2027 Best Value Theology & Religious Vocations Master’s Degree Schools
[Theology & Religious Vocations](/majors/theology-and-religious-vocations/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong theology & religious vocations education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 181 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for theology & religious vocations students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Theology & Religious Vocations Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the theology & religious vocations degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Theology & Religious Vocations Schools
Leading the list is Trinity International University Illinois, our #1 best value for theology & religious vocations in the United States. Trinity International University Illinois is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Deerfield. Students from in state pay about $12,320 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $32,934 to complete the theology & religious vocations program here. Theology & Religious Vocations graduates of Trinity International University Illinois earn a median of $50,135 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $32,934 median debt. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Andrews University earned it the #2 place for theology & religious vocations. Andrews University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Berrien Springs. In-state tuition and fees average $35,056. Students borrow a median of $26,314 to complete the theology & religious vocations program here. Theology & Religious Vocations graduates of Andrews University earn a median of $63,284 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 82%.
A rank of #3 makes Sacred Heart Major Seminary one of the best values for theology & religious vocations. Located in the city of Detroit, Sacred Heart Major Seminary is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $24,140 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $49,295 ten years after entry. Sacred Heart Major Seminary admits about 100% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary one of the best values for theology & religious vocations. Set in the city of New Orleans, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,368.
Students looking for strong value in theology & religious vocations will find it at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, which ranked #5. Set in the suburb of Wake Forest, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $11,318 in tuition and fees. Early-career theology & religious vocations graduates make about $54,863. Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary admits about 75% of applicants.
University Of Chicago earned the #6 position for value in theology & religious vocations this year. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $69,324. Typical student debt for theology & religious vocations graduates is $15,854. Soon after graduation, theology & religious vocations degree recipients from University Of Chicago generally make around $34,557. Set against $15,854 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
University Of The Cumberlands ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value theology & religious vocations schools. Set in the town of Williamsburg, University Of The Cumberlands is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,875. Students borrow a median of $23,371 to complete the theology & religious vocations program here. Theology & Religious Vocations graduates of University Of The Cumberlands earn a median of $50,547 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,371 median debt. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
Vanderbilt University came in at #8 for value in theology & religious vocations this year. Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,498. Typical student debt for theology & religious vocations graduates is $13,975. Theology & Religious Vocations graduates of Vanderbilt University earn a median of $42,583 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 6% of applicants are accepted.
Fresno Pacific University placed #9 among the best values for theology & religious vocations. Set in the city of Fresno, Fresno Pacific University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $36,660. Typical student debt for theology & religious vocations graduates is $24,596. Soon after graduation, theology & religious vocations degree recipients from Fresno Pacific University generally make around $60,890. That is a strong return on a $24,596 median debt. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
Holy Apostles College And Seminary placed #10 among the best values for theology & religious vocations. Set in the suburb of Cromwell, Holy Apostles College And Seminary is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,580.
North Park University earned the #11 position for value in theology & religious vocations this year. Located in the city of Chicago, North Park University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $36,710 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for theology & religious vocations graduates is $27,360. Soon after graduation, theology & religious vocations degree recipients from North Park University generally make around $51,611. Set against $27,360 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. North Park University admits about 68% of applicants.
University Of Mary earned the #12 position for value in theology & religious vocations this year. Located in the rural area of Bismarck, University Of Mary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $22,356. Theology & Religious Vocations graduates carry a median of $26,983 in student loans. Soon after graduation, theology & religious vocations degree recipients from University Of Mary generally make around $65,565. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global placed #13 among the best values for theology & religious vocations. Located in the rural area of Marion, Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,648. Typical student debt for theology & religious vocations graduates is $26,585. Soon after graduation, theology & religious vocations degree recipients from Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global generally make around $41,257. Set against $26,585 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Harvard University earned the #14 position for value in theology & religious vocations this year. Set in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $61,676 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for theology & religious vocations graduates is $16,616. Theology & Religious Vocations graduates of Harvard University earn a median of $37,385 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 4%.
Erskine College And Seminary ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value theology & religious vocations schools. Erskine College And Seminary is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Due West. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $36,710. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the theology & religious vocations program here. Soon after graduation, theology & religious vocations degree recipients from Erskine College And Seminary generally make around $35,695. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Erskine College And Seminary admits about 63% of applicants.
University Of St Thomas Texas landed the #16 spot for theology & religious vocations value this year. Located in the city of Houston, University Of St Thomas Texas is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,634. Theology & Religious Vocations graduates carry a median of $23,628 in student loans. Theology & Religious Vocations graduates of University Of St Thomas Texas earn a median of $58,265 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Grace College And Theological Seminary earned the #17 position for value in theology & religious vocations this year. Set in the town of Winona Lake, Grace College And Theological Seminary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $29,645. Students borrow a median of $25,460 to complete the theology & religious vocations program here. Early-career theology & religious vocations graduates make about $43,966. Set against $25,460 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary earned the #18 position for value in theology & religious vocations this year. Located in the city of Louisville, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,046. Early-career theology & religious vocations graduates make about $56,478. The acceptance rate is 56%.
Virginia Union University landed the #19 spot for theology & religious vocations value this year. Set in the city of Richmond, Virginia Union University is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $17,830. Students borrow a median of $30,593 to complete the theology & religious vocations program here. Early-career theology & religious vocations graduates make about $25,910. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
Olivet Nazarene University ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value theology & religious vocations schools. Set in the suburb of Bourbonnais, Olivet Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $38,900 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,797 to complete the theology & religious vocations program here. Early-career theology & religious vocations graduates make about $48,505. That is a strong return on a $26,797 median debt. The acceptance rate is 56%.
Campbellsville University placed #21 among the best values for theology & religious vocations. Campbellsville University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the town of Campbellsville. In-state tuition and fees average $27,998. Students borrow a median of $24,148 to complete the theology & religious vocations program here. Soon after graduation, theology & religious vocations degree recipients from Campbellsville University generally make around $54,029. Set against $24,148 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Belhaven University landed the #22 spot for theology & religious vocations value this year. Located in the city of Jackson, Belhaven University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $30,250 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for theology & religious vocations graduates is $38,582. Early-career theology & religious vocations graduates make about $35,275. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 50%.
Evangel University placed #23 among the best values for theology & religious vocations. Evangel University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Springfield. Students from in state pay about $28,548 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for theology & religious vocations graduates is $27,000. Early-career theology & religious vocations graduates make about $37,840. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Lee University placed #24 among the best values for theology & religious vocations. Located in the city of Cleveland, Lee University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $23,790 in tuition and fees. Theology & Religious Vocations graduates carry a median of $28,736 in student loans. Theology & Religious Vocations graduates of Lee University earn a median of $37,196 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $28,736 median debt. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
Lenoir Rhyne University ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best value theology & religious vocations schools. Located in the city of Hickory, Lenoir Rhyne University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $31,900 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for theology & religious vocations graduates is $26,900. Theology & Religious Vocations graduates of Lenoir Rhyne University earn a median of $49,985 early in their careers. Set against $26,900 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Theology & Religious Vocations Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s theology & religious vocations value ranking:
Other Theology & Religious Vocations Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Theology & Religious Vocations rankings across degree levels:
View All Theology & Religious Vocations Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 181 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 181 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.
