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: www.ats.edu
MTSO also is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission:
230 S. LaSalle St., Suite 7-500
Chicago, IL 60604
800-621-7440
www.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 on 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 2022, the MTSO Association of Theological School Time to Completions Report 2023, the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System 2023, and the MTSO Student Information System.
Mission Alignment and Educational Distinctiveness
A foundational aspect of our evaluation is the extent to which MTSO embodies its mission “to provide theological education and leadership in pursuit of a just, sustainable, and generative world.” Ninety-five percent of our graduates affirm that MTSO’s actions and educational offerings align with this mission.
Degree Completion Efficiency
The efficiency of our degree programs is a critical measure of our educational effectiveness. Historically, the estimated time to complete degree programs under the former curriculum was 4.04 years for the Master of Divinity and 3.59 years for all other master’s programs. A curriculum revision effective with Fall Semester 2024 is designed to reduce the time it takes to complete an M.Div. degree to an achievable three years, with all other master’s degrees achievable in two years.
Vocational Placement Success
One of the most tangible indicators of our program’s effectiveness is the vocational placement of our graduates. Ninety-five percent of our graduates secure vocational placements within one year of graduation, compared with a 90% average across all member institutions of the Association of Theological Schools (ATS).
Student Satisfaction and Educational Quality
On a 5-point scale, our overall educational experience during the theological program scores an average of 4.8. Other scores include satisfaction with school services (4.3), personal growth facilitation (4.5), skill development (4.4) and field education effectiveness (4.2).
Detailed Educational Outcomes
Further analysis of time to degree completion shows a varied distribution across different programs, with a significant majority completing their degrees in less than six years. MTSO’s graduation rate for the 2022-23 academic year is 15% higher than the average at all ATS-accredited schools, with rates of 68% for our M.Div. and 60% for our overall degree programs.
While the Doctor of Ministry program shows a need for enhancement, this variance provides valuable insights into where focused improvements can enhance our educational effectiveness for doctoral students.
Retention Rates
The adaptation of the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) retention-rate metrics for graduate settings shows a 5-year average of 93%.
March 2024
Time to Degree Completions
| Years | M.Div. | MA | MTS | D.Min. | Totals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| <2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 to <3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| 3 to <4 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 14 |
| 4 to <5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 5 to <6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 6+ | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Totals | 19 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 27 |
Source: MTSO Association of Theological Schools Time to Completions 2023 Report
Graduation Rates
for Academic Year 2022-23
| Program (Cohort) | Number of Students | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Master of Divinity (fall 2017 cohort) |
21 | 86% |
| Master of Arts (fall 2019 cohort) |
4 | 63% |
| Master of Theological Studies (fall 2019 cohort) |
0 | n/a |
| Doctor of Ministry (fall 2017 cohort) |
1 | 0% |
Source: MTSO Association of Theological Schools Graduation Rates by Degree Programs 2023 Report
Retention Rates
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 2022 to Fall 2023 | 92% |
| Fall 2021 to Fall 2022 | 92% |
| Fall 2020 to Fall 2021 | 95% |
| Fall 2019 to Fall 2020 | 91% |
| Fall 2018 to Fall 2019 | 95% |
| 5-Year Average | 93% |
Source: MTSO Student Information System
MTSO Academic Affairs/Office of the Registrar
Revised 4/5/24