Biola University to Acquire Phoenix Seminary in Major Higher Education Move

Biola University announced plans to acquire Phoenix Seminary, a move that would bring the Arizona institution under the umbrella of one of the country's largest Christian universities.

The acquisition, reported by Christianity Today, signals a broader trend of consolidation in evangelical higher education as smaller seminaries face financial pressure and declining enrollment.

Phoenix Seminary, founded in 1988, offers graduate-level theological training and has long served churches across the Southwest. Biola, based in La Mirada, California, enrolls more than 6,000 students across undergraduate and graduate programs.

University officials said the merger would preserve Phoenix Seminary's theological identity while giving it access to Biola's administrative resources and accreditation infrastructure. No timeline for the formal transition was announced.

The news comes as Christian colleges and seminaries across the country navigate rising costs and shifting student demographics. Several smaller institutions have closed or merged in recent years, prompting calls for larger universities to step in as stewards of theological education.

Faculty and students at Phoenix Seminary were informed of the plans this month. A joint statement from both institutions said the goal is to strengthen graduate theological training in the region.