Central Bible University

About Central Bible University

Central Bible University began in 1957 with a purpose centered on preparing leadership for Christian churches. On June 1, 2026, Central Christian College of the Bible adopted the current name. ABHE formally recorded the change, while the university states that its accreditation, degrees, transcripts, mission, and institutional continuity remain intact. The change should not be confused with the unrelated Central Bible College that closed in Springfield, Missouri. Central is accredited by the Association for Biblical Higher Education Commission on Accreditation to grant certificates and degrees at the associate, baccalaureate, and master’s levels. The 2026–2027 catalog also identifies participation in federal student-aid programs and affiliation with the independent Christian Churches of the Restoration Movement. Its identity is explicitly confessional: biblical authority, Christian formation, church service, and preparation for ministry are embedded throughout the institution rather than offered as optional features. The main campus occupies 40 acres in Moberly. Central also provides online degrees and graduate study combining online courses with short intensives. Its academic scope is deliberately specialized. Applicants wanting intensive Bible, theology, ministry, or Christian leadership preparation may find a close match, while those seeking a conventional research university or a wide selection of independently delivered professional majors should examine the limited in-house portfolio and partnership arrangements carefully.

For 2026–2027 first-year undergraduate admission, applicants submit the online application and an official high-school or equivalent transcript. ACT and SAT results are optional for first-year applicants. Regular admission generally requires a minimum 2.0 cumulative high-school GPA. Applicants below that level may receive Academic Committee review and can be asked for a personal statement or educator reference; admitted students with weaker preparation may enter the Student Success Program. Transfer applicants submit transcripts from every college attended and generally need a 2.0 college GPA. Those with fewer than 24 attempted college credits must also provide a high-school transcript and ACT or SAT result. International undergraduate applicants follow the domestic requirements and provide additional English-proficiency and financial documentation. The 2026–2027 catalog lists minimum scores of 61 TOEFL iBT, IELTS 5.0, Duolingo 105, or PTE Academic 50, with specified waiver circumstances. Before an I-20 is issued, applicants must document resources for a full academic year. After visa approval, they must submit a $1,500 nonrefundable deposit and arrange payment. The recommended completion date for fall international files is May 1; later applications are considered when time and space permit. Graduate applicants need a completed bachelor’s degree, transcripts showing at least a 2.5 GPA, a writing sample, résumé, and interview. The writing sample may be waived in specified circumstances. Because policies can change, applicants should confirm term-specific deadlines in the application portal.

Central’s 2026–2027 academic structure combines general education with substantial study of Scripture, theology, Christian formation, and practical ministry. The 60-credit Associate of Arts in General Studies contains 37 general-studies credits, 20 biblical or theological credits, and a three-credit ministry elective. Its 120-credit Bachelor of Arts options include Bible and Theology, Christian Counseling, Ministry Studies, and Christian Studies. Ministry Studies offers General Ministry, NextGen Ministry, and Preaching emphases. The Christian Counseling curriculum integrates psychology and counseling courses with pastoral care and biblical study; students should not assume that the bachelor’s degree by itself qualifies them for professional clinical licensure. Christian Studies is a partnership-based program. The catalog describes combinations with Indiana Wesleyan University and Columbia College through which students complete Central’s biblical curriculum alongside professional study delivered by a partner. Listed Indiana Wesleyan areas include business, communication, information technology, criminal justice, early childhood education, health science, and leadership. Prospective students should verify the awarding institution, delivery format, transfer rules, and total cost for a particular partnership pathway. At graduate level, the 36-credit Master of Arts in Ministry Leadership is designed for completion in about two years of full-time study. It uses online 16-week courses plus a week-long intensive each semester, available at a Central location or remotely. Concentrations listed for 2026–2027 include Preaching, Organizational Health, Co-Vocational, and Customized. Central also lists fully online options in Associate of General Studies, BA in Ministry Studies, and MA in Ministry Leadership.

Key Highlights

• Operating under the name Central Bible University since June 1, 2026
• Established in 1957 in Moberly, Missouri
• ABHE-accredited for associate, bachelor’s, and master’s awards
• Affiliated with independent Christian Churches in the Restoration Movement

Student Life & Environment

Student life at the Moberly campus is organized around shared Christian practice and a small residential community. Weekly rhythms include Tuesday chapel and Thursday evening Thrive gatherings, while discipleship, mentoring, Bible study, prayer, and Christian service extend beyond formal worship. The university says students average four hours of Christian service per week through churches, community organizations, campus ministries, tutoring, outreach, or leadership roles. Applicants should view this participation as part of the educational model rather than an optional extracurricular theme. Campus traditions include orientation, trivia nights, local hikes, the Christmas Ball, open-dorm events, and student-led activities. Student Council represents student interests and helps plan spiritual and social programming. Recreational options include intramurals and fitness facilities. Varsity offerings listed by the university include men’s and women’s basketball, men’s soccer, women’s volleyball, and shotgun sports; Central competes in Christian-college athletic structures, so prospective athletes should confirm the current team schedule and eligibility requirements directly. Housing places students near classrooms, chapel, dining, and the Walton Student Center. Traditional freshmen entering directly from high school and enrolled for at least nine credits or in a degree program are generally expected to live in university housing unless they live with a parent or close relative. Dining includes cafeteria meal plans and the Central Cafe.

Location & Surroundings

Central’s main campus is at 911 East Urbandale Drive in Moberly, a central Missouri community. The university describes the site as a 40-acre campus, with its principal academic, worship, residential, dining, recreation, and student-support spaces kept within a short walk. Pelfrey Hall contains classrooms, offices, the Ferneau Center, dining, fitness, and athletics functions. The Reese Resource Center houses the library, study areas, tutoring and test-proctoring support, and a bookstore, while the Walton Student Center provides gathering, recreation, study, and cafe space. The setting is better suited to students who want a compact, community-oriented campus than to those seeking the scale and amenities of a large metropolitan university. Local churches and community organizations also serve as practical ministry and service settings. Central maintains relationships with Moberly Area Community College for supplemental general-education opportunities. Students considering partner courses, internships, employment, or frequent travel should ask how transportation works in practice, since the official materials reviewed do not describe a comprehensive campus transit system.

Costs & Career Outcomes

For 2026–2027, published on-campus undergraduate tuition for 12–18 credits is $6,400 per semester, or $12,800 annually. The Moberly on-site semester fee is $350 per semester, and information-technology fees are assessed per class. Standard double-occupancy dorm housing is listed at $3,200 per semester. Published cafeteria plans range from $1,000 to $1,900 per semester, depending on the weekly meal allowance. Online undergraduate tuition is $450 per credit; the university illustrates an annual tuition cost of $10,800 at 12 credits per semester. Graduate tuition is $475 per credit, with an illustrated annual cost of $8,550 at nine credits per semester. Rates remain subject to change, and course or partnership fees may add to the bill. Central’s 2026–2027 financial-aid cost-of-attendance budget for a Moberly residential student is $30,377, including estimated indirect expenses; this is a planning allowance, not the amount billed by the university. Federal aid, institutional scholarships, outside awards, work-study, and payment plans are identified as possible resources. The SEAL Scholarship evaluates service, experience, academics, and leadership, but students should verify their individual eligibility and award rather than subtracting a headline maximum automatically. Career preparation is concentrated in church ministry, parachurch work, nonprofit service, counseling-related preparation, and Christian leadership. Partnership programs broaden possible fields, but no current official placement rate, salary figure, or employer list was verified. Students should ask for program-specific outcomes, internship arrangements, graduate-school placement, and any licensing implications before committing.