2023 Best Value Colleges for Theological & Ministerial Studies (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region
17
Ranked Colleges
2,366
Degrees Awarded
$16,900
Avg Net Price*
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Theology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking is part of that endeavor.
In 2020-2021, 15,832 people earned their degree in theological and ministerial studies, making the major the 63rd most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, theological and ministerial studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $40,590 and had an average of $26,272 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Great Lakes region, there were 2,366 theological and ministerial studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $41,653 and $21,394 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Theology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking analyzed 17 colleges that offered 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.
To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the theological and ministerial studies program at the school. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
One Size Does Not Fit All
When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Theology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” list to help you make the college decision.
In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.
Best Value Theology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k
The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region theology students whose families make $30-$48k.
Top 17 Best Value Colleges for Theological & Ministerial Studies (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region
Out of the 17 schools in the Best Value Theology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Chicago landed the #1 spot on the list. University of Chicago is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 99 ’s theology degrees in 2020-2021.
UChicago also took the #2 spot in our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Chicago is $4,777 for Great Lakes Region Theology students whose families make $30-$48k.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 100%.
Read full report on Theological & Ministerial Studies at UChicago
Out of the 17 schools in the Best Value Theology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Notre Dame landed the #2 spot on the list. Located in Notre Dame, Indiana, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 139 diplomas to qualified ’s theology students in 2020-2021.
Notre Dame also made our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #1. The yearly cost to attend Notre Dame is $9,136 for Great Lakes Region Theology students whose families make $30-$48k.
With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Theological & Ministerial Studies at University of Notre Dame
Out of the 17 schools in the Best Value Theology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Moody Bible Institute landed the #3 spot on the list. Moody Bible Institute is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 200 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region theology students whose families make $30-$48k list, Moody Theological Seminary and Graduate School has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $19,072 for great lakes region theology students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Moody Bible Institute.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on Theological & Ministerial Studies at Moody Bible Institute
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Olivet Nazarene University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Theology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Olivet Nazarene is located in Bourbonnais, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 24 ’s theology degrees to qualified students.
Olivet Nazarene also took the #4 spot in our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Olivet Nazarene University is $15,658 for Great Lakes Region Theology students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Theological & Ministerial Studies at Olivet Nazarene
Out of the 17 schools in the Best Value Theology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Lincoln Christian University landed the #5 spot on the list. Lincoln Christian University is a small school located in Lincoln, Illinois that handed out 60 ’s theology degrees in 2020-2021.
Lincoln Christian College and Seminary also made our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #6. It costs about $13,524 for Great Lakes Region Theology students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Lincoln Christian University.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 5.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full Lincoln Christian University Theological & Ministerial Studies Report
With a ranking of #6, Wheaton College Illinois did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Theology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Wheaton College Illinois is a small school located in Wheaton, Illinois that handed out 25 ’s theology degrees in 2020-2021.
Wheaton College Illinois also took the #11 spot in our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $18,519 for great lakes region theology students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Wheaton College Illinois.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Full Wheaton College Illinois Theological & Ministerial Studies Report
Grace College and Theological Seminary landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Best Value Theology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Grace College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Winona Lake, Indiana. It awarded 9 ’s theology degrees in 2020-2021.
Grace College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $15,033 for great lakes region theology students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Grace College and Theological Seminary.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Theological & Ministerial Studies at Grace College
Indiana Wesleyan University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Theology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Indiana Wesleyan University is located in Marion, Indiana and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 10 ’s theology degrees to qualified students.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at IWU, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $17,754 for Great Lakes Region Theology students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Indiana Wesleyan University.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 5.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about Theological & Ministerial Studies at Indiana Wesleyan University
Franciscan University of Steubenville did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Theology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #9. Located in Steubenville, Ohio, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 205 degrees to qualified ’s theology students in 2020-2021.
Franciscan U also made our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #7. The yearly cost to attend Franciscan U is $18,170 for great lakes region theology students whose families make $30-$48k.
With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Franciscan U Theological & Ministerial Studies Report
Ashland University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Ashland, Ohio, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 17 diplomas to qualified ’s theology students in 2020-2021.
Ashland did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Ashland University is $14,311 for great lakes region theology students whose families make $30-$48k.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Theological & Ministerial Studies at Ashland University
Andrews University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Theology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #11. Andrews is located in Berrien Springs, Michigan and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 154 ’s theology degrees to qualified students.
Andrews also took the #9 spot in our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Andrews is $17,509 for great lakes region theology students whose families make $30-$48k.
With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Theological & Ministerial Studies at Andrews University
Cornerstone University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Theology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Cornerstone University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It awarded 42 ’s theology degrees in 2020-2021.
Cornerstone not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #19 on our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Cornerstone University is $18,391 for great lakes region theology students whose families make $30-$48k.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Theological & Ministerial Studies at Cornerstone
With a ranking of #13, Ohio Christian University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Theology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. OCU is a small school located in Circleville, Ohio that handed out 156 ’s theology degrees in 2020-2021.
OCU also took the #8 spot in our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Ohio Christian University is $18,624 for Great Lakes Region Theology students whose families make $30-$48k.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Full Ohio Christian University Theological & Ministerial Studies Report
Concordia University, Wisconsin came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Concordia University, Wisconsin is a medium-sized school located in Mequon, Wisconsin that handed out 7 ’s theology degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region theology students whose families make $30-$48k list, Concordia University, Wisconsin has also earned the # rank in our "" ranking. The yearly cost to attend Concordia University, Wisconsin is $19,092 for Great Lakes Region Theology students whose families make $30-$48k.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on Theological & Ministerial Studies at Concordia University, Wisconsin
Trinity International University - Illinois ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Theology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This small school is located in Deerfield, Illinois, and it awarded 99 ’s theology degrees in 2020-2021.
TIU Illinois also made our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #18. The yearly cost to attend TIU Illinois is $19,089 for great lakes region theology students whose families make $30-$48k.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Read more about Theological & Ministerial Studies at Trinity International University - Illinois
