2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Religious Studies (With Aid)
Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Religion Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
In 2019-2020, 9,704 people earned their degree in religious studies, making the major the 115th most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, religious studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $32,163 and had an average of $28,712 in loans still to pay off.
At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 6,012 religious studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,303 and $24,501 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Religion Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid” ranking analyzed 115 colleges that offered a degree in religious studies. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality religious studies programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.
To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the religious studies program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
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Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Religion Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.
Best Value Religion Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid
The colleges and universities below are the best for bachelor’s degree religion students with aid.
Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Religious Studies (With Aid)
Out of the 115 schools in the Best Value Religion Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill landed the #1 spot on the list. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public institution located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The school has a large population, and it awarded 29 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UNC Chapel Hill, the school also landed the #19 spot in our “Best Religious Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UNC Chapel Hill is $12,352 for bachelor’s degree religion students with aid.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Hunter College. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Religion Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid. Located in New York, New York, this large public school handed out 13 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s religion students in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for Hunter College is $2,490 for Bachelor’s Degree Religion students with aid.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California State University - Long Beach. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Religion Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid. CSULB is a public institution located in Long Beach, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 7 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend CSULB is $9,622 for bachelor’s degree religion students with aid.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.
Read full report on Religious Studies at California State University - Long Beach
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Washington - Seattle Campus. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Religion Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid list. University of Washington - Seattle Campus is a large school located in Seattle, Washington that handed out 4 bachelors’s religion degrees in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for University of Washington - Seattle Campus is $13,297 for Bachelor’s Degree Religion students with aid.
The low student loan default rate of 2.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Florida. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Religion Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid. University of Florida is located in Gainesville, Florida and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 9 bachelors’s religion degrees to qualified students.
The yearly cost to attend UF is $6,302 for Bachelor’s Degree Religion students with aid.
The student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%.
With a ranking of #6, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Religion Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid list. SEBTS is located in Wake Forest, North Carolina and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 3 bachelors’s religion degrees to qualified students.
SEBTS not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #21 on our “Best Religious Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list.
The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
University of Wisconsin - Madison did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Religion Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #7. UW - Madison is located in Madison, Wisconsin and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 10 bachelors’s religion degrees to qualified students.
The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Madison is $17,708 for bachelor’s degree religion students with aid.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%. The student loan default rate at the school is 0.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
California State University - Northridge came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Religion Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Northridge, California, this large public school handed out 18 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s religion students in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend CSUN is $8,414 for Bachelor’s Degree Religion students with aid.
The student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Religious Studies at California State University - Northridge
Florida International University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Religion Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Florida International University is located in Miami, Florida and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 12 bachelors’s religion degrees to qualified students.
The estimated yearly cost for Florida International University is $7,296 for bachelor’s degree religion students with aid.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.
Read full report on Religious Studies at Florida International University
Florida State University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Religion Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid list. This large school is located in Tallahassee, Florida, and it awarded 18 bachelors’s religion degrees in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend Florida State University is $9,789 for bachelor’s degree religion students with aid.
The student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%.
Dartmouth College ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Religion Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid list. Dartmouth College is located in Hanover, New Hampshire and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 8 bachelors’s religion degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Dartmouth, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Religious Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Dartmouth is $33,574 for Bachelor’s Degree Religion students with aid.
With a student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
The University of Texas at Austin landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Religion Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. The University of Texas at Austin is located in Austin, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 7 bachelors’s religion degrees to qualified students.
UT Austin not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best Religious Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend UT Austin is $18,023 for Bachelor’s Degree Religion students with aid.
With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The low student loan default rate of 2.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
University of Pennsylvania ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Religion Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 4 degrees to qualified bachelors’s religion students in 2019-2020.
UPenn also made our “Best Religious Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #3. It costs about $25,802 for Bachelor’s Degree Religion students with aid per year to attend UPenn.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low student loan default rate of 1.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Read full report on Religious Studies at University of Pennsylvania
With a ranking of #14, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Religion Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid list. This large school is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and it awarded 8 bachelors’s religion degrees in 2019-2020.
U-M also made our “Best Religious Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #13. The estimated yearly cost for U-M is $15,336 for bachelor’s degree religion students with aid.
The low student loan default rate of 1.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
University of California - Los Angeles did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Religion Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #15. University of California - Los Angeles is a large school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 16 bachelors’s religion degrees in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for University of California - Los Angeles is $14,279 for bachelor’s degree religion students with aid.
The low student loan default rate of 1.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Religious Studies at University of California - Los Angeles
Brooklyn College landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Religion Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. This fairly large school is located in Brooklyn, New York, and it awarded 3 bachelors’s religion degrees in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend Brooklyn College is $2,683 for Bachelor’s Degree Religion students with aid.
The student loan default rate at the school is 5.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
With a ranking of #17, American Public University System did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Religion Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid list. American Military University is a large private for-profit school situated in Charles Town, West Virginia. It awarded 22 bachelors’s religion degrees in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend American Public University System is $10,222 for Bachelor’s Degree Religion students with aid.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 98%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full American Public University System Religious Studies Report
California State University - Fullerton came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Religion Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. This large school is located in Fullerton, California, and it awarded 6 bachelors’s religion degrees in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend Cal State Fullerton is $7,991 for bachelor’s degree religion students with aid.
With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Religious Studies at California State University - Fullerton
University of California - Irvine landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Religion Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. University of California - Irvine is located in Irvine, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 2 bachelors’s religion degrees to qualified students.
It costs about $14,783 for bachelor’s degree religion students with aid per year to attend UC Irvine.
With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Arizona State University - Tempe ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Religion Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid list. ASU - Tempe is a large school located in Tempe, Arizona that handed out 10 bachelors’s religion degrees in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for ASU - Tempe is $11,706 for bachelor’s degree religion students with aid.
With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.
Read more about Religious Studies at Arizona State University - Tempe
University of North Carolina at Greensboro did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Religion Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #21. Located in Greensboro, North Carolina, this fairly large public school handed out 8 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s religion students in 2019-2020.
The estimated yearly cost for University of North Carolina at Greensboro is $12,748 for Bachelor’s Degree Religion students with aid.
With a ranking of #22, University of California - Riverside did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Religion Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid list. University of California - Riverside is a large school located in Riverside, California that handed out 6 bachelors’s religion degrees in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend University of California - Riverside is $12,871 for Bachelor’s Degree Religion students with aid.
The low student loan default rate of 2.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.
Read full report on Religious Studies at University of California - Riverside
William & Mary landed the #23 spot on the 2022 Best Value Religion Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. William & Mary is a medium-sized school located in Williamsburg, Virginia that handed out 11 bachelors’s religion degrees in 2019-2020.
William & Mary not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Religious Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend William & Mary is $19,800 for bachelor’s degree religion students with aid.
The student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
North Carolina State University landed the #24 spot on the 2022 Best Value Religion Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. This large school is located in Raleigh, North Carolina, and it awarded 7 bachelors’s religion degrees in 2019-2020.
The yearly cost to attend North Carolina State University is $16,458 for bachelor’s degree religion students with aid.
The low student loan default rate of 2.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.
Full North Carolina State University Religious Studies Report
University of South Florida - Main Campus came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Religion Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. University of South Florida - Main Campus is a public institution located in Tampa, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 6 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
It costs about $8,355 for bachelor’s degree religion students with aid per year to attend USF Tampa.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 92%.
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Notes and References
References
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
Footnotes
- *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
- Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.
Credits
- Credit for the banner image above goes to Sowlos.
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