
Messenger College is a small Christian college in Bedford, Texas, affiliated with the Pentecostal Church of God. Established in 1987, it grew out of the denomination's Bible-college tradition and has focused on preparing students for ministry and related work.
The college previously operated in Joplin, Missouri, before moving to the Dallas-Fort Worth area. That history helps explain both its religious identity and its specialized academic offerings: prospective students are evaluating a ministry-oriented college, not a broad-based university.
Messenger College's academic focus is religion and ministry rather than a large collection of separate schools or departments. Its reported fields of study include religious studies, theological and ministerial studies, and pastoral counseling and specialized ministries.
Applicants should compare the current catalog's specific credentials, required courses, and delivery formats with their goals. A program designed for church leadership, for example, may not meet the coursework or supervised-experience requirements for a state-licensed counseling profession. The college reported three full-time and nine part-time teaching faculty members; a small instructional staff can make the availability and scheduling of particular courses especially important.
Messenger College is in Bedford, a suburban community within the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area. Students should plan for a suburban setting and consider how they will travel between classes, work, and any off-campus housing.
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport is a useful regional airport for students arriving from elsewhere. The college's reported lack of institution-operated undergraduate housing makes the location of a prospective apartment - and the cost of getting to campus - particularly relevant to an enrollment budget.
Messenger College's educational purpose is rooted in its affiliation with the Pentecostal Church of God. Its academic emphasis is on Christian learning, spiritual formation, and preparation for ministry and service.
That religious orientation matters beyond the choice of major: applicants should review the current catalog and student handbook for expectations concerning religious participation and student conduct. The college's stated purpose describes what it seeks to provide; it is not, by itself, evidence of any particular career outcome.
Name of the institution
Messenger CollegeLevel of institution
Four or more yearsControl of institution
PrivateSetting type
Suburb: LargeInstitutional Category
Degree - granting, primarily baccalaureate or aboveInstitution size category
Under 1,000School type
Four-year collegeMain student body
CoeducationalCalendar system
SemestersFoundation year
1987Messenger College is institutionally accredited by the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools, 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.
Associate's degree
Bachelor's degreeData 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.