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 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 80 schools to find the best return on investment for theology & religious vocations students.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in theology & religious vocations, balancing cost against outcomes.
Our analysis ranked Emmaus Bible College the best value for a degree in theology & religious vocations in the The Plains States Region. Located in the city of Dubuque, Emmaus Bible College is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $20,800. Median earnings reach $42,631 ten years out. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Mary is a great value for students pursuing a degree in theology & religious vocations, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the rural area of Bismarck, University Of Mary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $22,356 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for theology & religious vocations graduates is $26,983. Theology & Religious Vocations graduates of University Of Mary earn a median of $65,565 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 75%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Ozark Christian College earned it the #3 place for theology & religious vocations. Set in the city of Joplin, Ozark Christian College is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $16,000. Typical student debt for theology & religious vocations graduates is $23,500. Soon after graduation, theology & religious vocations degree recipients from Ozark Christian College generally make around $25,565. Set against $23,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in theology & religious vocations will find it at Faith Baptist Bible College And Theological Seminary, which ranked #4. Located in the suburb of Ankeny, Faith Baptist Bible College And Theological Seminary is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $20,270. Soon after graduation, theology & religious vocations degree recipients from Faith Baptist Bible College And Theological Seminary generally make around $21,543. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Evangel University College Of Online Learning earned it the #5 place for theology & religious vocations. Located in the city of Springfield, Evangel University College Of Online Learning is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,175. Median earnings reach $46,573 ten years out. Evangel University College Of Online Learning admits about 49% of applicants.
Martin Luther College placed #6 among the best values for theology & religious vocations. Martin Luther College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of New Ulm. Students from in state pay about $18,120 in tuition and fees. Theology & Religious Vocations graduates carry a median of $18,949 in student loans. Soon after graduation, theology & religious vocations degree recipients from Martin Luther College generally make around $15,327. Set against $18,949 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Evangel University came in at #7 for value in theology & religious vocations this year. Located in the city of Springfield, Evangel University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $28,548. Typical student debt for theology & religious vocations graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, theology & religious vocations degree recipients from Evangel University generally make around $55,067. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 72%.
City Vision University placed #8 among the best values for theology & religious vocations. Set in the city of Kansas City, City Vision University is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,600. Graduates go on to earn a median of $21,123 ten years after entry.
Central Christian College Of The Bible landed the #9 spot for theology & religious vocations value this year. Set in the town of Moberly, Central Christian College Of The Bible is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,200. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the theology & religious vocations program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $34,675. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Baptist Bible College landed the #10 spot for theology & religious vocations value this year. Baptist Bible College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Springfield. In-state tuition and fees average $16,950. Median earnings reach $38,641 ten years out.
University Of Dubuque came in at #11 for value in theology & religious vocations this year. University Of Dubuque is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Dubuque. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,095. Students borrow a median of $27,204 to complete the theology & religious vocations program here. Theology & Religious Vocations graduates of University Of Dubuque earn a median of $51,725 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%.
North Central University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value theology & religious vocations schools. Set in the city of Minneapolis, North Central University is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $32,220. Theology & Religious Vocations graduates carry a median of $26,750 in student loans. Early-career theology & religious vocations graduates make about $27,469. Set against $26,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
Trinity Bible College landed the #13 spot for theology & religious vocations value this year. Located in the rural area of Ellendale, Trinity Bible College is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $19,700. Graduates go on to earn a median of $35,604 ten years after entry. Roughly 26% of applicants are accepted.
Bethany Global University earned the #14 position for value in theology & religious vocations this year. Bethany Global University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bloomington. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,000. Typical student debt for theology & religious vocations graduates is $13,276. Early-career theology & religious vocations graduates make about $19,456. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Manhattan Christian College came in at #15 for value in theology & religious vocations this year. Manhattan Christian College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Manhattan. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $19,126. Students borrow a median of $25,250 to complete the theology & religious vocations program here. Theology & Religious Vocations graduates of Manhattan Christian College earn a median of $36,357 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,250 median debt. Manhattan Christian College admits about 100% of applicants.
Concordia University Seward placed #16 among the best values for theology & religious vocations. Located in the town of Seward, Concordia University Seward is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $40,640 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,784 to complete the theology & religious vocations program here. Theology & Religious Vocations graduates of Concordia University Seward earn a median of $25,808 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,784 median debt. Concordia University Seward admits about 86% of applicants.
Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary earned the #17 position for value in theology & religious vocations this year. Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Kansas City. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,530. Theology & Religious Vocations graduates carry a median of $9,298 in student loans. Theology & Religious Vocations graduates of Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary earn a median of $72,533 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $9,298 median debt. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Northwestern College Minnesota ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value theology & religious vocations schools. Set in the suburb of Saint Paul, Northwestern College Minnesota is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $37,920. Students borrow a median of $22,068 to complete the theology & religious vocations program here. Soon after graduation, theology & religious vocations degree recipients from Northwestern College Minnesota generally make around $40,533. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Saint Johns University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best value theology & religious vocations schools. Set in the rural area of Collegeville, Saint Johns University is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $55,816. Typical student debt for theology & religious vocations graduates is $26,646. Early-career theology & religious vocations graduates make about $47,238. That is a strong return on a $26,646 median debt. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Crown College placed #20 among the best values for theology & religious vocations. Located in the rural area of Saint Bonifacius, Crown College is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $31,410 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,971 to complete the theology & religious vocations program here. Theology & Religious Vocations graduates of Crown College earn a median of $26,795 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 23%.
Benedictine College placed #21 among the best values for theology & religious vocations. Located in the town of Atchison, Benedictine College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $36,350. Theology & Religious Vocations graduates carry a median of $23,287 in student loans. Early-career theology & religious vocations graduates make about $32,217. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
Bethel University Minnesota earned the #22 position for value in theology & religious vocations this year. Located in the suburb of Saint Paul, Bethel University Minnesota is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $44,226 in tuition and fees. Theology & Religious Vocations graduates carry a median of $32,291 in student loans. Theology & Religious Vocations graduates of Bethel University Minnesota earn a median of $46,338 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $32,291 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
University Of St Thomas Minnesota landed the #23 spot for theology & religious vocations value this year. Set in the city of Saint Paul, University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $54,398. Theology & Religious Vocations graduates carry a median of $23,923 in student loans. Early-career theology & religious vocations graduates make about $71,681. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of St Thomas Minnesota admits about 85% of applicants.
Creighton University came in at #24 for value in theology & religious vocations this year. Located in the city of Omaha, Creighton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $48,856. Students borrow a median of $25,831 to complete the theology & religious vocations program here. Early-career theology & religious vocations graduates make about $64,369. That is a strong return on a $25,831 median debt. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 80 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
