2026 Best Value Religious Studies Schools in the Southeast Region
[Religious Studies](/majors/philosophy-and-religious-studies/religious-studies/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong religious studies education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 175 schools to find the best return on investment for religious studies students.
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2026 Best Value Religious Studies Schools in the Southeast Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in religious studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Religious Studies Schools
University Of Central Florida tops our 2026 list of the best value religious studies schools in the Southeast Region. University Of Central Florida is a very large public school located in the suburb of Orlando. In-state tuition and fees average $6,368, with out-of-state students paying around $22,467. Students borrow a median of $21,620 to complete the religious studies program here. Early-career religious studies graduates make about $51,790. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 40% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at American Public University System earned it the #2 place for religious studies. Set in the town of Charles Town, American Public University System is a very large private for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,400. Typical student debt for religious studies graduates is $21,000. Early-career religious studies graduates make about $57,404. That is a strong return on a $21,000 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in religious studies will find it at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, which ranked #3. Located in the suburb of Wake Forest, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $11,318 in tuition and fees. Early-career religious studies graduates make about $54,863. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in religious studies will find it at University Of Georgia, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,450 in tuition and fees, compared with $31,688 for out-of-state students. Religious Studies graduates carry a median of $21,792 in student loans. Soon after graduation, religious studies degree recipients from University Of Georgia generally make around $53,546. That is a strong return on a $21,792 median debt. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in religious studies will find it at University Of North Carolina At Charlotte, which ranked #5. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a very large public school located in the city of Charlotte. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,239, compared with $22,492 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,621 to complete the religious studies program here. Religious Studies graduates of University Of North Carolina At Charlotte earn a median of $31,123 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,621 median debt. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte admits about 80% of applicants.
Saint Leo University landed the #6 spot for religious studies value this year. Set in the town of Saint Leo, Saint Leo University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $30,000. Students borrow a median of $39,471 to complete the religious studies program here. Early-career religious studies graduates make about $49,458. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Saint Leo University admits about 78% of applicants.
University Of Virginia Main Campus ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value religious studies schools. University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public school located in the suburb of Charlottesville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $23,118, compared with $61,591 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,267 to complete the religious studies program here. Early-career religious studies graduates make about $25,260. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Virginia Main Campus admits about 17% of applicants.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University came in at #8 for value in religious studies this year. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public school located in the city of Blacksburg. Students from in state pay about $15,948 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $37,764. Typical student debt for religious studies graduates is $23,393. Religious Studies graduates of Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn a median of $60,004 early in their careers. Set against $23,393 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 55%.
Emory University earned the #9 position for value in religious studies this year. Located in the city of Atlanta, Emory University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $64,280. Students borrow a median of $19,431 to complete the religious studies program here. Early-career religious studies graduates make about $58,984. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Emory University admits about 11% of applicants.
Anderson University Sc landed the #10 spot for religious studies value this year. Set in the city of Anderson, Anderson University Sc is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $34,970. Religious Studies graduates carry a median of $28,034 in student loans. Soon after graduation, religious studies degree recipients from Anderson University Sc generally make around $49,036. That is a strong return on a $28,034 median debt. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
Liberty University landed the #11 spot for religious studies value this year. Set in the city of Lynchburg, Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,173. Students borrow a median of $32,873 to complete the religious studies program here. Religious Studies graduates of Liberty University earn a median of $37,753 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $32,873 median debt. The acceptance rate is 99%.
Duke University landed the #12 spot for religious studies value this year. Set in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,758. Students borrow a median of $13,296 to complete the religious studies program here. Religious Studies graduates of Duke University earn a median of $39,956 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 6%.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 175 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
