 3,680 (undergraduate: 3,253; graduate: 427), as of fall 2023; PTS had 501
Graduation rate: 51% for Lee University; data not readily available for PTS
Founded: Lee University was founded in 1918 as the Church of God Bible Training School by the Church of God. PTS was later founded in 1975 as the denomination’s seminary.
Distinctives: Lee University is the oldest and largest educational institution of the Church of God and blends a broad curriculum with a Pentecostal worship and discipleship ethos. PTS, one of only six Pentecostal seminaries in the US, provides graduate theological training with an emphasis on the work of the Holy Spirit.
Online degrees: yes
Affiliation: Church of God (Cleveland, TN)
Subject areas: theology and ministry; music and worship; education; arts and humanities; social sciences; business and leadership (among others, reflecting Lee’s comprehensive liberal arts offerings)

5. Evangel University & Assemblies of God Theological Seminary (AGTS), Springfield, MI

Degrees: bachelor’s; master’s; doctoral
Enrollment: 2,157 (undergraduate: 1,427; graduate: 730), as of fall 2023; AGTS had 322, as of 2016; full-time enrollment (all programs): 18.6%
Graduation rate: 47% for both Evangel and AGTS
Founded: 1955 by the Assemblies of God (AG) as Evangel College. Later AG authorized a graduate school of theology in 1961, and AGTS officially opened in 1973, eventually merging with Evangel in 2013.
Distinctives: A strong emphasis on Pentecostal theology combined with a broad liberal arts and professional curriculum. Evangel was the first national Pentecostal liberal arts college in America. Today, Evangel University hosts the embedded seminary (AGTS) and provides comprehensive education from undergraduate to doctoral levels.
Online degrees: yes
Affiliation: Assemblies of God
Subject areas: theology and ministry; education; business administration; counseling and psychology; arts and humanities; communication and media; sciences

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6. Emmanuel University, Royston, GA

Degrees: bachelor’s; master’s
Enrollment: 896 (undergraduate: 861; graduate: 35), as of fall 2023
Graduation rate: 42%
Founded: 1919 by the International Pentecostal Holiness Church (IPHC). It was first founded as Franklin Springs Institute by G. F. Taylor, and later became Emmanuel College. As of 2023, it has transitioned to the name Emmanuel University.
Distinctives: A strong liberal arts foundation with a Pentecostal (Holiness) perspective. Emmanuel has been educating students in a Christian liberal arts environment for over a century, always in service of IPHC’s mission. It combines traditional college majors (like business, education, sciences, etc.) with an emphasis on evangelism, revival, and the work of the Holy Spirit. Chapel services, missions trips, and revival meetings have long been staples of campus life.
Online degrees: yes (although it remains primarily a residential campus)
Affiliation: International Pentecostal Holiness Church (IPHC)
Subject areas: theology and ministry; business administration; education; music and worship; arts and humanities; natural and social sciences

7. Urshan University & Urshan Graduate School of Theology (UGST), Wentzville, MO

Degrees: bachelor’s; master’s
Enrollment: Urshan University had 514 undergraduates, as of 2023. UGST had 120.
Graduation rate: 57% for Urshan University; data not readily available for UGST
Founded: Urshan was established in 2001 by the United Pentecostal Church International (UPCI), a leading Oneness Pentecostal denomination. In 2012, Urshan expanded its academic offerings by acquiring Gateway College of Evangelism, forming what became Urshan College—the undergraduate component of the institution. In 2024, the unified name Urshan University was adopted to reflect both graduate and undergraduate programs under a single institutional identity.
Distinctives: Focus on Oneness Pentecostal doctrine and ministry training. Urshan University (and UGST) are the flagship educational institutions of the UPCI. Students at Urshan engage in biblical and theological study alongside practical ministry preparation, all within the doctrinal framework of the UPCI. Unlike Trinitarian Pentecostal institutions, Urshan is firmly rooted in Oneness theology, reflecting its UPCI heritage throughout its curriculum and community life.
Online degrees: yes
Affiliation: United Pentecostal Church International (UPCI)
Subject areas: theology and ministry; biblical studies; Christian ministry; organizational leadership

Urshan offers students of the Graduate School of Theology access to the Logos Research library subscription through a Logos for Education partnership.

8. The King’s University (TKU), Southlake, TX

Degrees: bachelor’s; master’s; doctoral
Enrollment: 579 (undergraduate: 272; graduate: 307), as of fall 2023
Graduation rate: 34%
Founded: 1997 by Pastor Jack W. Hayford, originally located in Van Nuys, CA, as The King’s College and Seminary, later relocated to the Dallas area in partnership with Gateway Church.
Distinctives: Integration of theological education with practical ministry training in a Spirit-filled environment. TKU was founded with the vision of a “Bible-based, Spirit-empowered school” to train men and women with both academic knowledge and the power of the Holy Spirit.
Online degrees: yes
Affiliation: interdenominational charismatic
Subject areas: theology and ministry; worship and music; leadership (organizational and pastoral); business and management; Christian education; counseling

9. Life Pacific University, San Dimas, CA

Degrees: bachelor’s; master’s
Enrollment: 500 (undergraduate: 397; graduate: 103), as of fall 2022
Graduation rate: 47%
Founded: 1923 by evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson. It was founded as Echo Park Evangelistic and Missionary Training Institute, later named L.I.F.E. Bible College.
Distinctives: Life Pacific’s heritage traces back to Sister Aimee’s vision for training Pentecostal leaders, and it continues to emphasize practical ministry skills alongside academic studies. Students often engage in internships, hands-on ministry, and creative arts as part of their training.
Online degrees: yes
Affiliation: International Church of the Foursquare Gospel
Subject areas: theology and ministry; worship arts and media; biblical studies; psychology and counseling; business administration; leadership and management (reflecting its mix of ministry programs and professional studies)

10. Charles H. Mason Theological Seminary (CHMTS), Atlanta, GA

Degrees: master’s; doctoral (primarily graduate programs in theology/ministry, through the consortium at the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta)
Enrollment: not publicly available
Graduation rate: not readily available
Founded: Established by the Church of God in Christ (COGIC), the vision for a dedicated seminary began to take shape in 1965. This vision culminated in the opening of the Charles H. Mason Theological Seminary around 1970, named in honor of Bishop Charles Harrison Mason, the founding leader of COGIC.
Distinctives: This seminary is the official theological seminary of the Church of God in Christ (COGIC), the largest historically African-American Pentecostal denomination. As one of the constituent schools of the Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC) in Atlanta, CHMTS provides theological education within a predominantly African-American and ecumenical context, but specifically rooted in the Holiness–Pentecostal tradition of COGIC.
Online degrees: Some courses may be available online through ITC, but the primary experience is on-campus in Atlanta.
Affiliation: Church of God in Christ (COGIC)
Subject areas: theology; biblical studies; church leadership; pastoral counseling; Christian education

How do charismatic & Pentecostal seminaries differ from other Christian seminaries?

Charismatic and Pentecostal seminaries are distinctive in their integration of both a robust academic curriculum and a focus on Spirit-filled formation. While they offer comprehensive education across various theological areas, these seminaries place special emphasis on Pentecostal and charismatic topics such as healing, Spirit-empowered mission, and evangelism. This focus is woven into their teachings but does not define the entirety of their approach, which remains well-rounded and academically rigorous.

What kind of spiritual formation can one expect?

Spiritual formation in charismatic and Pentecostal seminaries can vary from school to school. Generally, these institutions prioritize a lived faith experience. While they may include chapel services, prayer meetings, and opportunities to experience the gifts of the Holy Spirit, their focus is on fostering personal discipleship and helping students thrive in their relationship with God. Each school may approach this differently, but the common thread is an emphasis on spiritual growth that complements academic learning, aiming to equip students to live out their faith in meaningful, everyday ways.

Are there online charismatic & Pentecostal seminaries?

Yes, most charismatic and Pentecostal colleges, universities, and seminaries now offer online programs to extend their reach to students globally. Most institutions provide flexible online degree options in theology, ministry, and Christian leadership, among others, allowing students to pursue their education from anywhere while still engaging deeply with their faith and spiritual formation.

What to look for in a charismatic & Pentecostal seminary

When choosing a charismatic or Pentecostal seminary, it’s important to consider several factors that align with both your academic and spiritual journey:

Academic programs: Look for a seminary that offers a curriculum tailored to your specific needs. Pay attention to the diversity of their theological offerings.
Spiritual environment: A key element in charismatic and Pentecostal seminaries is the spiritual culture. This environment should be one where you can cultivate your relationship with God, while also being challenged to think more robustly and live out your faith more fully.
Denominational affiliation: Many charismatic and Pentecostal seminaries are affiliated with specific denominations. For example, it’s important to note the distinction between Trinitarian and Oneness Pentecostals: Trinitarian Pentecostals believe in the traditional Christian doctrine of the Trinity, while Oneness Pentecostals believe in a non-Trinitarian view. Understanding the university or seminary’s doctrinal stance will help you determine if it aligns with your beliefs and theological perspective.
Online options: If you need flexibility, look for seminaries that offer robust online programs. Many charismatic and Pentecostal schools now provide online or hybrid options, allowing you to continue your studies while balancing work, family, or ministry commitments.

Conclusion

Charismatic and Pentecostal universities seek to equip leaders with both spiritual empowerment and academic rigor. By blending solid scholarship with Spirit-centered formation, they prepare you not only for ministry competence but also for the spiritual competence needed to guide and transform communities in today’s world.

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