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2022 Best Value Theology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k

8 Ranked Colleges
858 Degrees Awarded
$14,500 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Theology Schools for a Master's in California For Those Making $0-$30k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Theology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

In 2019-2020, 15,051 people earned their degree in theological and ministerial studies, making the major the 55th most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, theological and ministerial studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $36,911 and had an average of $41,597 in loans still to pay off.

Across California, there were 1,174 theological and ministerial studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $35,914 and $41,541 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 858 theological and ministerial studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $60,281 and $50,119 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Theology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 8 colleges that offer a degree in theological and ministerial studies. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great theological and ministerial studies programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the theological and ministerial studies program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Theology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Theology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for california master’s degree theology students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 8 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Theological & Ministerial Studies (Income $0-$30k) in California

#8 in overall quality

Out of the 8 schools in the Best Value Theology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Vanguard University of Southern California landed the #1 spot on the list. Costa Mesa, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s theology degrees to 4 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Vanguard, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Vanguard are $16,180, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Vanguard University of Southern California Theological & Ministerial Studies Report

#2

Fresno Pacific University

Fresno, California
#5 in overall quality

Out of the 8 schools in the Best Value Theology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Fresno Pacific University landed the #2 spot on the list. Fresno Pacific University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Fresno, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 9 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Fresno Pacific, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Fresno Pacific University are $15,000.

Read more about Theological & Ministerial Studies at Fresno Pacific University

#3

Hope International University

Fullerton, California

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Hope International University. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Theology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Fullerton, California, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 34 diplomas to qualified masters’s theology students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Hope, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Hope International University are $14,916, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Theological & Ministerial Studies at Hope

#4

Santa Clara University

Santa Clara, California

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Santa Clara University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Theology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k. Located in Santa Clara, California, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 30 diplomas to qualified masters’s theology students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree theology students whose families make $0-$30k list, SCU has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Santa Clara University are $23,507.

Read more about Theological & Ministerial Studies at Santa Clara University

#5

SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary

El Dorado Hills, California
#10 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Theology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. School of Urban Missions is located in El Dorado Hills, California and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 19 masters’s theology degrees to qualified students.

School of Urban Missions not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at School of Urban Missions are $6,969.

Read full report on Theological & Ministerial Studies at SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary

#6

The Master's University and Seminary

Santa Clarita, California

The Master’s University and Seminary landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Theology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. The Master’s University and Seminary is located in Santa Clarita, California and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 90 masters’s theology degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree theology students whose families make $0-$30k list, The Master’s University has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at The Master’s University are $10,590.

Full The Master’s University Theological & Ministerial Studies Report

#7

Biola University

La Mirada, California

Biola University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Biola University is a private not-for-profit institution located in La Mirada, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 54 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Biola not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Biola are $11,772.

Read full report on Theological & Ministerial Studies at Biola University

#8

Azusa Pacific University

Azusa, California

With a ranking of #8, Azusa Pacific University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Theology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k list. Azusa Pacific University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Azusa, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 43 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree theology students whose families make $0-$30k list, Azusa Pacific has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Azusa Pacific University are $16,571, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Theological & Ministerial Studies at Azusa Pacific University

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Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

Credits

  • Credit for the banner image above goes to Jonund.

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