
Shepherds Theological Seminary is a Christian graduate school in Cary, North Carolina, established to prepare students for ministry. It developed in connection with the congregation now known as The Shepherd's Church, formerly Colonial Baptist Church. That church relationship remains important to understanding the seminary's identity: its academic work is oriented toward the needs of churches and ministry leaders rather than a broad undergraduate curriculum.
For applicants, the institution's history helps explain its specialized degree offerings and the prominence of biblical study, theology, preaching, and practical ministry training.
Shepherds Theological Seminary is organized around graduate theological education, not a set of undergraduate colleges or unrelated professional schools. Its academic offerings include the Master of Divinity and other graduate-level study in theology and ministry.
Program choice matters because a ministry-focused master's degree, a more specialized theology degree, and a doctoral program can have different prerequisites, credit requirements, and expectations for prior experience. Applicants should compare the current academic catalog's curriculum and delivery format for the specific credential they want, especially if they need particular coursework for ordination or further study.
Shepherds Theological Seminary is located in Cary, a town in North Carolina's Raleigh metropolitan area. Its setting is closely tied to The Shepherd's Church rather than to a conventional residential university campus.
Cary offers access to the wider Triangle region, including Raleigh and Durham. Students planning to attend in person should check where their particular classes meet and account for commuting time, parking arrangements, and any required on-campus meetings. Raleigh-Durham International Airport serves the region, though its usefulness will depend on a student's travel schedule and class format.
Shepherds Theological Seminary states a Christian, church-centered educational purpose: preparing people for faithful service through biblical and theological study and ministry formation. Its religious commitments shape both its curriculum and its expectations of students.
Prospective students should read the seminary's current doctrinal statement and student policies alongside its mission statement. Those documents are more useful than a general description of its Christian identity when deciding whether its teaching, community standards, and approach to ministry fit their goals.
Name of the institution
Shepherds Theological SeminaryLevel of institution
Four or more yearsControl of institution
PrivateSetting type
City: MidsizeInstitutional Category
Degree - granting, graduate with no undergraduate degreesInstitution size category
Under 1,000Shepherds Theological Seminary is institutionally accredited by the Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological 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.
Master's degree
Doctor's degree - professional practiceData last updated on November 2, 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.