How Called College compares to other ministry programs

By Called College Staff | Updated 9/15/25

When considering a ministry training program, it’s essential to understand the different models available. While each has its own strengths, they offer distinct experiences in key areas. Here is a breakdown of how Called College, Leadership Colleges, and Universities compare across several important aspects.

Summary:

• • • Called College sits in between the Leadership College and University models in terms of cost, campus experience, and approach to ministry training.
    • Called College presents a totally unique training model to that is optimized for future pastors, missionaries, and evangelists.

Ministry Training and Focus

• Leadership Colleges: Training is typically focused on a single ministry context, often a megachurch. While providing deep, hands-on experience in that specific environment, it may limit exposure to other ministry contexts.
• Universities: Ministry training is usually not actively managed by the school. Students are responsible for finding their own internships or church placements. The broad academic focus means a large portion of the student body is not training for ministry, which can change the spiritual environment.

Called College

Our model is specifically designed for future pastors, missionaries, and evangelists. By offering only Pastoral Studies and Global Studies degrees, our entire spiritual environment is focused on training these students. Students also gain practical experience by training in a variety of ministry contexts, traveling all over the state to serve in churches of all sizes. Called College creates these church partnerships and manages each student’s unique training opportunities.

Academics and Class Structure

• Leadership Colleges: Academic classes are generally online only, as they are often an academic partner of a university. Students have in-person ministry practicum classes, but the core academic instruction is remote.
• Universities: The majority of classes are in-person. However, due to large student bodies, class sizes are often very large with a high student-teacher ratio. Universities also tend to offer fully-online degree programs for those who want maximum flexibility.

Called College

Students learn in the classroom with live instructors and a low student-teacher ratio. This allows for direct engagement with professors, discussion with classmates, and a community-centered learning environment.

Cost and Aid

• Leadership Colleges: The cost can be very low, ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars.
• Universities: They are typically very expensive, often leading to significant student debt. Universities often use a high tuition-high aid pricing strategy that may artificially inflate the cost of attendance.

Called College

Called College: Our programs are fairly priced, offering a focused ministry training experience and more services than a leadership college without the high price tag of a traditional university. This is possible because of unique partnerships with North Central University, Illinois District Council and Lake Williamson Christian Center (more about our partners).

Community and On-Campus Life

• Leadership Colleges: Students typically live in apartments near the church they serve in. The student population tends to be low, some with under a dozen students.
• Universities: Students usually live on-campus in dorms or apartments. The student body is much larger, which can make the spiritual environment less focused for ministry students. There is usually a wide variety of extracurricular opportunities like sports, clubs, and student organizations.

Called College

Called College: Students live on-campus in premium duplexes and apartments owned by the school, fostering a tight-knit community with a shared spiritual focus. The student population is around 50-60 young people all pursuing ministry, ensuring a focused training environment. The Student Life Department offers fun outings and gatherings for students to have fun and take a break from ministry training.

Called College is not for everyone, but that’s the point! We specialize in training pastors, missionaries, and evangelists, whereas the other education models have a wider audience in mind. Here’s our two cents on what kind of student each model is best for:

Leadership College

Best for students who:

• Want to serve in the ministry of the hosting church, or in the school’s geographic area.
• Desire the flexibility of online classes and more degree options, while still having an in-person ministry training component.
• Prioritize low cost.

University

Best for students who:

• Are seeking education for a non-ministry career path, such as nursing, teaching, STEAM, or business.
• Value a wide variety of extracurricular opportunities.
• If online students, want the flexibility to pursue studies on their own schedule.

Called College

Best for students who:

• Are seeking 100% hands-on ministry training in a wide variety of contexts.
• Prefer in-person learning.
• Desire tight community with others who are called to ministry.

Want to learn more about Called? Browse our website or, better yet, visit us during a Preview Day! Click the link below to sign up for the next one.