Convenient, Christ-Centered Learning From BCF
The Baptist College of Florida appears in our ranking of the Top 10 Great Deals: Bachelor’s in Theology and Christian Studies Degrees Online.
The Baptist College of Florida upholds Proverbs 1:7 by teaching three associate, 18 baccalaureate, and two master’s majors rooted in Scripture.
The college has three locations and is online via Blackboard,
For example, the 66-credit Associate of Divinity develops pastoral skills and shares God’s Word in interactive courses from Hermeneutics to Personal Evangelism.
The B.S. in Business Leadership teaches ethical managerial practices in a 120-credit curriculum requiring one 15-week internship. The B.A. in History/Social Studies Secondary Education produces certified Florida 6-12 teachers in a 123-credit, practice-oriented plan.
The M.A. in Music and Worship Leadership follows a 30-credit, non-thesis sequence of 500-level courses to the Recital Project. It’s accredited by the NASM,
Other BCF options include:
- A.A. in General Studies
- B.A. in English
- B.A. in Missions with an Aviation Concentration
- B.A. in Psychology
- B.A. in Music
- B.A. in Ministry
- M.A. in Christian Studies
About The Baptist College of Florida
The Baptist College of Florida was created in 1943. The First Baptist Church of Lakeland began coed seminary-like training as the Florida Baptist Institute. Two years later, the growing open-admission school acquired a 12-building property from the U.S. Army Corps. In March 1947, Rev. William Smith shifted its priority toward Biblically designed college degrees. During Arthur Stainback’s 1950s tenure, it became Baptist Bible Institute and relocated to today’s 160-acre Graceville location by Lake Seminole.
By 1981, BBI was first accredited with four-year Bachelor of Arts offerings. Its title evolved again to Florida Baptist Theological College in 1988 before Dr. Thomas Kinchen was hired in 1990. The Baptist College of Florida name was adopted in 2000 when a Master of Arts in Christian Studies developed.
Endowed for $7.8 million, BCF now serves 625 learners at an average age of 28 with a 14:1 mentoring ratio.
The U.S. News & World Report ranked The Baptist College in America’s top 264-346 online bachelor’s programs. On Niche, BCF is listed as the 27th best religious studies degrees. TheBestSchools.org featured BCF among the 105 top institutions for studying the Bible. Panama City’s WJHG-TV profiled The Baptist College of Florida in 2018 for its 75th anniversary campaign.
College Factual honored BCF for the country’s:
- 248th best value
- 162nd top history program
- 49th best theology missions major
GradLime named The Baptist College Florida’s 10th best online pick with 53 percent graduation. PayScale recorded the 71st highest mid-career median income statewide of $51,500 for BCF alums. Best Value Schools positioned The Baptist College of Florida 13th ahead of Flagler, Keiser, Bethune Cookman, and others. College Choice also named BCF the country’s #1 safest campus.
The Baptist College of Florida Accreditation Details
The Baptist College of Florida is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. The Baptist College is licensed by the Florida Department of Education Commission for Independent Education (CIE). The Division of Music and Worship also renewed its only discipline-specific accreditation from the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) in 2014.
The Baptist College of Florida Application Requirements
Getting into The Baptist College of Florida is considered “non-competitive” by Peterson’s since 70 of the 113 Fall 2017 applicants were triumphant for solid 61 percent acceptance. Freshmen must possess a high school diploma or GED subject scores above 150. Participation in a Christian church for at least 12 months is requisite.
The Office of Admissions seeks:
- strong moral character
- abstinence from drugs/alcohol
- social responsibility
On average, the Class of 2021 presented a 3.28 GPA, 1090 SAT, and 20 ACT mark. Homeschooled students must hold minimum “B” averages in 20-unit secondary curricula that includes four years of English. Eligible transfers have finished 24+ accredited credits graded “C-” or greater.
Both graduate programs require a bachelor’s GPA of 2.5 or GRE Verbal marks over 150. Reaching the 80th percentile, or 425, on the Miller Analogies Test qualifies. The M.A. in Christian Studies has 18 prerequisite credits like Old Testament.
The Baptist College of Florida has simplified rolling admission from August 1st to August 1st yearly. Interested students submit the three-page $25 BCF Application to 5400 College Drive in Graceville, FL 32440 anytime. Attached items include:
- the legal history form
- statement of faith
- Church or pastor reference
- personal recommendation
- immunization record
- transcript request
- composite test score
- and résumé
International students must also provide evidence of achieving Level 6 on the ASPECT test or 500 on the TOEFL. For further questions: (800) 328-2660 extension 460 or admissions@baptistcollege.edu.
Tuition and Financial Aid
For 2018-19, The Baptist College of Florida is charging traditional undergrads $350 per credit or $5,250 each term full-time. Jacksonville, Orlando, and Online learners pay the distance education price of $230 per credit or $3,450 per full-time semester. Mandatory university fees cost $450. The $300 online orientation fee and $35 ETS fee might be extra.
Living at the Graceville campus’ dorms adds $1,800 to $2,050 for housing. The 15-week meal plans are $2,306. BCF budgets $1,050 for textbooks and $2,000 for personal needs.
Annual associate/bachelor’s attendance equals roughly $18,288 on-site and $14,150 with parents. The M.A. in Christian Studies has average yearly tuition of $4,080 plus $410 in fees.
According to the NCES College Navigator, the Financial Aid Department helps 88 percent of full-time BCF students claim average assistance of $4,746 each for $1.84 million total. Over 100 institutional funds, including the Christ is Our Salvation Loan, are available until the April 15th deadline. The Florida Baptist Association has awarded $50,000 in Ministerial Student Scholarships since 2015.
Filing the FAFSA application coded 013001 could provide Federal Pell, FSEOG, Iraq and Afghanistan Service, or TEACH Grants. Florida residents pursue:
- the Effective Access to Student Education Grant
- Bright Futures Scholarship
- Academic Top Scholars Medallion
- Farmworker Student Scholarship
Children and spouses of deceased or disabled Florida veterans with minimum 2.0 GPAs claim fixed private awards. Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits are matched by the Yellow Ribbon Program. Aggregate limits of $31,000 to $57,500 exist for Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loan borrowing.
Other suggested options are:
- the Young Christian Leaders Scholarship
- Ruth K. Jacobs Memorial Scholarship
- L. Don Miley Scholarship
- Lois & John Hipps Scholarship
- Georgia Baptist Mission Board Scholarship.
Search through the accredited, Biblical-based vocational degrees at The Baptist College of Florida website.