Accreditation
Methodist Theological School in Ohio is accredited by the Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada, and the following degree programs are approved: Master of Divinity, Master of Arts in Social Justice, Master of Arts in Practical Theology, Master of Arts in Counseling Ministries, Master of Theological Studies, Doctor of Ministry.
The Commission contact information is:
The Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada
10 Summit Park Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15275
USA
Telephone: 412-788-6505
Fax: 412-788-6510
Website: ats.edu
MTSO also is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission:
230 S. LaSalle St., Suite 7-500
Chicago, IL 60604
800-621-7440
hlcommission.org
In addition, our degree programs are authorized by the Ohio Department of Higher Education and approved by the University Senate of the United Methodist Church.
Statement of Educational Effectiveness
Methodist Theological School in Ohio is committed to delivering an educational experience that aligns closely with its mission, vision and unique educational distinctiveness. This statement of educational effectiveness is grounded in comprehensive data analysis and feedback from various stakeholders, including students, graduates, and external organizations. Our assessment draws from multiple sources: the Association of Theological Schools Graduating Student Questionnaire 2025, the MTSO Association of Theological School Time to Completions Report 2025, the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System 2025, and the MTSO Student Information System.
Mission Alignment and Educational Distinctiveness
A central dimension of educational effectiveness is the degree to which students experience their education as aligned with the school’s mission: to provide theological education and leadership in pursuit of a just, sustainable, and generative world. Graduating students were asked to evaluate how effectively their education fostered skills, dispositions, and forms of personal growth using a five-point scale.
Student responses indicate strong alignment between educational experiences and mission-focused learning outcomes, particularly in integrating theology with ministerial practice, engaging social concerns through faith, and cultivating empathy and justice-oriented leadership. The table below summarizes student ratings of educational effectiveness in facilitating mission-related capacities.
Educational Effectiveness in Facilitating Skill Area & Personal Growth Related to Institutional Mission
| Capacity | Average rating |
|---|---|
| Ability to integrate theology and practice of ministry | 4.5 |
| Empathy for the poor and oppressed | 4.5 |
| Ability to relate social issues to faith | 4.4 |
| Concern about social justice | 4.4 |
| Ability to integrate ecological concerns into theology and ministry | 3.9 |
| Ability to live my faith in daily life | 3.8 |
Source: Association of Theological Schools Graduating Student Questionnaire 2025
Degree Completion Efficiency
The efficiency of our degree programs is a critical measure of our educational effectiveness. The estimated time to complete the MDiv is 3.6 years, with all other master’s programs averaging 2.6 years.
Vocational Success
Vocational preparation is a central measure of educational effectiveness at MTSO. At the time of graduation, 77.3% of the class had secured a position in their field, planned to continue in their current role or intended to pursue further education.
Field Education serves as the primary integrative context where students connect academic learning with ministerial practice, vocational discernment, and professional skill development. Feedback from the graduating class of 2025 demonstrates both the perceived importance of Field Education within the curriculum and its effectiveness in cultivating capacities essential for ministry leadership and service.
Graduating students reported unanimously that Field Education was an important or very important component of their education, and they rated its effectiveness highly across multiple areas related to vocational clarity, ministerial competence, and personal formation. The table below summarizes student ratings (on a 5-point scale) regarding the effectiveness of Field Education in developing key ministerial capacities.
Effectiveness of Field Education in Developing Capacities
| Effect | Average rating |
|---|---|
| Greater vocational clarity | 4.7 |
| Improved pastoral skills | 4.8 |
| Greater interest in future ministry | 4.6 |
| More self-confidence | 4.8 |
| Greater sense of other people's needs | 4.6 |
| Better idea of my strengths and weaknesses | 4.8 |
| Improved administrative skills | 4.4 |
Source: Association of Theological Schools Graduating Student Questionnaire 2025
Student Satisfaction and Educational Quality
The 2025 graduating class indicated strong satisfaction with both academic experiences and institutional support structures during their time at MTSO.
Ninety-four percent of graduating students reported that faculty were supportive and understanding, and 92% indicated overall satisfaction with their academic experience. On a five-point scale, students’ overall satisfaction with their educational experience averaged 4.4. With students reporting strong satisfaction across key dimensions of educational quality, including quality of teaching (4.2), accessibility of faculty (4.2), class size (4.5), IT infrastructure (4.4), adequacy of library collections (4.5), and writing and research support (4.3).
Educational Outcomes
The efficiency of degree programs is a critical measure of our educational effectiveness. The estimated time to complete the MDiv is 3.6 years, with all other master’s programs averaging 2.6 years.
Time to Degree Completions
| Years | M.Div. | MA | MTS | D.Min. | Totals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| <2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 to <3 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 7 |
| 3 to <4 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| 4 to <5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 5 to <6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 6+ | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Totals | 11 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 20 |
Source: MTSO Association of Theological Schools Time to Completions 2025 Report
Graduation Rates for Academic Year 2024-25
| Program (Cohort) | Number of Students | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Master of Divinity (fall 2019 cohort) |
22 | 68.2% |
| Master of Arts (fall 2021 cohort) |
9 | 33% |
| Master of Theological Studies (fall 2021 cohort) |
0 | n/a |
| Doctor of Ministry (fall 2019 cohort) |
7 | 57% |
Source: MTSO Association of Theological Schools Graduation Rates by Degree Programs 2025 Report
Retention Rates
The adaptation of the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) retention-rate metrics for graduate settings shows a 5-year average of 74%.
While the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) requires the reporting of retention information for undergraduate institutions, it does not give an option for graduate schools like MTSO to report the same. The IPEDS measure for retention rates can be adapted to work in graduate settings as the percentage of first-time degree-seeking students from the previous Fall Semester who either re-enrolled or successfully completed their degree by the subsequent Fall Semester. This report answers the question, “Of the degree-seeking students who were enrolled in a particular Fall Semester, what percentage either successfully completed their degree or were making progress towards their degree in the subsequent Fall Semester?”
| Fall Semester to Fall Semester | Retention Rate |
|---|---|
| Fall 2024 to Fall 2025 | 87% |
| Fall 2023 to Fall 2024 | 76% |
| Fall 2022 to Fall 2023 | 69% |
| Fall 2021 to Fall 2022 | 52% |
| Fall 2020 to Fall 2021 | 87% |
| 5-Year Average | 74% |
Source: MTSO Student Information System
MTSO Academic Affairs/Office of the Registrar
Revised 1/14/2026