by our College Data Analytics Team
[Theology & Religious Vocations](/majors/theology-and-religious-vocations/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 51 schools to find the best return on investment for theology & religious vocations students.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the theology & religious vocations degrees they offer, see the list below.
Our analysis ranked New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary the best value for a degree in theology & religious vocations in the Southeast Region. Set in the city of New Orleans, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $12,368 in tuition and fees.
A rank of #2 makes Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary one of the best values for theology & religious vocations. 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 theology & religious vocations graduates make about $54,863. Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary admits about 75% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in theology & religious vocations will find it at University Of The Cumberlands, which ranked #3. University Of The Cumberlands is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the town of Williamsburg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,875. Typical student debt for theology & religious vocations graduates is $23,371. Soon after graduation, theology & religious vocations degree recipients from University Of The Cumberlands generally make around $50,547. Set against $23,371 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Vanderbilt University earned it the #4 place for theology & religious vocations. Set in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,498. Students borrow a median of $13,975 to complete the theology & religious vocations program here. Early-career theology & religious vocations graduates make about $42,583. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Vanderbilt University admits about 6% of applicants.
The Baptist College Of Florida is a great value for students pursuing a degree in theology & religious vocations, landing the #5 spot this year. The Baptist College Of Florida is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Graceville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,000. Typical student debt for theology & religious vocations graduates is $24,916. Soon after graduation, theology & religious vocations degree recipients from The Baptist College Of Florida generally make around $34,350. Set against $24,916 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 36%.
Clear Creek Baptist Bible College earned the #6 position for value in theology & religious vocations this year. Set in the rural area of Pineville, Clear Creek Baptist Bible College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,720. Graduates go on to earn a median of $41,623 ten years after entry.
Erskine College And Seminary landed the #7 spot for theology & religious vocations value this year. Located in the rural area of Due West, Erskine College And Seminary is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $36,710 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the theology & religious vocations program here. Early-career theology & religious vocations graduates make about $35,695. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
Virginia Union University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value theology & religious vocations schools. Located in the city of Richmond, Virginia Union University is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $17,830. Students borrow a median of $30,593 to complete the theology & religious vocations program here. Theology & Religious Vocations graduates of Virginia Union University earn a median of $25,910 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $30,593 median debt. Virginia Union University admits about 98% of applicants.
Belhaven University placed #9 among the best values for theology & religious vocations. Belhaven University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Jackson. Students from in state pay about $30,250 in tuition and fees. Theology & Religious Vocations graduates carry a median of $38,582 in student loans. Soon after graduation, theology & religious vocations degree recipients from Belhaven University generally make around $35,275. Set against $38,582 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 50% of applicants are accepted.
Trevecca Nazarene University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value theology & religious vocations schools. Set in the city of Nashville, Trevecca Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $31,300. Typical student debt for theology & religious vocations graduates is $33,727. Early-career theology & religious vocations graduates make about $41,443. Set against $33,727 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 69%.
Campbellsville University earned the #11 position for value in theology & religious vocations this year. Set in the town of Campbellsville, Campbellsville University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $27,998. Typical student debt for theology & religious vocations graduates is $24,148. Theology & Religious Vocations graduates of Campbellsville University earn a median of $54,029 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Lee University came in at #12 for value in theology & religious vocations this year. Set in the city of Cleveland, Lee University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $23,790 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $28,736 to complete the theology & religious vocations program here. Soon after graduation, theology & religious vocations degree recipients from Lee University generally make around $37,320. That is a strong return on a $28,736 median debt. Lee University admits about 70% of applicants.
Shaw University came in at #13 for value in theology & religious vocations this year. Shaw University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Raleigh. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,738. Theology & Religious Vocations graduates carry a median of $37,044 in student loans. Early-career theology & religious vocations graduates make about $28,533. Set against $37,044 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Lenoir Rhyne University ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value theology & religious vocations schools. Lenoir Rhyne University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Hickory. In-state tuition and fees average $31,900. Students borrow a median of $26,900 to complete the theology & religious vocations program here. Soon after graduation, theology & religious vocations degree recipients from Lenoir Rhyne University generally make around $49,985. Set against $26,900 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Lenoir Rhyne University admits about 85% of applicants.
Regent University ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value theology & religious vocations schools. Located in the city of Virginia Beach, Regent University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,650. Students borrow a median of $35,397 to complete the theology & religious vocations program here. Theology & Religious Vocations graduates of Regent University earn a median of $45,340 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $35,397 median debt. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.
Appalachian Bible College placed #16 among the best values for theology & religious vocations. Set in the suburb of Mount Hope, Appalachian Bible College is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $18,760. Students borrow a median of $12,865 to complete the theology & religious vocations program here. Theology & Religious Vocations graduates of Appalachian Bible College earn a median of $21,367 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Bob Jones University landed the #17 spot for theology & religious vocations value this year. Located in the city of Greenville, Bob Jones University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $22,892. Theology & Religious Vocations graduates carry a median of $20,497 in student loans. Theology & Religious Vocations graduates of Bob Jones University earn a median of $28,325 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Freed Hardeman University placed #18 among the best values for theology & religious vocations. Freed Hardeman University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Henderson. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $25,620. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the theology & religious vocations program here. Soon after graduation, theology & religious vocations degree recipients from Freed Hardeman University generally make around $44,142. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Freed Hardeman University admits about 60% of applicants.
Milligan College landed the #19 spot for theology & religious vocations value this year. Milligan College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Milligan. Students from in state pay about $40,450 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,150 to complete the theology & religious vocations program here. Theology & Religious Vocations graduates of Milligan College earn a median of $64,327 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,150 median debt. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Saint Leo University placed #20 among the best values for theology & religious vocations. Set in the town of Saint Leo, Saint Leo University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $30,000. Typical student debt for theology & religious vocations graduates is $32,116. Early-career theology & religious vocations graduates make about $57,662. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Heritage Christian University earned the #21 position for value in theology & religious vocations this year. Located in the city of Florence, Heritage Christian University is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,982. Median earnings reach $42,597 ten years out. Heritage Christian University admits about 90% of applicants.
Grace College Of Divinity placed #22 among the best values for theology & religious vocations. Set in the city of Fayetteville, Grace College Of Divinity is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,105. Roughly 53% of applicants are accepted.
Toccoa Falls College landed the #23 spot for theology & religious vocations value this year. Set in the town of Toccoa Falls, Toccoa Falls College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $23,950. Typical student debt for theology & religious vocations graduates is $26,293. Soon after graduation, theology & religious vocations degree recipients from Toccoa Falls College generally make around $42,071. Set against $26,293 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.
Harding University earned the #24 position for value in theology & religious vocations this year. Harding University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Searcy. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $25,962. Theology & Religious Vocations graduates carry a median of $18,114 in student loans. Soon after graduation, theology & religious vocations degree recipients from Harding University generally make around $48,073. Set against $18,114 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 70%.
Johnson University came in at #25 for value in theology & religious vocations this year. Located in the rural area of Knoxville, Johnson University is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $21,122 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,126 to complete the theology & religious vocations program here. Soon after graduation, theology & religious vocations degree recipients from Johnson University generally make around $36,783. Set against $25,126 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 65%.
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in theology & religious vocations:
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 51 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 51 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.