Get The Facts
The Board of Commissioners of the Association of Theological Schools requires accredited schools to publish a statement regarding the school’s educational effectiveness. The Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago chooses the following facts to be published to reaffirm the importance of measuring institutional effectiveness.
Student Enrollment Data (Fall 2026)
Graduation Rates by Degree
The graduation rates demonstrate the successful completion of degree programs within a specific timeframe at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago.
Master of Divinity
Graduation rate within six years of enrollment: 86% (2026), 86% (2025), 83% (2024), 90% (2023), 95% (2022), 71% (2021), 67% (2020), 73% (2019), 80% (2018), and 100% (2017)
Master of Arts in Ministry
Graduation rate within four years of enrollment: 100% (2026), N/A (2025), 100% (2024), 100% (2023), 67% (2022), 100% (2021), 100% (2020), 50% (2019), 50% (2018) and 43% (2017)*
*Includes affiliate or Lutheran Year students, some who choose not to receive a degree
Master of Arts (Theological Studies)
Graduation rate within four years of enrollment: 100% (2026), 100% (2025), 100% (2024), 100% (2023), 100% (2022), 50% (2021), 100% (2020), 33% (2019), 50% (2018) and 40% (2017)
Doctor of Ministry
Graduation rate within six years of enrollment: 100% (2026), 100% (2025), 100% (2024), 67% (2023), 100% (2022), 50% (2021), 0% (2020), Not reported (2019), 70% (2018) and 80% (2017)
Master of Theology
Graduation rate within two years of enrollment: 100% (2026), N/A (2025), 75% (2024), 0% (2023), N/A (2022), N/A (2021); N/A (2020), 75% (2019), 100% (2018) and 72% (2017)*
*Does not include students who completed ThM requirements in the process of obtaining a PhD
Doctor of Philosophy
Graduation rate within eight years of enrollment: 100% (2026), N/A (2025), 50% (2024), 75% (2023), 75% (2022), 64% (2021), 67% (2020), 50% (2019), 67% (2018) and 45% (2017)
Vocational Placement Rates
For graduates serving in positions for which the degree program prepared them. Includes graduates placed prior to graduation or within 12-18 months.
Master of Divinity
83% (2026), 71% (2025), 92% (2024), 82% (2023), 77% (2022), 80% (2021), 95% (2020), 87% (2019), 100% (2017) and 100% (2016)
Master of Arts in Ministry
67% (2026), N/A (2025), 100% (2024), N/A (2023), 0% (2022), 100% (2021), 75% (2020), 33% (2019), 50% (2017) and 50% (2016)
Master of Arts (Theological Studies)
100% (2026), 50% (2025), 100% (2024), 50% (2023), N/A (2022), 50% (2021), 67% (2020), 38% (2019), 33% (2017) and 50% (2016)
Doctor of Ministry
N/A (2026), 100% (2025), 100% (2024), 100% (2023), 100% (2022)
Master of Theology
100% (2026), N/A (2025), 100% (2024), 0% (2023), N/A (2022), N/A (2021), N/A (2020), N/A (2019), N/A (2017) and 6% (2016); 100% pursued higher study in 2017, 2019, 2020, and 2021 and 88% pursued higher study in 2016.
Doctor of Philosophy
71% (2026), N/A (2025), 100% (2024), 100% (2023), 100% (2022), 50% (2021), 100% (2020), 44% (2019), 83% (2017) and 67% (2016)
Retention Rates
Retention rates indicate the percentage of students who continue their studies at LSTC from one academic year to the next.
Male
Female
Nonbinary/Other
Black/African American
Non-Citizen
Unknown/Other
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