September 04, 2024
As Wesley Biblical Seminary enters the Fall Semester of its 50th year of operation, enrollment has once again reached an all-time high, with over 800 students in its various programs. This growth trend, which has continued for several years, indicates the trust denominations are placing in WBS and the quality students see in our biblically based, Spirit-empowered model of theological education.
Included in the total are:
- 14 doctoral students
- 154 masters students
- 373 GMC course of study students
- 26 undergraduate students
- 197 auditors
- 40 Wesley Institute students
Also included is one student in a brand new program—our high school Dual Enrollment option for homeschoolers. Although only announced a few weeks before classes began, WBS expects this new option to grow considerably in the years ahead.
In addition to unique students, WBS also tracks “Full-Time Equivalents” (FTEs) as a measure of how many credit hours are being taken. Many of our students take classes part-time as they also work in ministry and other fields. For the Fall semester, our FTEs are 284, up 11% from the Spring semester.
“Our faculty are thrilled to be teaching so many wonderful students in this season,” said President Andy Miller III. “We don’t take lightly the calling we have to equip trusted leaders for faithful churches. Every student represents generations of people who will be reached for Christ through the churches and other ministries they serve. We praise God for the opportunity to be able to prepare them through an education that is deeply biblical and thoroughly Wesleyan.”
In addition to its formal programs, WBS has 40 students signed up for courses through Wesley Institute, nine-month classes featuring both Bible and theology tracks taught by seminary professors but designed for laypeople. Pastors who trust WBS are finding these courses helpful as an additional tool for helping to disciple their congregations.
A key part of the growth of WBS has been the support of generous donors, whose contributions help to keep tuition low so that theological education remains affordable without a heavy weight of student debt.
Fifty years ago, WBS started with 16 students in a double-wide trailer on borrowed land. Today, WBS current students and alumni serve in over 500 churches from dozens of denominations in scores of cities and nations around the world.