Preliminary enrollment data for fall 2026 shows third year of promising trends
By Chris A. Meinzer
As of October 20, 228 ATS member schools representing about 80 percent of the membership have reported enrollment data. Of these reporting schools, 57 percent have shown year-over-year
enrollment increases, and 43 percent have shown declines. For the third year in a row, more ATS member schools have grown than declined.
Total enrollment of this reporting group reflects an increase of 2.4 percent over what these same schools reported in fall 2025 — about 70,059 students in fall 2026 and 68,421 in fall
2025.
Notable trends emerge
When looking at degree categories, some interesting trends are evident within these 228 reporting schools. All degree categories currently reflect
year-over-year increases except for ThM/STM and nondegree programs, which are essentially flat at this point. ATS staff will continue to monitor enrollment as the final 56 schools report to
see how these overall trends change, and an updated and more detailed article will follow in December.
For the same-set 228 schools reporting data:
-
MDiv enrollment is up 3.7 percent. Of these schools, 66 percent have shown year-over-year growth in MDiv enrollment. This is significant because the growth is very
widespread. By ecclesial family, 64 percent of reporting evangelical schools show increases, 72 percent of mainline schools show increases, and 63 percent of Catholic/Orthodox schools
show increases.
-
MA enrollment is up 1.2 percent. This degree category, which previously had been a significant growth area across ATS member schools, had slowed its rate of growth in
recent years. But now, of these 228 schools, 51 percent have shown year-over-year increases in MA enrollment. By ecclesial family, 46 percent of reporting evangelical schools show
increases, 62 percent of mainline schools show increases, and 51 percent of Catholic/Orthodox schools show increases.
-
DMin enrollment grew by 3.7 percent. Like the MA, this degree category has been a substantial growth area for ATS member schools for more than a decade. Today, 61
percent of reporting schools show year-over-year increases in DMin enrollment. By ecclesial family, 63 percent of evangelical schools show increases, 58 percent of mainline schools
show increases, and 70 percent of Catholic/Orthodox schools show increases.
-
PhD/ThD shows an increase of 2.3 percent.
-
Other professional doctorates had an increase of 9.3 percent.
-
ThM/STM reflects a decrease of 1.1 percent.
-
Degree-seeking students reflect an increase of 2.6 percent, growing from about 62,700 students in fall 2025 to about 64,400 in fall 2026. This indicates the
widespread nature of the increases across many degree offerings.
-
In the last few years, nondegree enrollment has grown significantly. But this year, enrollment is flat. Of the 228 schools reporting
so far, enrollment has decreased by 0.4 percent, with just 51 percent of the schools reporting year-over-year increases. By ecclesial family, 49 percent of reporting evangelical
schools show increases, 56 percent of mainline schools show increases, and 50 percent of Catholic/Orthodox schools show increases.
