Carolina College of Biblical Studies

About Carolina College of Biblical Studies

Carolina College of Biblical Studies is a small, specialized Christian institution whose central purpose is biblical and ministry education. Established in 1973, it serves students preparing for vocational ministry as well as laypeople seeking deeper theological study. Its identity is explicitly Christ-centered: applicants are expected to provide a Christian testimony, and students agree to the college’s Community Covenant. Prospective students should assess that religious commitment as carefully as program content because it affects both classroom study and community expectations. CCBS is institutionally accredited by the Association for Biblical Higher Education Commission on Accreditation. The college’s official disclosures state that this accreditation covers certificates and degrees at the associate, baccalaureate, and master’s levels and is recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education for participation in federal programs. The institution was operating and accepting students as of August 2026, with an official Fall 2026 semester start date published on its tuition page. This is not a comprehensive liberal-arts or research university. Its degree portfolio centers on Scripture, theology, apologetics, counseling within ministry settings, Bible translation, leadership, and pastoral preparation. The Fayetteville campus supports in-person study, while online, Zoom, and hybrid options are designed for students balancing education with employment, family, military service, or church responsibilities. Students seeking a residential campus, varsity sports, or extensive secular majors should look elsewhere. Those seeking a focused biblical curriculum with practical ministry formation may find the model well aligned with their goals.

Admission is explicitly faith-based. Undergraduate applicants must have a high school diploma or recognized equivalent and a clear testimony of Christian salvation. For applications beginning in January 2026, the college lists a church statement, one church-leader character reference, and a background check among the required items. On-campus students must also provide immunization information. Applicants submit the application, a $40 fee, and official transcripts from previously attended colleges. The 2025–2026 catalog additionally requires agreement to the CCBS Community Covenant and permits a placement test when needed. CCBS states that undergraduate applicants do not need a minimum GPA or ACT/SAT score. Graduate applicants do not need GRE or GMAT results, but they must hold a bachelor’s degree from a recognized or accredited institution, normally have at least a 3.0 undergraduate GPA, provide official college transcripts, and demonstrate Christian testimony and church recommendation. The catalog also calls for a one-page statement of academic and ministry goals. Provisional admission may be available when documents are pending or academic concerns exist, with conditions stated in the admission letter. The college encourages early application and transcript submission but does not publish a general rolling-admission policy on the reviewed pages. Its tuition page lists August 10, 2026 as the Fall 2026 semester start. International and transfer applicants should request an individual evaluation because the reviewed sources do not provide enough current detail to summarize immigration documentation, English-language testing, or transfer-credit limits safely.

CCBS offers an Associate of Arts in Biblical Studies and bachelor’s degrees in Apologetics, Biblical Counseling, Biblical Studies, and Leadership and Ministry. Graduate choices are the Master of Arts in Bible Translation, Master of Arts in Theological Studies, and Master of Divinity. These are specialized programs: the database’s existing list of subjects such as engineering, nursing, architecture, and computer science is not supported by the college’s current program disclosures and should not guide a student’s decision. The curriculum combines biblical and theological study with communication, research, leadership, and applied ministry. The Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies, for example, builds on the associate curriculum through advanced study of biblical books, doctrine, worldviews, ethics, church history, biblical languages, and supervised ministry. Students in that program may select a minor in apologetics, biblical counseling, or leadership. The Master of Arts in Theological Studies requires 45 semester hours and is available on campus or online. Delivery is designed for flexibility. The college advertises in-person, Zoom, online, and hybrid-weekend formats. Online classes are asynchronous, use weekly deadlines, and run in eight-week terms; students are encouraged to take two courses per term to maintain a full-time pace. Academic support includes peer tutoring, an online writing center, academic advising, and virtual access to electronic books and journals. Degree-seeking students must purchase the institution’s required Logos Bible Software package. Applicants should consult the catalog and individual degree guide to confirm sequencing, format availability, and total credits before enrolling.

Key Highlights

• Founded in 1973 in Fayetteville, North Carolina
• Accredited to award associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees
• Specialized Christian institution focused on biblical, theological, and ministry education
• Operating and enrolling students for the 2026–2027 academic year

Student Life & Environment

Student life reflects CCBS’s commuter, ministry-oriented character. The college explicitly states that it has no dormitories and no football team; its disclosures also report no intercollegiate athletic programs. Students therefore arrange their own housing and transportation rather than entering a residential college environment. Informal interaction occurs around classes, shared meals, church relationships, and college events rather than through residence-hall programming or varsity sports. Practical ministry is a central part of the student experience. CCBS says every student must participate in church or parachurch ministry, connecting classroom work with service in local congregations and faith-based organizations. Students may study while remaining active in employment, family life, military service, or an existing ministry role. This structure may suit adult and commuting learners, but students seeking a conventional residential experience should recognize the tradeoff. Academic services provide much of the formal support infrastructure. Students can use advising, peer tutoring, an online writing center, virtual books and journals, and Logos Bible Software. Campus visits can be arranged through the admissions office and offer the best way to assess the small-school environment. Because community life is explicitly Christian and governed by a Community Covenant, prospective students should review the covenant and student handbook before committing.

Location & Surroundings

CCBS is located at 817 South McPherson Church Road in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Its single-campus, commuter model means location decisions should focus on travel time, independent housing, work arrangements, and access to a local church or ministry placement. The institution does not provide residence halls, so campus-based students must budget separately for rent, food, transportation, insurance, and personal expenses. Fayetteville-based students can attend in-person classes and participate directly in campus activities, while the college’s Zoom, online, and hybrid formats reduce the need for daily travel. The online option is particularly relevant to students outside the region or those whose military, employment, family, or ministry schedules make regular campus attendance difficult. Online courses remain structured around weekly work rather than required live login times. Students considering relocation should not assume a residential support system. They should investigate local housing and transportation independently and confirm how often their chosen courses meet on campus. A visit arranged through admissions can help applicants evaluate the building, commute, learning environment, and nearby practical-ministry options before enrollment.

Costs & Career Outcomes

For 2026–2027, undergraduate tuition is $310 per credit hour and graduate tuition is $350 per credit hour. Published military rates are $295 per undergraduate credit and $320 per graduate credit. Certificate study costs $300 per course, while auditing costs $150 per course. Required charges include a $40 application fee, a $100 registration fee and $140 technology fee per semester, and a one-time $300 Logos Bible Software fee. Graduation fees are $135 for undergraduates and $185 for graduate students. The college states that fees are nonrefundable and that tuition and fees must be paid at registration unless a payment plan is arranged in advance. These figures do not constitute a complete cost of attendance. CCBS has no institutional housing, and its published tuition information excludes independent housing, food, transportation, insurance, textbooks, and personal expenses. Students should calculate costs using their planned credit load and request a personalized aid estimate. Funding options include federal student aid, military and veterans’ benefits, institutional scholarships, self-payment, and monthly payment plans. Eligibility and award amounts vary; scholarship continuation generally depends on satisfactory academic progress and available funds. Career expectations require particular care. The official disclosures state that CCBS does not currently provide a dedicated career or job-placement service, although advisers and student-services staff may offer individual assistance. The biblical counseling degree is designed for church and faith-based ministry and does not satisfy educational requirements for state licensure as a clinical counselor, psychologist, social worker, or similar regulated professional.