United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities is committed to providing an outstanding educational experience for all of its students. The measurements below are among the ways we assess our educational effectiveness. We use these findings to identify and act on areas for improvement in ensuring students are successful in attaining their desired vocation.
Graduate Vocational Placement
Our graduate vocational placement data is collected each fall from students who completed their degree during the prior academic year. The following results represent graduates who completed their degree during the 2023–2024 academic year.
| MA |
MAL | MDiv |
DMin |
Overall |
|
| Response Rate | 100% | 100% | 89% | 89% | 92% |
| Currently in a position for which my degree program prepared me. | 30% | 80% | 72% | 63% | 63% |
| Degree acquired for personal enrichment rather than vocational reasons. | 40% | 20% | 4% | 13% | 15% |
| Pursuing additional education. | – | – | 4% | 13% | 4% |
| Actively seeking placement. | – | – | 16% | 13% | 10% |
| Placement or position other than the above. | 30% | – | 4% | – | 8% |
| Placement Rate | 100% | 100% | 83% | 83% | 87% |
Graduate Satisfaction
Our graduate satisfaction data is collected each fall from students who completed their degree during the prior academic year. The following results represent responding graduates who completed their degree during the 2023–2024 academic year. Scores for possible responses: 4=Strongly agree, 3=Agree, 2=Partially agree, 1=Disagree
| MA |
MAL | MDiv | DMin | Overall | |
| Number of Responses | 5 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 16 |
| Overall, I am satisfied with my learning experience at United. | 3.8 | 4.0 | 3.7 | 4.0 | 3.8 |
| My learning experience at United adequately prepared me for my current vocational work. | 4.0 | 3.5 | 3.3 | 4.0 | 3.6 |
| If I could do seminary over again, I would still pursue my degree at United. | 3.8 | 4.0 | 3.3 | 3.5 | 3.6 |
| I would recommend United to a prospective student considering seminary. | 3.8 | 4.0 | 3.6 | 3.5 | 3.8 |
Student Degree Learning Outcomes
We assess student learning for each degree program through courses that provide summative assessment for outcomes shared between degrees and, for outcomes specific to a degree program, the capstone project each student completes at the end of that program. Each outcome for each course and project is scored on a 4-point scale:
4=Exceeds Expectations
3=Meets Expectations
2=Partially Meets Expectations
1=Does Not Meet Expectations
Core Master’s Degree Courses
The following direct outcome scores are for summative assessments of students in core master’s degree courses completed in the 2023–2024 academic year.
| Outcome | Mean Score | % Meet Outcome |
| Religious Texts (e.g., Hebrew Bible, New Testament) | 3.06 | 85% |
| Theological Traditions (e.g., Christian Theologies, Modern Theologies) | 2.61 | 77% |
| Ethics and Justice 1 (e.g., Christian Ethics, Comparative Religious Ethics) | 3.26 | 94% |
| Ethics and Justice 2 (e.g., Queer and Trans Theologies, Black and Womanist Theologies) | 3.00 | 87% |
| Cultural Context—MAL and MDiv only (e.g., Global Christianities, World Religions) | 3.25 | 92% |
| Theology and the Arts—MAL and MDiv only | 2.62 | 69% |
| Spiritual and Personal Formation—MAL and MDiv only | 3.11 | 87% |
| Leadership and Strategies for Social Change—MAL and MDiv only | 2.60 | 58% |
| Constructive Theology—MDiv only | 3.27 | 95% |
| Organizational Leadership and Administration—MDiv only | 3.22 | 83% |
The following direct outcome scores are for capstone degree courses and projects completed in the 2023–2024 academic year.
MA Thesis
| Outcome | Mean Score | % Meet Outcome |
| Demonstrate a competent understanding of a selected topic within your chosen degree concentration through the effective critical interpretation, analysis and synthesis of appropriate sources. | 3.25 | 88% |
| Demonstrate effective academic theological research and writing skills. | 3.13 | 88% |
MAL Final Project
| Outcome | Mean Score | % Meet Outcome |
| Add to the body of knowledge and practice in a chosen specialized vocational setting through the thoughtful synthesis of knowledge and skills in religious texts, theology, ethics, formation, contextualization, the arts, social transformation, and/or vocational practice. | 3.00 | 100% |
| Demonstrate effective academic theological research and writing skills. | 3.00 | 100% |
MDiv Capstone Seminar
| Outcome | Mean Score | % Meet Outcome |
| Demonstrate a reflective awareness of how theological study and practical learning at seminary has shaped and empowered oneself as a religious leader. | 3.17 | 89% |
| Demonstrate effective graduate-level writing and argumentation skills. | 3.17 | 94% |
| Demonstrate the capacity to intervene articulately and persuasively in one’s existing field of ministry / religious leadership in a way that a) responds to some real-world problem or question and b) integrates the knowledge and skills cultivated in seminary. | 3.19 | 97% |
DMin Dissertation
| Outcome | Mean Score | % Meet Outcome |
| Continued growth in spiritual, personal, and moral maturity | 3.36 | 100% |
| Engagement with diverse contexts, as defined by culture, religion, or global location. | 3.09 | 91% |
| Advanced competency in the praxis of ministerial and community leadership | 3.18 | 100% |
| Analytic and practical research that engages with various theological and other related disciplines | 3.27 | 91% |
| Research investigation that makes a significant contribution to the practice of ministry, chaplaincy, or other vocational leadership | 3.27 | 100% |
Graduation Rate
Our graduation rate is defined as the percentage of students matriculated in each degree who graduate within 200% of the expected completion time for a full-time student in that degree. This translates to 4 years for the MA and MAL degrees, and 6 years for the MDiv and DMin degrees. The following results represent MA and MAL students who matriculated in fall 2020 and MDiv and DMin students admitted in fall 2018 who completed their degrees by the end of August 2024.
Overall (n=38): 66%
Master of Arts (n=19): 63%
Master of Arts in Leadership (n=5): 40%
Master of Divinity (n=14): 79%
Doctor of Ministry (n=0): n/a
Student Retention
Our student retention rate is defined as the percentage of students who are enrolled in a degree program in the fall of a given year who are still enrolled in any degree program in fall of the subsequent year or have completed that degree program. The following results represent students who matriculated in Fall 2023 who were still enrolled in Fall 2024.
Overall (n=63): 76%
Master of Arts (n=13): 69%
Master of Arts in Leadership (n=3): 100%
Master of Divinity (n=37): 81%
Doctor of Ministry (n=9): 56%