Accreditation in a college or university is important. There are many accredited Christian universities in the United States, both regionally and nationally. If a school has received either regional or national accreditation, rest assured that they have met rigorous standards that provide students with a well-rounded, thorough education in a school which has a plan to grow and nurture students with a faculty that is well-qualified to teach.

Accredited Christian Universities offer courses in liberal arts, business, health, and faith-based majors to prepare them for the real world.  Upon graduation, students can rest-assured that their degree will hold some sort of cloud when applying for jobs. Most colleges that are not accredited do not contain the same high quality standards that accredited colleges do, so while the education may take as long from an non-accredited university, accredited christian universities will most likely have a higher quality degree program.

So how do you find which of the accredited online Bible colleges are right for you?

First you need to decide what your focus will be: Are you trying to earn a bachelor’s? A graduate degree? Do you know what online degree you want to earn?

Accredited online Bible colleges can help you determine the answers to those questions. Many students of religious-based colleges say one benefit of attending accredited online Bible colleges is that you aren’t just a number — having your faith in common with your teachers and classmates make it easier to feel like one of a group, even if you’re living hundreds of miles apart.

Even with organizations that bill themselves as Bible-based, it is important to do your research before turning over your tuition check. Taking steps to make sure the school is above-board will mean that you can trust you are earning a degree that will be valued in the workplace.

Once you find a program that is right for you at one of the accredited online Bible colleges, you will begin a journey that promises to be greatly challenging — and greatly rewarding.

For students seeking a Baptist career, a religious studies or theology degree can be a natural choice.

Baptist college graduates with those degrees often seek worship positions with churches in their communities.

Baptist career ministers become the voice of faith and comfort to their congregations, leading services, offering Holy Communion and organizing youth groups. Ministers are an important part of the lives of their congregants, overseeing their baptisms, weddings and funerals.

But becoming the head of what is, in essence, a large family can mean long, irregular hours. Clergy call on the sick, visit the dying and provide counseling to troubled families. They are called on to appear at special occasions hosted by members of their congregation and appear at community events.

Baptist careers are more than a job. They are a way of life.

Educational requirements vary for people seeking Baptist careers, but most denominations strongly prefer candidates with bachelor’s degrees. Often those bachelor degrees are in religious studies or theology.

Accredited theological schools offer similar core curriculum to a student seeking a Baptist career or a career in any other faith. The core curriculum generally consists of  Biblical studies, history, theology, and practical theology.

For those who can’t find a parish position upon graduation, you can expect to find work in youth counseling, social welfare, or serving as a chaplain with the Armed Forces, at a hospital, or a university.

Salaries for people who have sought a Baptist career vary greatly, depending on experience, the size of your congregation and your location.

Most Baptist schools include those ideals in their mission statements. And you don’t have to be a member of the faith to earn a Baptist college degree. You also won’t be “forced” to change your faith to attend a Baptist school.

Instead, choosing to earn a Baptist college degree gives you options of earning degrees online, in a brick-and-mortar classroom, or a combination of both.

You can earn an associate’s degree or a bachelor’s Baptist college degree in any number of schools — ranging from private institutions, state colleges and even Ivy League schools. Want a large school? There’s a Baptist college that will fit the bill. Want a smaller, more intimate setting? You can earn a Baptist College degree at a school like that too.

Of course, if you are a member of the Baptist faith, and are interested in a career in ministry or the church, a Baptist college degree is of great benefit. Most Baptist universities have a seminary and offer courses in faith-related counseling, evangelism, youth ministries and other courses relevant to the ministry.

Whatever your interest — or your faith — Baptist universities can help you achieve your career goals either online or in a traditional university setting — as long as you are willing to put in the hard work and dedication.

If you are interested in having a greater understanding of the Bible, theology, Church policy, and related matters, you should look into the various Bible college distance education programs available online.

What types of Bible college distance education programs are available?

There are a wide variety of online distance education Bible college options available, and more becoming available all the time.  Which one is right for you depends entirely upon your current goals, and the resources you have to meet them.  For example, there are online Bible colleges which offer degrees in Christian counseling, there are online Christian universities which offer seminary courses, and there are even free online Bible college distance education programs which offer absolutely free classes to anyone with an interest in learning more about the Bible.

Are all online Bible colleges the same?

Certainly not.  Some online Bible colleges are fully accredited by associations which are recognized by the Department of Education–these colleges and universities offer degrees which are recognized and accepted exactly as degrees from traditional colleges and universities are.

Other online Bible college distance education programs are not accredited, or they are accredited by other associations which are not universally recognized; many of these are among the free or low cost programs you can enroll in.  While these programs may not be accredited in the sense that you can use them toward completion of a traditional degree, they are a wonderful way for those with a personal interest in learning more about the faith to pursue those studies at low or no cost.

Whatever your goals for seeking a distance education solution are, if those goals include learning more about the Christian faith or engaging in Biblical study, look into Bible college distance education programs online.  You may have more options than you realized.

• Lancaster Bible College was established in 1933 and is based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
• The college is an accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.
• In 2007 Lancaster College Online was approved to offer the Bachelor of Science in Bible degree over the Internet.
• Over 1,ooo students, undergraduate and graduate, are enrolled at the college.
• Lancaster Bible College’s mission has always been to educate Christian men and women to live according to a biblical world view and to serve through professional Christian ministries.

About Lancaster Bible College Online

The Bible is at the center of both the name and the curriculum at Lancaster Bible College Online. It is the divinely inspired source of truth and of instructions for living, and 40% of the curriculum is focused on God’s word.

Lancaster Bible College online is teaching people to communicate, which begins with understanding self and then the understanding of others. 40% of the curriculum focuses on people and the world.

The college is committed to teaching people to become effective communicators and 20% of the curriculum is dedicated to professional education.

Lancaster Bible College Online Degree Programs

• Bachelor of Science in Bible Program

Lancaster Bible College Online Tuition and Financial Aid

Tuition costs for Lancaster Bible College online in 2009-10 are $15,240. Numerous scholarships along with federal and state grants are available to students.

There is also a Bachelor of Science in Bible Studies degree and several master’s degree at the Baptist Bible Graduate School. The Master of Science in Counseling Ministries trains students for a career in professional counseling. The Master of Science in Christian School Education prepares future teachers and educators by giving them skills needed for an effective education. Graduates of Baptist Bible Seminary become pastors, missionaries, and teachers at churches and ministries across the world.

The regionally accredited college follows a Bible-centered approach in preparing its students for a life serving God. Its mission is to spread the basic tenets of the Maranatha doctrine. Founded in 1968, the college is non-profit and it is not linked to any denominational hierarchy.

Most of the alumni of Maranatha Baptist Bible College continue on to become pastors, ministers, church educators and missionaries.

Some take the path of serving the society with regular occupations guided by the discipline of the Baptist church. Maranatha Baptist Bible College stands in a sprawling 79-acre campus in Watertown, Wisconsin fully equipped with facilities catering to the physical and spiritual molding of its growing student population.

The college has programs in business, humanities, education, fine arts, nursing and church ministries. Scholarships and other financial aids are given to deserving members of the congregation.

Or if students are too busy to commit to a regular schedule on-campus, you can opt for an online class which you can access wherever you are. Or even better is the distance education also offered either using the synchronous or asynchronous technology depending on the student’s schedule availability.

Courses offered in the Baptist Bible College do not only prepare the student in the career they have set for themselves but also for friendship that is formed among the students. Thus a life long relationship bonded with filial affinity. Not only do they help you through grants but also offer special discounts for Graduate Schools.

All you need to enroll is good computer skills and have access to a PC that meets certain minimum hardware and software requirements. Once you have been approved for admission to the University, you will be able to enroll in an online course.

Dallas Baptist University looks at your education in a different way. They include God and religious teaching in every course. Whether you are looking to start a new course of study or complete one that you have started, DBU will be there to help you. Courses of study at DBU include, an Associate’s, Bachelor’s and Master’s degree. You can take these degrees and enter the working world with pride.