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2022 Best Value Theology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid

8 Ranked Colleges
858 Degrees Awarded
$16,500 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Theology Schools for a Master's in California For Those Getting Aid

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Theology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid” 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.

This year’s “Best Value Theology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid” ranking looked at 8 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.

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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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 for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid” list to help you make the college decision.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Theology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Theology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid.

Top 9 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Theological & Ministerial Studies in California (With Aid)

#8 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Vanguard University of Southern California. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Theology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid. Vanguard University of Southern California is located in Costa Mesa, California and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 4 masters’s theology degrees to qualified students.

Vanguard did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Vanguard University of Southern California are $16,180, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Theological & Ministerial Studies at Vanguard

#1

American Jewish University

Los Angeles, California

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend American Jewish University. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Theology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. This small school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 7 masters’s theology degrees in 2019-2020.

AJU also took the #6 spot in our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at AJU are $32,301, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full AJU Theological & Ministerial Studies Report

#2

Fresno Pacific University

Fresno, California
#5 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Fresno Pacific University. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Theology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. Fresno, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s theology degrees to 9 students 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. Average graduate tuition and fees at Fresno Pacific University are $15,000, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Fresno Pacific Theological & Ministerial Studies Report

#3

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 #3 on our 2022 Best Value Theology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. School of Urban Missions is a private not-for-profit institution located in El Dorado Hills, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 19 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

School of Urban Missions did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at School of Urban Missions are $6,969, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

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

#4

Hope International University

Fullerton, California

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Hope International University. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Theology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. This small school is located in Fullerton, California, and it awarded 34 masters’s theology degrees in 2019-2020.

Hope also took the #9 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 Hope International University are $14,916.

Read full report on Theological & Ministerial Studies at Hope

#5

The Master's University and Seminary

Santa Clarita, California

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend The Master’s University and Seminary. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Theology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid. Located in Santa Clarita, California, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 90 diplomas to qualified masters’s theology students in 2019-2020.

The Master’s University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at The Master’s University and Seminary are $10,590, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Theological & Ministerial Studies at The Master’s University and Seminary

#6

Azusa Pacific University

Azusa, California

With a ranking of #6, Azusa Pacific University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Theology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. Azusa Pacific is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Azusa, California. It awarded 43 masters’s theology degrees in 2019-2020.

Azusa Pacific not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Azusa Pacific are $16,571, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Theological & Ministerial Studies at Azusa Pacific

#7

Biola University

La Mirada, California

Biola University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Theology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. Biola is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in La Mirada, California. It awarded 54 masters’s theology 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. Average graduate tuition and fees at Biola University are $11,772, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Biola University Theological & Ministerial Studies Report

#8

Santa Clara University

Santa Clara, California

Santa Clara University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Theology Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Santa Clara, California, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 30 degrees to qualified masters’s theology students in 2019-2020.

SCU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 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 Santa Clara University are $23,507.

Full Santa Clara University Theological & Ministerial Studies Report

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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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