
Maranatha Baptist University is a private Christian institution in Watertown, Wisconsin, founded in 1968 as Maranatha Baptist Bible College. Its original emphasis on biblical education remains central to the university, even as its academic offerings have expanded beyond ministry preparation.
The institution adopted the Maranatha Baptist University name in 2013. That change reflected its broader range of undergraduate and graduate programs, including professional fields such as education, business, and nursing. The name change did not remove its Baptist identity or its emphasis on integrating faith with academic study.
Maranatha Baptist University offers undergraduate and graduate study across biblical studies, the liberal arts, and professional fields. Its academic offerings include programs in ministry, business, education, nursing, music, and the sciences, along with seminary study.
Representative undergraduate paths include accounting or business administration, teacher preparation, nursing, and Bible-related majors. Students considering a licensed profession should check the requirements for their intended state and program: institutional accreditation alone does not establish that a particular degree meets every licensing requirement. Prospective students should also compare the current catalog's degree requirements, course schedules, and delivery formats, especially if they plan to attend part time or online.
Maranatha Baptist University is in Watertown, Wisconsin, a smaller city between the Milwaukee and Madison metropolitan areas. Its setting differs from that of a downtown university: students should consider transportation when planning internships, off-campus work, or travel home.
Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport is a regional flight option, but reaching it from Watertown requires ground transportation. First-year students may register or park a car on campus. Students who expect to commute should check their class and activity schedules against the time and cost of regular travel.
Maranatha Baptist University describes its purpose in explicitly Christian terms, combining academic education with biblical teaching and preparation for service. Its Baptist religious identity is therefore part of the educational experience, not simply a historical affiliation.
Applicants should examine the university's current statement of faith, student handbook, and expectations for campus life alongside the academic catalog. Those documents are more useful than a general mission statement for understanding how religious commitments affect coursework, conduct standards, and community activities. The university's stated goals describe its intentions; they are not, by themselves, measures of student outcomes.
Name of the institution
Maranatha Baptist UniversityLevel of institution
Four or more yearsControl of institution
PrivateSetting type
Town: FringeInstitutional Category
Degree - granting, primarily baccalaureate or aboveInstitution size category
Under 1,000Religious affiliation
Protestant (Baptist Church)School type
UniversityMain student body
CoeducationalCalendar system
SemestersFoundation year
1968Maranatha Baptist University is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation confirms that the school meets quality standards and is required for students to receive federal financial aid.
Certificate of at least 1 year, but less than 2 years
Associate's degree
Bachelor's degree
Postbaccalaureate certificate
Master's degree
Doctor's degree - otherData last updated on November 5, 2026
Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026
Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.