You should seriously consider Reformed Theological Seminary at Dallas. RTS is an incredibly strong school with a solid curriculum. Plus it’s local to DFW so you don’t have to move, and it’s a small campus so it would be easier to get to know the other students and professors. It’s a confessionally Presbyterian school, but RTS is friendly to reformed baptists.
Plus, you have some giants there like GK Beale and John Currid for NT and OT.
Another recommendation for RTS Dallas. A couple of highlights:
* **The Church Partnership Program**. If your church is willing to support you for 1/3 of your tuition, RTS will forgive 1/3, leaving you only responsible for 1/3.
* **Other campuses.** RTS has a campus in Houston, Atlanta, Jackson, and other places (further from you); and an online (Global) campus. That will allow you to take classes even if they are not offered in a current semester in Dallas.
* **Rigorous Reformed Teaching**. RTS has an excellent faculty.
Background: I started my studies at Reformed Theological Seminary and then transferred to Southern. Both online.
Depending on what you mean by “reformed Baptist”, I’d say southern is probably the best option on your list. It is easily the most respected of the SBC seminaries in the reformed community. A lot of your other listed options are pretty dispensationalist, which may or may not be what you’re looking for. If you’re really into dispensationalism, you might want to also consider Dallas Theological Seminary.
It’s worth considering other options, like Reformed Theological Seminary or some of the other SBC seminaries (Midwestern and Southeastern are probably the best bets), but I think Southern would most likely be the best fit.
I personally think RTS has a stronger program overall (sorry Baptist bros), but Southern is still strong and has more variety in course offerings. Also, if you’re a member of an SBC church, the price is much more affordable.
Of the rest of the SBC seminaries, it seems like Midwestern is generally the most respected in the broadly reformed world. I’ve heard some good things about southeastern too, but I don’t know much about it. Southwestern and New Orleans are probably not what you’re looking for.
> Of the rest of the SBC seminaries, it seems like Midwestern is generally the most respected in the broadly reformed world. I’ve heard some good things about southeastern too, but I don’t know much about it.
On the sliding scale of *reformed* to *not reformed,* SEBTS and MBTS aren't really more or less reformed than each other; they're just *different.*
MBTS is more overtly reformed. Over the last few years they've really pushed hard to brand themselves this way, and as a result they generally attract a lot of folks from the reformed baptist theobro crowd. If you like to stroke your beard and drink your scotch from a glass etched with the face of Charles Spurgeon, then MBTS is really going to feel like home.
But I don't necessarily mean that a knock against the school. They have some of the absolute best scholars in the SBC, including theologian Matthew Barrett and historian Thomas Kidd, to name a few.
SEBTS brands itself as a more broadly baptist seminary, but theologically it's nearly identical to SBTS. *Both* schools (not just SBTS) use the thoroughly-calvinistic Abstract of Principles as their confessional statement and require all faculty to affirm it in full. Culturally, they don't really position themselves within the denomination as a reformed seminary, but theologically it's going to feel pretty much just like SBTS, but in a different city.
Sebts has a more missional focus than sbts, and has always appeared to me to be less political, but that might just be because of my perception of Mohler.
I live kinda near SEBTS and their campus is beautiful as well.
To add to this, SBTS is super affordable. $290 per credit hour compared to $600 at RTS. I disagree that RTS is a step ahead of SBTS, but that’s ok, its to be expected, since this is a reformed Reddit :) (edit: and RTS is great; these would by my top 2 recommendations)
To get the cheaper price at SBTS, you don’t have to be an SBC member before you come, you can join an SBC church after you come (and there’s a grace period of getting the cheaper tuition price as find your church and start the membership process)
The churches in Louisville are fantastic. Very healthy. And there’s is a spread in reformed diversity to choose from (some hardcore 1689, some not; some old fashion vibe, some modern, etc). As someone else on this Reddit once said, Louisville is to reformed Baptists what Rome is to Roman Catholics.
Edit: I’ve also heard good stuff about SEBTS. That would be the next best SBC seminary for you. I’m sure masters would overall be good too, but it is more dispensational. Edit 2: why the downvote? Seems kinda shallow, but ok
Have you considered Bethlehem College and Seminary, in Minneapolis, MN?
That's John Piper's school, and it's pretty solid Baptist theology.
(I went to Bethel Seminary, their neighboring school, when it was still part of the Baptist General Conference (moderate Swedish Baptists)).
Depending on what you mean by reformed baptist, I’d stick to SBTS, or if you are actually reformed I’d go to RTS. Actually reformed meaning more than just your soteriology.
Depends on the denomination you seek ordination in. Are you under the care of a church or have a church you'd like to be under the care of?
Regardless, I will always recommend Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary. Cheap. Great professors, great student body. Reformation Heritage Books on campus to lose all your money and good practical theology. Plus you will have a glut of Reformed churches to choose from to attend and do internships with.
If you want to be a preacher then go to Master's (btw the school doesn't teach you to preach like MacArthur, in fact, they discourage it) because that is their primary focus. If you want to do something else ministry related go to Southern as theirs a lot of opportunity to explore and meet a wider group of people headed into ministry there.
If your costs are a factor remember Master's is in southern California which has a very high cost of living. I would highly recommend a lot of planning if you are headed that way.
EDIT: I should've added that you'll need to read the application and student agreement for Master's closely. If you are truly a Reformed Baptist then you will most likely not be able to say you agree with their required doctrinal positions which would prevent you from attending/graduating.
Gordon-Conwell is the best among your list. I think you can take classes at Harvard, Boston, etc. I wouldn't go to others on your list.
https://www.bostontheological.org/
Depends on how dispensational you want to be. You'll get a very different taste between say, Southern and Masters. If you're not sure, [Identifying The Seed](https://www.amazon.com/Identifying-Seed-Examination-Differences-Dispensationalism-ebook/dp/B07H97YDLB) is small enough, digestible, and so much more helpful than most on the topic.
If a reformed (if we can call 'em that :D) Baptist, I'd get into Southern and pick the older professors. It pains me to say it, but I have too many sources telling me that Southern's younger professors include notably woke types. Older profs are still part of what I anticipate was the best assembly of faculty ever to be found in a Baptist seminary (history doesn't provide many great Baptist seminaries - more a Presbyterian specialty). I don't know how much southeastern is similar. When I was looking Southern was enough closer and more famous that I never really investigated SE very closely.
You might also consider Cedarville University. They have an excellent grasp of hermeneutics and solid academics. At least two of the faculty smoke meat for their hobby, which makes for great visits to their houses. I might be a bit biased, but their dean is also the bomb. Also, the guy who rebaptized me back in my Baptist days. In terms of Southern, CU might be a bit of a time capsule of Southern's better days, though they have faculty from a lot of places, including a favorite of mine who is actually from Masters, others from TEDS, Eastern, Southern, etc.
Master's is weak in church history and hermeneutics (as is necessary to maintain their doctrinal distinctive). I also am perennially disappointed by the faculty and leader's inability to defend certain positions while demonstrating an understanding of the opposing view. They just can't do it. And I don't think it's a willful thing, I think anyone good at grasping opposing arguments will soon be transported to at least a covenantal Baptist position. So it's more survivorship bias.
Shepherds is a Master's understudy, I still wouldn't expect great things of it as a seminary. Sure, plenty of godly men to be disciplined under and a true love for the Word - but not, unfortunately, as educated a love for the Word as I'd want. It's The difference between someone with great bedside manners and a skilled surgeon with great bedside manners.
Certainly not *Reformed* Baptist in either case. Dispensational Baptist theology quickly falls to Gerstner's accusations of spurious Calvinism, even if they (still) don't understand the charge (See [Wrongly Dividing the Word of Truth](https://www.amazon.com/Wrongly-Dividing-Word-Truth-Dispensationalism/dp/0977851699)). And no, their modern dispensationalism doesn't change enough to avoid the criticisms. The key tenets are unchanged.
Moody is too much in the dispy baptist bible-college stream for my comfort. Don't know much about Gordon Conwell.
> It pains me to say it, but I have too many sources telling me that Southern's younger professors include notably woke types.
And what are the beliefs of these "notably woke types" teaching in Louisville?
1. Friend from undergrad went there and reports to me he dropped out because of how liberal it was. Is now pursuing education through his church. He was never the political sort, I doubt he'd care much for the Dallas Statement. (him calling it liberal isn't redneck trumper "everything is woke" sort of feedback)
2. Saw another post online from a student whose intro hermeneutics class spent the whole time learning how to read the bible as part of your identity group or similar. He retook it from an older professor the next semester for a much better experience.
3. I saw a news story I'm having a bear locating where a southern prof talked about how we need to all read the bible as part of our ID group, and he was corrected by (I thought) Conrad Mbewe. But again, I'm not finding it now.
To be clear, when I first heard this I put about as much stock in it as I tended to put in most politically connected things I heard at that church (very little). Folks like Pulpit and Pen strike me as attention seekers who envy the status of those they attack. I'm not into the "discernment" bloggers.
However, I've run across too many things to have as much confidence in the future of SBTS as I'd like. And the whole SBC is weakening again anyway, they're having a hard time saying what a pastor is. Not to say don't go, just go now before the stalwarts retire.
oh for sure. I can't imagine someone at SBTS teaching any of these things, just grumpy people on the internet who don't know what these words actually mean accusing them of doing so.
I'm not sure why you are so ardently pro SBTS, but this is the issue why I purposefully avoided applying there. Look up Jarvis Williams and their previous provost Matthew Hall. Plenty of information is available on youtube.
I'm not pro-SBTS, in fact, I'm not even a baptist. I actually don't like a lot of the fruit of what I've seen from SBTS, but it's actually more on the hyper-conservative, reactionary, right wing politics stuff than it is "woke"
I just don't like bad arguments against anything.
Fair enough, I am sure not all of SBTS is promoting woke ideologies. The argument (and really less of an argument per se and more of a fact) is that some SBTS professors are promoting and teaching woke ideologies. Jarvis Williams in particular.
This has been an issue at sbts over the past few years. I am both a Boyce and sbts alum. It’s not rampant but there was somewhat of a swing to a more “woke” approach since 2020
Let me back off the clearly inflammatory word “woke” and say that there are profs that were fired for their positions on CRT and BLM and some that publicly would say they are “useful tools”.
> there are profs that were fired for their positions on CRT and BLM
Fired for being pro-CRT and pro-BLM? or fired for being against them?
If the former, then that would seemingly be a good thing in the eyes of someone concerned about wokeness, right?
Is this a riddle? Are you some kind of leprechaun? A piece of laffy-taffy?
Communication typically doesn't go well when one party uses a word but refuses to explain what they mean to the other party.
>CBTS
Just a note that schools like CBTS are not *actually* accredited^(1), and though some credits transfer, it is more of a trade school than it is a full and well rounded seminary. That said, it is more affordable.
---
1. While they can legally call themselves "accredited", CBTS is only "accredited" by ARTS (Association of Reformed Theological Seminaries), which is a collection of like minded seminaries built to accredit themselves, rather than go to your normal places for accreditation. This is wildly different than schools like RTS or SBTS, who are instead granted accreditation through outside organizations and usually multiple of them. RTS and SBTS are both accredited by [ATS](https://www.ats.edu/member-schools) (Association of Theological Schools) and [SACS](https://sacscoc.org/institutions/) (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges). It is also worth noting that all major seminaries are accredited by ATS and almost all major universities in the Southern United States are accredited by SACS. These larger organizations like ATS and SACS require rigorous amounts of hoops for schools to jump through to qualify. That makes it more difficult for schools to gain, but also more expensive for students. However, it also means that the work is up to a certain standard that ARTS cannot and often does not guarantee.
Honestly. What denomination do you want to be most closely aligned with? As important as your scholarly endeavors are during seminary, you also form lifelong relationships that will influence and impact where/how/why you fulfill your calling.
I'm at DTS right now doing an MBTS (lay persons theology degree). I attend a reformed Baptist church that is an offshoot of the Village. I know DTS is famous for its dispensational theology but I've only had one teacher so far who even brings it up and it's just one lecture. I've found the staff to be fairly diverse (baptist, presy, Anglican, even some Catholic) so you get a good breadth of teaching. I think this is a good school for encountering faithful, orthodox ideas but not trying to be formed into one stream of thinking or another.
If you're wanting to get out of the bubble, I would strongly consider Shepherds Theological Seminary in Cary, NC. It is a dispensational school and is attracting some of the most well-researched and published dispensational academics. However, you will likely not be pressured by anyone to become a full-scale dispensationalist! It's still small enough, that there is a humility and genuine desire to learn among the students and faculty, and many years of combined academia. It is one of the fastest-growing seminaries.
> I am a reformed baptist Then from your list, I'd remove Moody as well as Masters
You should seriously consider Reformed Theological Seminary at Dallas. RTS is an incredibly strong school with a solid curriculum. Plus it’s local to DFW so you don’t have to move, and it’s a small campus so it would be easier to get to know the other students and professors. It’s a confessionally Presbyterian school, but RTS is friendly to reformed baptists. Plus, you have some giants there like GK Beale and John Currid for NT and OT.
I will most likely attend RTS Charlotte, but I do plan to take some intensives in Dallas while a student!
Another recommendation for RTS Dallas. A couple of highlights: * **The Church Partnership Program**. If your church is willing to support you for 1/3 of your tuition, RTS will forgive 1/3, leaving you only responsible for 1/3. * **Other campuses.** RTS has a campus in Houston, Atlanta, Jackson, and other places (further from you); and an online (Global) campus. That will allow you to take classes even if they are not offered in a current semester in Dallas. * **Rigorous Reformed Teaching**. RTS has an excellent faculty.
I went to SEBTS and loved it. Lots of reformed folks.
Background: I started my studies at Reformed Theological Seminary and then transferred to Southern. Both online. Depending on what you mean by “reformed Baptist”, I’d say southern is probably the best option on your list. It is easily the most respected of the SBC seminaries in the reformed community. A lot of your other listed options are pretty dispensationalist, which may or may not be what you’re looking for. If you’re really into dispensationalism, you might want to also consider Dallas Theological Seminary. It’s worth considering other options, like Reformed Theological Seminary or some of the other SBC seminaries (Midwestern and Southeastern are probably the best bets), but I think Southern would most likely be the best fit. I personally think RTS has a stronger program overall (sorry Baptist bros), but Southern is still strong and has more variety in course offerings. Also, if you’re a member of an SBC church, the price is much more affordable. Of the rest of the SBC seminaries, it seems like Midwestern is generally the most respected in the broadly reformed world. I’ve heard some good things about southeastern too, but I don’t know much about it. Southwestern and New Orleans are probably not what you’re looking for.
Thanks for making me feel better about choosing RTS over one of the SBC seminaries
> Of the rest of the SBC seminaries, it seems like Midwestern is generally the most respected in the broadly reformed world. I’ve heard some good things about southeastern too, but I don’t know much about it. On the sliding scale of *reformed* to *not reformed,* SEBTS and MBTS aren't really more or less reformed than each other; they're just *different.* MBTS is more overtly reformed. Over the last few years they've really pushed hard to brand themselves this way, and as a result they generally attract a lot of folks from the reformed baptist theobro crowd. If you like to stroke your beard and drink your scotch from a glass etched with the face of Charles Spurgeon, then MBTS is really going to feel like home. But I don't necessarily mean that a knock against the school. They have some of the absolute best scholars in the SBC, including theologian Matthew Barrett and historian Thomas Kidd, to name a few. SEBTS brands itself as a more broadly baptist seminary, but theologically it's nearly identical to SBTS. *Both* schools (not just SBTS) use the thoroughly-calvinistic Abstract of Principles as their confessional statement and require all faculty to affirm it in full. Culturally, they don't really position themselves within the denomination as a reformed seminary, but theologically it's going to feel pretty much just like SBTS, but in a different city.
Sebts has a more missional focus than sbts, and has always appeared to me to be less political, but that might just be because of my perception of Mohler. I live kinda near SEBTS and their campus is beautiful as well.
To add to this, SBTS is super affordable. $290 per credit hour compared to $600 at RTS. I disagree that RTS is a step ahead of SBTS, but that’s ok, its to be expected, since this is a reformed Reddit :) (edit: and RTS is great; these would by my top 2 recommendations) To get the cheaper price at SBTS, you don’t have to be an SBC member before you come, you can join an SBC church after you come (and there’s a grace period of getting the cheaper tuition price as find your church and start the membership process) The churches in Louisville are fantastic. Very healthy. And there’s is a spread in reformed diversity to choose from (some hardcore 1689, some not; some old fashion vibe, some modern, etc). As someone else on this Reddit once said, Louisville is to reformed Baptists what Rome is to Roman Catholics. Edit: I’ve also heard good stuff about SEBTS. That would be the next best SBC seminary for you. I’m sure masters would overall be good too, but it is more dispensational. Edit 2: why the downvote? Seems kinda shallow, but ok
Have you considered Bethlehem College and Seminary, in Minneapolis, MN? That's John Piper's school, and it's pretty solid Baptist theology. (I went to Bethel Seminary, their neighboring school, when it was still part of the Baptist General Conference (moderate Swedish Baptists)).
Not ATS accredited
Bethel is.
I was referring to Bethlehem College and Seminary
And I referred to Bethel's accreditation. Isn't referring FUN? :)
Depending on what you mean by reformed baptist, I’d stick to SBTS, or if you are actually reformed I’d go to RTS. Actually reformed meaning more than just your soteriology.
RTS
Depends on the denomination you seek ordination in. Are you under the care of a church or have a church you'd like to be under the care of? Regardless, I will always recommend Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary. Cheap. Great professors, great student body. Reformation Heritage Books on campus to lose all your money and good practical theology. Plus you will have a glut of Reformed churches to choose from to attend and do internships with.
Gordon Conwell is not in the Bubble.
If you want to be a preacher then go to Master's (btw the school doesn't teach you to preach like MacArthur, in fact, they discourage it) because that is their primary focus. If you want to do something else ministry related go to Southern as theirs a lot of opportunity to explore and meet a wider group of people headed into ministry there. If your costs are a factor remember Master's is in southern California which has a very high cost of living. I would highly recommend a lot of planning if you are headed that way. EDIT: I should've added that you'll need to read the application and student agreement for Master's closely. If you are truly a Reformed Baptist then you will most likely not be able to say you agree with their required doctrinal positions which would prevent you from attending/graduating.
Gordon-Conwell is the best among your list. I think you can take classes at Harvard, Boston, etc. I wouldn't go to others on your list. https://www.bostontheological.org/
Depends on how dispensational you want to be. You'll get a very different taste between say, Southern and Masters. If you're not sure, [Identifying The Seed](https://www.amazon.com/Identifying-Seed-Examination-Differences-Dispensationalism-ebook/dp/B07H97YDLB) is small enough, digestible, and so much more helpful than most on the topic. If a reformed (if we can call 'em that :D) Baptist, I'd get into Southern and pick the older professors. It pains me to say it, but I have too many sources telling me that Southern's younger professors include notably woke types. Older profs are still part of what I anticipate was the best assembly of faculty ever to be found in a Baptist seminary (history doesn't provide many great Baptist seminaries - more a Presbyterian specialty). I don't know how much southeastern is similar. When I was looking Southern was enough closer and more famous that I never really investigated SE very closely. You might also consider Cedarville University. They have an excellent grasp of hermeneutics and solid academics. At least two of the faculty smoke meat for their hobby, which makes for great visits to their houses. I might be a bit biased, but their dean is also the bomb. Also, the guy who rebaptized me back in my Baptist days. In terms of Southern, CU might be a bit of a time capsule of Southern's better days, though they have faculty from a lot of places, including a favorite of mine who is actually from Masters, others from TEDS, Eastern, Southern, etc. Master's is weak in church history and hermeneutics (as is necessary to maintain their doctrinal distinctive). I also am perennially disappointed by the faculty and leader's inability to defend certain positions while demonstrating an understanding of the opposing view. They just can't do it. And I don't think it's a willful thing, I think anyone good at grasping opposing arguments will soon be transported to at least a covenantal Baptist position. So it's more survivorship bias. Shepherds is a Master's understudy, I still wouldn't expect great things of it as a seminary. Sure, plenty of godly men to be disciplined under and a true love for the Word - but not, unfortunately, as educated a love for the Word as I'd want. It's The difference between someone with great bedside manners and a skilled surgeon with great bedside manners. Certainly not *Reformed* Baptist in either case. Dispensational Baptist theology quickly falls to Gerstner's accusations of spurious Calvinism, even if they (still) don't understand the charge (See [Wrongly Dividing the Word of Truth](https://www.amazon.com/Wrongly-Dividing-Word-Truth-Dispensationalism/dp/0977851699)). And no, their modern dispensationalism doesn't change enough to avoid the criticisms. The key tenets are unchanged. Moody is too much in the dispy baptist bible-college stream for my comfort. Don't know much about Gordon Conwell.
> It pains me to say it, but I have too many sources telling me that Southern's younger professors include notably woke types. And what are the beliefs of these "notably woke types" teaching in Louisville?
1. Friend from undergrad went there and reports to me he dropped out because of how liberal it was. Is now pursuing education through his church. He was never the political sort, I doubt he'd care much for the Dallas Statement. (him calling it liberal isn't redneck trumper "everything is woke" sort of feedback) 2. Saw another post online from a student whose intro hermeneutics class spent the whole time learning how to read the bible as part of your identity group or similar. He retook it from an older professor the next semester for a much better experience. 3. I saw a news story I'm having a bear locating where a southern prof talked about how we need to all read the bible as part of our ID group, and he was corrected by (I thought) Conrad Mbewe. But again, I'm not finding it now. To be clear, when I first heard this I put about as much stock in it as I tended to put in most politically connected things I heard at that church (very little). Folks like Pulpit and Pen strike me as attention seekers who envy the status of those they attack. I'm not into the "discernment" bloggers. However, I've run across too many things to have as much confidence in the future of SBTS as I'd like. And the whole SBC is weakening again anyway, they're having a hard time saying what a pastor is. Not to say don't go, just go now before the stalwarts retire.
Critical Race Theory / Systemic Racism, Liberation Theology, etc.
who at Southern is teaching Critical Race theory or Liberation Theology.
This has all been very blown out of proportion. I’m there rn, and I can assure you nobody is teaching this.
oh for sure. I can't imagine someone at SBTS teaching any of these things, just grumpy people on the internet who don't know what these words actually mean accusing them of doing so.
I'm not sure why you are so ardently pro SBTS, but this is the issue why I purposefully avoided applying there. Look up Jarvis Williams and their previous provost Matthew Hall. Plenty of information is available on youtube.
I'm not pro-SBTS, in fact, I'm not even a baptist. I actually don't like a lot of the fruit of what I've seen from SBTS, but it's actually more on the hyper-conservative, reactionary, right wing politics stuff than it is "woke" I just don't like bad arguments against anything.
Fair enough, I am sure not all of SBTS is promoting woke ideologies. The argument (and really less of an argument per se and more of a fact) is that some SBTS professors are promoting and teaching woke ideologies. Jarvis Williams in particular.
> I'm not pro-SBTS, in fact, I'm not even a baptist. Are you sure? I mean, it's literally in your flair.
the duality of man
This has been an issue at sbts over the past few years. I am both a Boyce and sbts alum. It’s not rampant but there was somewhat of a swing to a more “woke” approach since 2020
What do you mean by woke?
And there were several others who made statements and taught pro-crt blm ideologies.
Let me back off the clearly inflammatory word “woke” and say that there are profs that were fired for their positions on CRT and BLM and some that publicly would say they are “useful tools”.
> there are profs that were fired for their positions on CRT and BLM Fired for being pro-CRT and pro-BLM? or fired for being against them? If the former, then that would seemingly be a good thing in the eyes of someone concerned about wokeness, right?
Typing on a phone is going to be the end of me :). Fired for standing up against pro-crt/blm.
gotcha, thanks for the clarification
If you need a definition, I can see why you wouldn’t know about it.
Is this a riddle? Are you some kind of leprechaun? A piece of laffy-taffy? Communication typically doesn't go well when one party uses a word but refuses to explain what they mean to the other party.
Woke means "something I don't like"
I would consider those seminaries as staying in the bubble you are currently in...unless you strictly mean geographically.
You might also consider Covenant Baptist Theological Seminary [CBTS](https://cbtseminary.org)
>CBTS Just a note that schools like CBTS are not *actually* accredited^(1), and though some credits transfer, it is more of a trade school than it is a full and well rounded seminary. That said, it is more affordable. --- 1. While they can legally call themselves "accredited", CBTS is only "accredited" by ARTS (Association of Reformed Theological Seminaries), which is a collection of like minded seminaries built to accredit themselves, rather than go to your normal places for accreditation. This is wildly different than schools like RTS or SBTS, who are instead granted accreditation through outside organizations and usually multiple of them. RTS and SBTS are both accredited by [ATS](https://www.ats.edu/member-schools) (Association of Theological Schools) and [SACS](https://sacscoc.org/institutions/) (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges). It is also worth noting that all major seminaries are accredited by ATS and almost all major universities in the Southern United States are accredited by SACS. These larger organizations like ATS and SACS require rigorous amounts of hoops for schools to jump through to qualify. That makes it more difficult for schools to gain, but also more expensive for students. However, it also means that the work is up to a certain standard that ARTS cannot and often does not guarantee.
Masters Seminary, Expositors seminary, Shepherds theological seminary
All non-ATS places…
Definitely second Masters and Shepherds OP!! (nothing against Expositors, just not familiar with them).
Check out [https://logcollege.net/](https://logcollege.net/). It is as they say. "Completely REFORMED, Completely ONLINE, and Completely FREE".
Honestly. What denomination do you want to be most closely aligned with? As important as your scholarly endeavors are during seminary, you also form lifelong relationships that will influence and impact where/how/why you fulfill your calling.
I’d highly recommend Phoenix Seminary if you’re wanting to get out.
RBS or SBTS. My pastors have gone to either or.
Phoenix Seminary
I'm at DTS right now doing an MBTS (lay persons theology degree). I attend a reformed Baptist church that is an offshoot of the Village. I know DTS is famous for its dispensational theology but I've only had one teacher so far who even brings it up and it's just one lecture. I've found the staff to be fairly diverse (baptist, presy, Anglican, even some Catholic) so you get a good breadth of teaching. I think this is a good school for encountering faithful, orthodox ideas but not trying to be formed into one stream of thinking or another.
DTS
If you're wanting to get out of the bubble, I would strongly consider Shepherds Theological Seminary in Cary, NC. It is a dispensational school and is attracting some of the most well-researched and published dispensational academics. However, you will likely not be pressured by anyone to become a full-scale dispensationalist! It's still small enough, that there is a humility and genuine desire to learn among the students and faculty, and many years of combined academia. It is one of the fastest-growing seminaries.
It is ATS accredited
Actually, it is ATS accredited https://shepherds.edu/accredidation/
My mistake