by our College Data Analytics Team
[Theology & Religious Vocations](/majors/theology-and-religious-vocations/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 24 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.
Leading the list is Emmaus Bible College, our #1 best value for theology & religious vocations in the The Plains States Region. Set in the city of Dubuque, Emmaus Bible College is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $20,800. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $42,631. The acceptance rate is 60%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Mary earned it the #2 place for theology & religious vocations. University Of Mary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Bismarck. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $22,356. Students borrow a median of $26,983 to complete the theology & religious vocations program here. 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. University Of Mary admits about 75% of applicants.
Martin Luther College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in theology & religious vocations, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the town of New Ulm, Martin Luther College is a small private not-for-profit institution. 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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Martin Luther College admits about 87% of applicants.
Faith Baptist Bible College And Theological Seminary is a great value for students pursuing a degree in theology & religious vocations, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Ankeny, Faith Baptist Bible College And Theological Seminary is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $20,270 in tuition and fees. Theology & Religious Vocations graduates of Faith Baptist Bible College And Theological Seminary earn a median of $21,543 early in their careers. Faith Baptist Bible College And Theological Seminary admits about 68% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in theology & religious vocations will find it at Concordia University Saint Paul, which ranked #5. Concordia University Saint Paul is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. Students from in state pay about $25,600 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for theology & religious vocations graduates is $29,026. Early-career theology & religious vocations graduates make about $54,835. That is a strong return on a $29,026 median debt. The acceptance rate is 79%.
Evangel University earned the #6 position for value in theology & religious vocations this year. Evangel University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Springfield. In-state tuition and fees average $28,548. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the theology & religious vocations program here. Theology & Religious Vocations graduates of Evangel University earn a median of $55,914 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Evangel University admits about 72% of applicants.
Ozark Christian College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value theology & religious vocations schools. Ozark Christian College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Joplin. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,000. Students borrow a median of $23,500 to complete the theology & religious vocations program here. Soon after graduation, theology & religious vocations degree recipients from Ozark Christian College generally make around $26,132. That is a strong return on a $23,500 median debt. Ozark Christian College admits about 94% of applicants.
Baptist Bible College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value theology & religious vocations schools. Located in the city of Springfield, Baptist Bible College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,950. Median earnings reach $38,641 ten years out.
Evangel University College Of Online Learning landed the #9 spot for theology & religious vocations value this year. Located in the city of Springfield, Evangel University College Of Online Learning is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,175. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete the theology & religious vocations program here. Theology & Religious Vocations graduates of Evangel University College Of Online Learning earn a median of $41,610 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 49%.
Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value theology & religious vocations schools. 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. Soon after graduation, theology & religious vocations degree recipients from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary generally make around $72,683. Set against $9,298 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Central Christian College Of The Bible came in at #11 for value in theology & religious vocations this year. Central Christian College Of The Bible is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Moberly. Students from in state pay about $12,200 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for theology & religious vocations graduates is $26,000. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $34,675. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt.
University Of Dubuque ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value theology & religious vocations schools. University Of Dubuque is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Dubuque. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,095. Theology & Religious Vocations graduates carry a median of $27,204 in student loans. Theology & Religious Vocations graduates of University Of Dubuque earn a median of $51,725 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,204 median debt. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Trinity Bible College landed the #13 spot for theology & religious vocations value this year. Set in the rural area of Ellendale, Trinity Bible College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $19,700 in tuition and fees. Median earnings reach $35,604 ten years out. The acceptance rate is 26%.
Concordia University Seward ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value theology & religious vocations schools. Set in the town of Seward, Concordia University Seward is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,640. 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 $24,417 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,784 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Saint Johns University came in at #15 for value in theology & religious vocations this year. Set in the rural area of Collegeville, Saint Johns University is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $55,816. Theology & Religious Vocations graduates carry a median of $26,646 in student loans. Early-career theology & religious vocations graduates make about $47,238. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Manhattan Christian College placed #16 among the best values for theology & religious vocations. Located in the city of Manhattan, Manhattan Christian College is a small private not-for-profit university. 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. Soon after graduation, theology & religious vocations degree recipients from Manhattan Christian College generally make around $36,357. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted.
North Central University landed the #17 spot for theology & religious vocations value this year. North Central University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Minneapolis. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $32,220. Typical student debt for theology & religious vocations graduates is $26,750. Theology & Religious Vocations graduates of North Central University earn a median of $27,404 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 99%.
Crown College ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value theology & religious vocations schools. Set in the rural area of Saint Bonifacius, Crown College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $31,410 in tuition and fees. Theology & Religious Vocations graduates carry a median of $26,971 in student loans. Early-career theology & religious vocations graduates make about $26,656. Set against $26,971 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Crown College admits about 23% of applicants.
Northwestern College Minnesota landed the #19 spot for theology & religious vocations value this year. Northwestern College Minnesota is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Paul. Students from in state pay about $37,920 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $22,068 to complete the theology & religious vocations program here. Theology & Religious Vocations graduates of Northwestern College Minnesota earn a median of $40,537 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,068 median debt. Northwestern College Minnesota admits about 94% of applicants.
Benedictine College came in at #20 for value in theology & religious vocations this year. Set in the town of Atchison, Benedictine College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. 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 $32,208. Set against $23,287 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Benedictine College admits about 98% of applicants.
Bethel University Minnesota came in at #21 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. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $44,226. Theology & Religious Vocations graduates carry a median of $32,291 in student loans. Soon after graduation, theology & religious vocations degree recipients from Bethel University Minnesota generally make around $46,255. Set against $32,291 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
University Of St Thomas Minnesota ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best value theology & religious vocations schools. Set in the city of Saint Paul, University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $54,398 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,923 to complete the theology & religious vocations program here. Early-career theology & religious vocations graduates make about $71,681. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Creighton University landed the #23 spot for theology & religious vocations value this year. Located in the city of Omaha, Creighton University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $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. Creighton University admits about 80% of applicants.
Bethany Global University ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best value theology & religious vocations schools. Located in the city of Bloomington, Bethany Global University is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,000. Typical student debt for theology & religious vocations graduates is $13,276. Theology & Religious Vocations graduates of Bethany Global University earn a median of $19,456 early in their careers. Bethany Global University admits about 93% of applicants.
The ranking above is published 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 · 24 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 24 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
