Admit rate has ranged 36%–100% over the last 5 years — notably volatile, though the latest figure above (26%) falls outside that window. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Trinity Bible College and Graduate School is a small, intensely mission-driven Christian institution in rural Ellendale, North Dakota, where theological education and ministerial training are the unequivocal core. It operates more like a spiritual boot camp and professional seminary than a traditional liberal arts college, offering a tightly focused curriculum from undergraduate certificates to newly minted Ph.D. programs. The environment is explicitly 'Spirit-filled,' demanding both academic engagement and a demonstrated 'faith in Christ characterized by sound moral character,' creating a close-knit, all-in community for those pursuing vocational ministry.
Admission requirements
Test scores required
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
Class rank
Letters of recommendation
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
141
In-state tuition
$19,700
Out-of-state tuition
$19,700
Top Major
Theological & Ministerial Studies (57%)
Graduation Rate
46%
Median Earnings (10yr)
$35,604
Students Receiving Aid
91%
First-Year Retention Rate
63%
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$35,604
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
1.8×
Median debt at graduation
$22,531
Graduation rate
46%
First-year retention
63%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
57%
Pell (lower-income) share
62%
First-gen share (among federal-aid recipients)
32%
Financial health
3.0 / 3.0Meets the federal financial-responsibility standard
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Theological and Ministerial Studies$25,194
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
0
Per 1,000 students
0.00
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
94
Summer high
82°F
Winter low
8°F
Annual rain
21.9"
Annual snow
39.6"
Natural-hazard risk
Very Low
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at Trinity Bible College and Graduate School?
Trinity Bible College and Graduate School's acceptance rate is approximately 26% (Ellendale, ND), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
How much does Trinity Bible College and Graduate School cost?
At Trinity Bible College and Graduate School, the average net price (after aid) is about $19,359 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Trinity Bible College and Graduate School?
Trinity Bible College and Graduate School enrolls approximately 141 undergraduate students.
Where is Trinity Bible College and Graduate School located?
Trinity Bible College and Graduate School is located in Ellendale, ND.
Admissions
Admissions at Trinity Bible College is a process that evaluates both academic readiness and spiritual alignment. While the has been reported with significant variation across sources—from as high as 97% to as low as 25.7%—the institution's own published figures and authoritative external profiles settle around a 26% acceptance rate, indicating a selective process for its niche. The rate—the percentage of admitted students who enroll—is notably high, reported at 76.7%, suggesting that those who are admitted are highly committed to the school's specific mission.
Standardized testing is common among applicants, with 72% of students submitting ACT scores and 9% submitting SAT scores. Reported score ranges are SAT 950-1110 and ACT 18-26. The application fee is $25. Crucially, for graduate program admissions, the college states that applicants "should demonstrate faith in Christ characterized by sound moral character and biblical..." This suggests character and religious commitment are central, not just academic metrics. There is no available from Trinity Bible College itself in the provided sources to definitively state how 'demonstrated interest' is weighted.
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
Academics are exclusively centered on Christian ministry, theology, and leadership. The college's mission is "training and educating people with theological reflection and missional passion." Undergraduate programs are "designed to grow in knowledge and to fulfill the unique call of God."
The most popular major by far is Theological and Ministerial Studies, which comprised 57% of all first majors in 2024. Business Administration and Management is a distant second. The curriculum is not a broad liberal arts slate but a focused track for pastoral and missionary work.
Trinity also operates a Graduate School, offering Master of Arts programs described as "cutting edge and one of a kind." In a significant academic milestone, the college made state history in 2025 by awarding its first Ph.D. graduates. It now offers two doctoral degrees: a Doctorate of Contextual Leadership and a Ph.D. in Practical Theology. This expansion from a bible college to a graduate school conferring terminal degrees marks a notable evolution in its academic profile.
Student life is immersive and communal, framed entirely within a "Spirit-filled collegiate setting." The college encourages students to "develop life-long relationships" and mature in their faith during their time on campus. The experience is presented as holistic, integrating "educational opportunities, ministry experiences, spiritual growth and relationships."
The environment is intentionally Christian, designed for those who seek to "learn in a Christian environment." Given the small size (the institutional factbook from 2014 references an enrollment context, and more recent data suggests a total population around 244 students with 144 undergraduates) and singular focus, the student body is self-selecting into a close-knit community united by religious vocation. The rural location in Ellendale, North Dakota, further contributes to a campus-centric, insulated experience focused on study and spiritual formation.
Outcomes are measured more by spiritual calling than by conventional career metrics, but the available data shows the challenges of its graduation rates and the modest early-career earnings typical for fields in ministry. The first-year retention rate is 63%. The 6-year graduation rate is reported at 50%, though other sources cite a 39% overall rate. The median earnings 10 years after entry are $35,604. Early-career earnings are even lower, with one source stating graduates earn "about $27,000" initially.
These figures reflect the vocational paths of graduates entering pastoral ministry, missionary work, and non-profit leadership—fields not known for high salaries. Success for Trinity graduates is likely defined by placement in ministry roles rather than financial remuneration.
Trinity Bible College is a tuition-driven institution where most students rely on financial aid. 91% of enrolled undergraduate students receive grants or scholarships, with the average aid amount being $13,130. This aid covers about two-thirds of the full tuition amount. However, the college's scholarship policy has a significant limitation: All Trinity Scholarships are on tuition only. All room, board, and fees will be covered by federal student loans, outside funding, or personal finances.
This means even students receiving the college's maximum merit or will likely need to take out federal loans or find other resources to cover living expenses. The average net price for on-campus, Title-IV-eligible students is $19,359. There is no indication in the provided sources that Trinity meets 100% of demonstrated financial need or has a no-loan policy; in fact, its official policy explicitly anticipates the use of federal loans to cover non-tuition costs.
Trinity Bible College and Graduate School stands out for its uncompromising, no-apologies focus on training Pentecostal/Charismatic Christian ministers and leaders. It is not a college with a theology department; it is a theology department that functions as a college. Its recent leap to offering Ph.D. programs, making state history with its first doctoral graduates in 2025, signals ambitious academic growth within its hyper-specialized lane.
The culture is its defining feature: an all-encompassing, 'Spirit-filled' environment in rural North Dakota that demands total buy-in. This is reflected in the high rate—those admitted generally come—and the dominant share of students in ministerial studies. It serves a specific population with singular purpose: students who feel a call to vocational ministry and want their entire college experience to be an extension of that call, surrounded by a like-minded community. For them, it's not just a school; it's a formative pipeline into a life of service.
Trinity Bible College and Graduate School seal · sourceGraduate School at Trinity Bible College & Graduate School · sourceTrinity Bible College and Graduate School Case Study – Populi · sourceGraduate Facilities · source
