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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Theological & Ministerial Studies (With Aid)

74 Ranked Colleges
2,506 Degrees Awarded
$19,000 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Theology Schools for a Bachelor's For Those Getting Aid

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Theology Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid” ranking - to help you make that 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.

At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 2,506 theological and ministerial studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $38,303 and $24,501 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Theology Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid” ranking looked at 74 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s 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

The theology school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Theology Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid”.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value Theology Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid

The colleges and universities below are the best for bachelor’s degree theology students with aid.

Top 25 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Theological & Ministerial Studies (With Aid)

#1

Trevecca Nazarene University

Nashville, Tennessee
#7 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Trevecca Nazarene University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Theology Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid. Trevecca Nazarene University is a small school located in Nashville, Tennessee that handed out 6 bachelors’s theology degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our bachelor’s degree theology students with aid list, TNU has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for TNU is $17,499 for Bachelor’s Degree Theology students with aid.

Full Trevecca Nazarene University Theological & Ministerial Studies Report

#2

Moody Bible Institute

Chicago, Illinois

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Moody Bible Institute. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Theology Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid. Moody Theological Seminary and Graduate School is a small school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 137 bachelors’s theology degrees in 2019-2020.

Moody Theological Seminary and Graduate School did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend Moody Theological Seminary and Graduate School is $16,646 for bachelor’s degree theology students with aid.

Read more about Theological & Ministerial Studies at Moody Bible Institute

#3

The Baptist College of Florida

Graceville, Florida

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend The Baptist College of Florida. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Theology Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid. BCF is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Graceville, Florida. It awarded 25 bachelors’s theology degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for BCF is $10,288 for bachelor’s degree theology students with aid.

The 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.

Read full report on Theological & Ministerial Studies at The Baptist College of Florida

#4

Criswell College

Dallas, Texas

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Criswell College. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Theology Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid list. Dallas, Texas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s theology degrees to 3 students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $14,137 for bachelor’s degree theology students with aid per year to attend Criswell College.

The student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full Criswell College Theological & Ministerial Studies Report

#5

Kuyper College

Grand Rapids, Michigan
#5 in overall quality

Out of the 74 schools in the Best Value Theology Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Kuyper College landed the #5 spot on the list. This small school is located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and it awarded 10 bachelors’s theology degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our bachelor’s degree theology students with aid list, Kuyper has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Kuyper is $20,716 for Bachelor’s Degree Theology students with aid.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read more about Theological & Ministerial Studies at Kuyper College

#6

University of Mary

Bismarck, North Dakota

University of Mary did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Theology Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #6. Bismarck, North Dakota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s theology degrees to 18 students in 2019-2020.

UMary also took the #13 spot in our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UMary is $17,410 for Bachelor’s Degree Theology students with aid.

The low student loan default rate of 4.7% 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 UMary

#7

Johnson University

Knoxville, Tennessee

Johnson University landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Theology Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Knoxville, Tennessee, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 36 degrees to qualified bachelors’s theology students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our bachelor’s degree theology students with aid list, Johnson University has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. It costs about $18,915 for bachelor’s degree theology students with aid per year to attend Johnson University.

With a student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read full report on Theological & Ministerial Studies at Johnson University

#8

Harding University

Searcy, Arkansas
#10 in overall quality

Harding University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Theology Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid list. Harding University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Searcy, Arkansas. It awarded 1 bachelors’s theology degrees in 2019-2020.

Harding also made our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #10. It costs about $19,375 for Bachelor’s Degree Theology students with aid per year to attend Harding University.

With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The low student loan default rate of 4.5% 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 Harding University

Central Christian College of the Bible did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Theology Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #9. Located in Moberly, Missouri, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 9 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s theology students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $14,118 for Bachelor’s Degree Theology students with aid per year to attend Central Christian College of the Bible.

The 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.

Read full report on Theological & Ministerial Studies at Central Christian College of the Bible

#15 in overall quality

Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Theology Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #10. Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Kansas City, Missouri. It awarded 20 bachelors’s theology degrees in 2019-2020.

MBTS not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for MBTS is $19,878 for bachelor’s degree theology students with aid.

Read more about Theological & Ministerial Studies at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

#11

University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame, Indiana

University of Notre Dame came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theology Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Notre Dame, Indiana, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 48 degrees to qualified bachelors’s theology students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Notre Dame, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Notre Dame is $33,025 for bachelor’s degree theology students with aid.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read more about Theological & Ministerial Studies at University of Notre Dame

#12

Clarks Summit University

South Abington Township, Pennsylvania

Clarks Summit University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Theology Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #12. CSU is a small school located in South Abington Township, Pennsylvania that handed out 5 bachelors’s theology degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for CSU is $16,313 for Bachelor’s Degree Theology students with aid.

Read more about Theological & Ministerial Studies at Clarks Summit University

#13

Ozark Christian College

Joplin, Missouri

Ozark Christian College landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Theology Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Ozark Christian College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Joplin, Missouri. It awarded 6 bachelors’s theology degrees in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Ozark Christian College is $15,138 for bachelor’s degree theology students with aid.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 5.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Ozark Christian College Theological & Ministerial Studies Report

#14

Bob Jones University

Greenville, South Carolina

Bob Jones University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theology Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Greenville, South Carolina, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 21 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s theology students in 2019-2020.

The yearly cost to attend Bob Jones University is $12,923 for bachelor’s degree theology students with aid.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low student loan default rate of 2.0% 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 Bob Jones University Theological & Ministerial Studies Report

#15

Mid-America Christian University

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Mid-America Christian University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Theology Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #15. Mid-America Christian University is located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 47 bachelors’s theology degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend MACU is $20,746 for bachelor’s degree theology students with aid.

Full Mid-America Christian University Theological & Ministerial Studies Report

Universidad Adventista de las Antillas came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theology Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Mayaguez, is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s theology degrees to 10 students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $8,572 for Bachelor’s Degree Theology students with aid per year to attend Universidad Adventista de las Antillas.

Full Universidad Adventista de las Antillas Theological & Ministerial Studies Report

#17

Olivet Nazarene University

Bourbonnais, Illinois

Olivet Nazarene University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theology Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Olivet Nazarene is a private not-for-profit institution located in Bourbonnais, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 8 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The estimated yearly cost for Olivet Nazarene is $20,195 for bachelor’s degree theology students with aid.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Theological & Ministerial Studies at Olivet Nazarene

#18

Columbia International University

Columbia, South Carolina

With a ranking of #18, Columbia International University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Theology Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid list. CIU is located in Columbia, South Carolina and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 6 bachelors’s theology degrees to qualified students.

The yearly cost to attend CIU is $18,004 for bachelor’s degree theology students with aid.

Read more about Theological & Ministerial Studies at CIU

#19

Southern Adventist University

Collegedale, Tennessee

Southern Adventist University landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Theology Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Collegedale, Tennessee is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s theology degrees to 13 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our bachelor’s degree theology students with aid list, Southern Adventist has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Southern Adventist University is $22,661 for bachelor’s degree theology students with aid.

Read full report on Theological & Ministerial Studies at Southern Adventist

#20

Boston College

Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts

Boston College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Theology Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #20. Boston College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 15 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Boston College also made our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #2. It costs about $35,899 for bachelor’s degree theology students with aid per year to attend Boston College.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 1.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Theological & Ministerial Studies at Boston College

#21

Lee University

Cleveland, Tennessee

Lee University landed the #21 spot on the 2022 Best Value Theology Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Cleveland, Tennessee, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 4 degrees to qualified bachelors’s theology students in 2019-2020.

It costs about $17,696 for bachelor’s degree theology students with aid per year to attend Lee University.

Read more about Theological & Ministerial Studies at Lee University

#22

Andrews University

Berrien Springs, Michigan
#12 in overall quality

Andrews University landed the #22 spot on the 2022 Best Value Theology Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Berrien Springs, Michigan, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 13 degrees to qualified bachelors’s theology students in 2019-2020.

Andrews also took the #12 spot in our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Andrews is $21,934 for bachelor’s degree theology students with aid.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. The low student loan default rate of 4.8% 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%. The impressive 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.

Read more about Theological & Ministerial Studies at Andrews University

Indiana Wesleyan University - National & Global did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Theology Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #23. Indiana Wesleyan University - National & Global is located in Marion, Indiana and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 11 bachelors’s theology degrees to qualified students.

It costs about $22,207 for bachelor’s degree theology students with aid per year to attend IWU.

Read full report on Theological & Ministerial Studies at Indiana Wesleyan University - National & Global

#24

Hope International University

Fullerton, California

With a ranking of #24, Hope International University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Theology Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid list. Hope is a private not-for-profit institution located in Fullerton, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 17 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

It costs about $20,318 for bachelor’s degree theology students with aid per year to attend Hope.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Read more about Theological & Ministerial Studies at Hope

#25

University of Valley Forge

Phoenixville, Pennsylvania

With a ranking of #25, University of Valley Forge did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Theology Schools for a Bachelor’s For Those Getting Aid list. UVF is a private not-for-profit institution located in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania. The school has a small population, and it awarded 20 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UVF, the school also landed the #22 spot in our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Valley Forge is $20,636 for Bachelor’s Degree Theology students with aid.

Read more about Theological & Ministerial Studies at University of Valley Forge

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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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