Is SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary a Christian college?

Yes. SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary is a Christian college.

Christian college

SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary

El Dorado Hills, CA · Private nonprofit · 4-year

SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary is an online-focused Bible college with a Pentecostal heritage, based in El Dorado Hills, California. Its statement of faith is published, every undergraduate is assigned a mentor, and full-time undergraduates complete supervised ministry practicums.

Academic Excellence

Academic Excellence is computed for four-year colleges with at least 100 undergraduates. Seminaries, graduate-only schools, and two-year colleges are not rated.

Faith scorecard

Each area’s grade and what we found. Tap an area to see the findings and their sources.

Partly researched

We have checked some of this college’s faith and campus life facts against its own official pages. There is not yet enough verified to grade them, so the findings below are what we could confirm. Anything not listed has not been confirmed yet.

Office or senior leader for spiritual life or Christian mission: Yes
Online spiritual formation: mentoring, discipleship or small groups led by staff or faculty: Offered to online students
Faith integrated across the curriculum (stated in academic or faculty policy): Yes
A published statement of faith: Yes
Service or outreach office: Yes
Service hours or service-learning in the curriculum: Required of all students (Full-time undergraduates: 8 hours a week of supervised ministry practicums; part-time: 4 hours a week.)
Partnerships with local churches and ministries for service: Some
Service explicitly rooted in the Christian mission: Yes

N/A

Online worship and prayer

Not enough information · 1 of 5 found

Not enough information:
Online chapel or worship services during the week (live or recorded, with a schedule)Not enough information: not found in official sources.
Not enough information:
Online worship nights or praise servicesNot enough information: not found in official sources.
Not enough information:
Online prayer opportunities (prayer groups, prayer days or weeks)Not enough information: not found in official sources.
Not enough information:
Published weekly schedule of online chapel, worship and prayerNot enough information: no verified chapel or worship times are recorded.
Yes:
Online spiritual formation: mentoring, discipleship or small groups led by staff or facultyOffered to online students
Sources (1)
1. Student Life and Ministry | SUM Bible College and Theological Seminarysum.edu/student-life-and-ministries · verified Oct. 20, 2026
  “SUM provides each undergraduate student with a mentor that models positive values and spiritual principles.”
  Every undergraduate student is assigned a mentor, and staff consider spiritual mentoring part of their calling.

N/A

Bible and theology

Not enough information · 2 of 5 found

Not enough information:
Bible or theology courses required of all bachelor's studentsNot enough information: not found in official sources.
Not enough information:
Required courses include study of the Old and New TestamentsNot enough information: not found in official sources.
Not enough information:
Christian worldview or faith-and-learning courses requiredNot enough information: not found in official sources.
Yes:
Faith integrated across the curriculum (stated in academic or faculty policy)Yes
Sources (1)
1. Undergraduate | SUM Bible College and Theological Seminarysum.edu/undergraduate · verified Oct. 20, 2026
  “These program-level learning outcomes and specific course-level measurements are determined by departmental faculty and are incorporated into all courses”
  Program learning outcomes, including a Pentecostal Christian worldview, are built into all courses by faculty policy.
Yes:
A published statement of faithYes
Sources (1)
1. Statement of Faith | SUM Bible College and Theological Seminarysum.edu/mission-values/statement-of-faith · verified Oct. 20, 2026
  “As an educational institution of evangelical persuasion and Pentecostal/charismatic heritage, SUM affirms the following statement of faith.”
  The college publishes and affirms a statement of faith.

N/A

Christian community online

Not enough information · 1 of 4 found

Not enough information:
Spiritual life staff serving online students (pastors, ministers and professional staff)Not enough information: not found in official sources.
Not enough information:
Online Bible studies, small groups and Christian student organizationsNot enough information: not found in official sources.
Not enough information:
Faculty affirm the college's statement of faithNot enough information: not found in official sources.
Yes:
Office or senior leader for spiritual life or Christian missionYes
Sources (1)
1. Student Life and Ministry | SUM Bible College and Theological Seminarysum.edu/student-life-and-ministries · verified Oct. 20, 2026
  “For any further questions, please contact the Student Life and Ministry Director”
  The Student Life and Ministry Director is the office contact for the student life and ministry program.

Missions and service

87 of 100 points · 4 of 4 found

Yes:
Service or outreach officeYes
Sources (1)
1. Student Life and Ministry | SUM Bible College and Theological Seminarysum.edu/student-life-and-ministries · verified Oct. 20, 2026
  “The purpose of the Christian Service component of our education is to prepare students for citizenship as Christians in the world through service”
  A Christian Service component is part of the education and is rooted in Christian service.
  “For any further questions, please contact the Student Life and Ministry Director”
  The Student Life and Ministry Director is the office contact for the student life and ministry program.
Yes:
Service hours or service-learning in the curriculumRequired of all students (Full-time undergraduates: 8 hours a week of supervised ministry practicums; part-time: 4 hours a week.)
Sources (1)
1. Student Life and Ministry | SUM Bible College and Theological Seminarysum.edu/student-life-and-ministries · verified Oct. 20, 2026
  “All full-time undergraduate students must complete a minimum of 8 hours per week of supervised ministry practicums.”
  Ministry practicums are required of undergraduates.
Partly:
Partnerships with local churches and ministries for serviceSome
Sources (1)
1. BA in Theology and Ministry | SUM Bible College and Theological Seminarysum.edu/ba-in-theology-and-ministry · verified Oct. 20, 2026
  “Each student has the opportunity to work with SUM faculty, local pastors, and ministries through Practicums”
  Students work with local pastors and ministries through practicums.
Yes:
Service explicitly rooted in the Christian missionYes
Sources (1)
1. Student Life and Ministry | SUM Bible College and Theological Seminarysum.edu/student-life-and-ministries · verified Oct. 20, 2026
  “The purpose of the Christian Service component of our education is to prepare students for citizenship as Christians in the world through service”
  A Christian Service component is part of the education and is rooted in Christian service.

Strengths

Publishes a statement of faith that describes its Pentecostal heritage.
Sources (1)
1. Statement of Faith | SUM Bible College and Theological Seminarysum.edu/mission-values/statement-of-faith · verified Oct. 20, 2026
  “As an educational institution of evangelical persuasion and Pentecostal/charismatic heritage, SUM affirms the following statement of faith.”
  The college publishes and affirms a statement of faith.
Assigns every undergraduate student a mentor.
Sources (1)
1. Student Life and Ministry | SUM Bible College and Theological Seminarysum.edu/student-life-and-ministries · verified Oct. 20, 2026
  “SUM provides each undergraduate student with a mentor that models positive values and spiritual principles.”
  Every undergraduate student is assigned a mentor, and staff consider spiritual mentoring part of their calling.
Requires supervised ministry practicums of undergraduates, and describes a Christian Service component rooted in service.
Sources (1)
1. Student Life and Ministry | SUM Bible College and Theological Seminarysum.edu/student-life-and-ministries · verified Oct. 20, 2026
  “All full-time undergraduate students must complete a minimum of 8 hours per week of supervised ministry practicums.”
  Ministry practicums are required of undergraduates.
  “The purpose of the Christian Service component of our education is to prepare students for citizenship as Christians in the world through service”
  A Christian Service component is part of the education and is rooted in Christian service.
States in academic policy that program learning outcomes, including a Pentecostal Christian worldview, are incorporated into all courses.
Sources (1)
1. Undergraduate | SUM Bible College and Theological Seminarysum.edu/undergraduate · verified Oct. 20, 2026
  “These program-level learning outcomes and specific course-level measurements are determined by departmental faculty and are incorporated into all courses”
  Program learning outcomes, including a Pentecostal Christian worldview, are built into all courses by faculty policy.

Concerns

The chapel is described as a daily service on campus.
Sources (1)
1. Student Life and Ministry | SUM Bible College and Theological Seminarysum.edu/student-life-and-ministries · verified Oct. 20, 2026
  “The main service of the day meets in the chapel from 11:00 a.m. to 11:45 a.m., daily, Monday-Thursday.”
  The daily chapel is described as on campus.

Know something we missed? Suggest a correction.

Grades come from the documented indicators under the published rubric. “Not enough information” does not mean the school lacks it.

Campus ministry

Student Life and Ministry

Sources (1)

Student Life and Ministry | SUM Bible College and Theological Seminarysum.edu/student-life-and-ministries · verified Oct. 20, 2026
“The purpose of the Christian Service component of our education is to prepare students for citizenship as Christians in the world through service”
A Christian Service component is part of the education and is rooted in Christian service.
“For any further questions, please contact the Student Life and Ministry Director”
The Student Life and Ministry Director is the office contact for the student life and ministry program.

Christian clubs and student life

2 groups and regular activities · 0 on campus, 0 off campus, 2 location not published

Faith formation 1

Personal mentoring (Servant of All Program)
Throughout the undergraduate program
Each undergraduate student is assigned a mentor for spiritual and personal development.
sum.edu

Service 1

Ministry practicums
Full-time: 8 hours a week; part-time: 4 hours a week
Supervised ministry practicums required of undergraduates.
sum.edu

Everything listed is published by the school, its campus ministry, or the church. Ask the campus minister what’s happening this semester.

What families pay, by income

Average yearly price after grants and scholarships, for students who receive federal aid.

Average net price by family income
Family income	Price after aid
Up to $30,000	$21,249
$30,001–$48,000	$22,068
$48,001–$75,000	$21,807
$75,001–$110,000	$23,144
Over $110,000	$17,426

Full cost of attendance before aid: $24,956 a year.

Use the college’s net price calculator for your own estimate.

Cost and value

Federal data, shown separately. Cost, debt, and earnings are never part of any grade.

Value and outcomes
Undergraduate students Fall enrollment (IPEDS)	318
Total students	508
Average net price (per year) After grants and scholarships, for students receiving federal aid	$21,680
Cost of attendance (per year)	$24,956
Median federal debt at graduation	$26,677
Graduation rate First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time	85%
First-year retention	64%
Median earnings 10 years after entry	$35,418
Admission rate	41%
Students receiving Pell grants	45%

Sources: College Scorecard · IPEDS College Navigator · Net price calculator
College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026); IPEDS 2024-25 directory and institutional characteristics; fall 2023 enrollment.

Earnings by major

Median earnings of bachelor’s graduates a few years after finishing, by major (College Scorecard).

Median earnings by major
Major	Median earnings
Bible/Biblical Studies	$36,973

Also offered (no earnings published yet): Religious Music and Worship, Theology.

Campus facts

Setting	Suburb
Part-time undergraduates	28%
Undergraduates aged 25 and older	72%
On-campus room and board (per year)	$7,380
Students per faculty member	18 to 1

Federal data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). None of this changes the faith grades.

Questions families ask

Is SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary a Christian college?: Yes. SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary is a Christian college.

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My rating and notes

About this school’s data

IPEDS unit ID 447953
Carnegie classification: Special focus: faith-related institution
Accreditation: Association for Biblical Higher Education, Commission on Accreditation; WASC Senior College and University Commission (U.S. Department of Education DAPIP)
Religious affiliation (IPEDS): Assemblies of God Church
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