by our College Data Analytics Team
[Religious Education](/majors/theology-and-religious-vocations/religious-education/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong religious education education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 22 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for religious education students.
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The right religious education school can pay off for years to come. That is why we built our Best Value Religious Education Schools ranking. It weighs the cost of a degree against the outcomes graduates go on to achieve, so you can find the strongest return on your investment.
We offer a number of rankings, including this Best Value Religious Education Schools list, to help you decide. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Learn more about our methodology
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the religious education degrees they offer, see the list below.
Our analysis ranked New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary the best value for a degree in religious education in the United States. 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.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary earned it the #2 place for religious education. Set in the suburb of Wake Forest, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,318. Early-career religious education graduates make about $54,863. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes University Of The Cumberlands one of the best values for religious education. 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 religious education graduates is $23,371. Religious Education 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.
Students looking for strong value in religious education will find it at North Park University, which ranked #4. North Park University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. In-state tuition and fees average $36,710. Students borrow a median of $27,360 to complete the religious education program here. Soon after graduation, religious education degree recipients from North Park University generally make around $51,611. Set against $27,360 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Toccoa Falls College earned it the #5 place for religious education. Toccoa Falls College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Toccoa Falls. Students from in state pay about $23,950 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for religious education graduates is $26,293. Religious Education graduates of Toccoa Falls College earn a median of $42,071 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Toccoa Falls College admits about 66% of applicants.
Moody Bible Institute came in at #6 for value in religious education this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Moody Bible Institute is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $15,786 in tuition and fees. Religious Education graduates carry a median of $14,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, religious education degree recipients from Moody Bible Institute generally make around $30,671. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Moody Bible Institute admits about 83% of applicants.
Mount Vernon Nazarene University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value religious education schools. Located in the town of Mount Vernon, Mount Vernon Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $27,193 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for religious education graduates is $26,602. Soon after graduation, religious education degree recipients from Mount Vernon Nazarene University generally make around $53,377. Set against $26,602 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Mount Vernon Nazarene University admits about 84% of applicants.
Evangel University College Of Online Learning landed the #8 spot for religious education value this year. Located in the city of Springfield, Evangel University College Of Online Learning is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $8,175 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for religious education graduates is $19,000. Religious Education graduates of Evangel University College Of Online Learning earn a median of $41,610 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,000 median debt. Roughly 49% of applicants are accepted.
Yeshiva Gedolah Imrei Yosef Dspinka landed the #9 spot for religious education value this year. Set in the city of Brooklyn, Yeshiva Gedolah Imrei Yosef Dspinka is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $12,500 in tuition and fees. Soon after graduation, religious education degree recipients from Yeshiva Gedolah Imrei Yosef Dspinka generally make around $14,771.
Grand Canyon University placed #10 among the best values for religious education. Grand Canyon University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Phoenix. Students from in state pay about $18,508 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for religious education graduates is $35,436. Early-career religious education graduates make about $40,439. That is a strong return on a $35,436 median debt. The acceptance rate is 79%.
Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary landed the #11 spot for religious education value this year. Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Kansas City. In-state tuition and fees average $11,530. Students borrow a median of $15,559 to complete the religious education program here. Early-career religious education graduates make about $55,308. Set against $15,559 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Franciscan University Of Steubenville ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value religious education schools. Located in the city of Steubenville, Franciscan University Of Steubenville is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $34,100 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for religious education graduates is $26,980. Soon after graduation, religious education degree recipients from Franciscan University Of Steubenville generally make around $35,803. That is a strong return on a $26,980 median debt. Franciscan University Of Steubenville admits about 58% of applicants.
Loyola University New Orleans placed #13 among the best values for religious education. Loyola University New Orleans is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of New Orleans. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $49,440. Religious Education graduates carry a median of $26,606 in student loans. Early-career religious education graduates make about $48,040. That is a strong return on a $26,606 median debt. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
Concordia University Seward earned the #14 position for value in religious education this year. Located in the town of Seward, Concordia University Seward is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $40,640. Religious Education graduates carry a median of $29,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, religious education degree recipients from Concordia University Seward generally make around $55,023. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Concordia University Seward admits about 86% of applicants.
Wheaton College Illinois earned the #15 position for value in religious education this year. Set in the suburb of Wheaton, Wheaton College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $45,546. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the religious education program here. Early-career religious education graduates make about $37,880. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Dallas Baptist University ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value religious education schools. Located in the city of Dallas, Dallas Baptist University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,190. Typical student debt for religious education graduates is $21,500. Soon after graduation, religious education degree recipients from Dallas Baptist University generally make around $32,426. Set against $21,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
University Of St Thomas Minnesota landed the #17 spot for religious education value this year. University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $54,398. Typical student debt for religious education graduates is $23,923. Soon after graduation, religious education degree recipients from University Of St Thomas Minnesota generally make around $65,183. Set against $23,923 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Bethel University Minnesota earned the #18 position for value in religious education this year. Bethel University Minnesota is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Paul. In-state tuition and fees average $44,226. Students borrow a median of $25,639 to complete the religious education program here. Early-career religious education graduates make about $61,465. That is a strong return on a $25,639 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Liberty University came in at #19 for value in religious education this year. Located in the city of Lynchburg, Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,173. Religious Education graduates carry a median of $27,414 in student loans. Religious Education graduates of Liberty University earn a median of $45,877 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,414 median debt. Liberty University admits about 99% of applicants.
Duke University landed the #20 spot for religious education value this year. Duke University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Durham. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,758. Typical student debt for religious education graduates is $13,296. Religious Education graduates of Duke University earn a median of $35,553 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Duke University admits about 6% of applicants.
Jewish Theological Seminary Of America landed the #21 spot for religious education value this year. Jewish Theological Seminary Of America is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Students from in state pay about $71,910 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for religious education graduates is $16,750. Soon after graduation, religious education degree recipients from Jewish Theological Seminary Of America generally make around $78,469. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 49%.
Fordham University placed #22 among the best values for religious education. Fordham University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bronx. In-state tuition and fees average $64,470. Students borrow a median of $25,643 to complete the religious education program here. Religious Education graduates of Fordham University earn a median of $59,403 early in their careers. Set against $25,643 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 59%.
Explore other best-value rankings in majors related to Religious Education. Browse the parent area of study.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Religious Education | 931 |
View All Religious Education Concentrations >
This list is compiled 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 · 22 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 22 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.