by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual has developed its “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Theology Major in Illinois” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
In 2021-2022, 15,527 people earned their degree in theological & ministerial studies, making the major the 63rd most popular in the United States. In , theological & ministerial studies graduates who were awarded their degree in , earned an average of $40,765 and had an average of $39,579 in loans still to pay off.
Across Illinois, there were 797 theological & ministerial studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $43,075 and $39,596 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 563 theological & ministerial studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $59,827 and $47,424 respectively.
For this year’s “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Theology Major in Illinois” ranking, we looked at 18 colleges that offer a degree in theological & ministerial studies. This a ranking of the schools where the largest percentage of students has enrolled in theological & ministerial studies.
See our ranking methodology to learn more.
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 “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Theology Major in Illinois” list to help you make the college decision.
In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.
The colleges and universities below are the best for illinois master’s degree theology students.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Theology Major in Illinois list. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 15 degrees to qualified masters’s theology students in 2021-2022.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Out of the 18 schools in the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Theology Major in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, Meadville Lombard Theological School landed the #2 spot on the list. Meadville Lombard Theological School is a small school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 11 masters’s theology degrees in 2021-2022.
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%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Read more about Theological & Ministerial Studies at Meadville Lombard Theological School
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Saint Mary of the Lake. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Theology Major in Illinois list. University of Saint Mary of the Lake is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Mundelein, Illinois. It awarded 45 masters’s theology degrees in 2021-2022.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 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 University of St. Mary of the Lake
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Catholic Theological Union at Chicago. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Theology Major in Illinois list. Catholic Theological Union at Chicago is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 40 masters’s theology degrees to qualified students.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 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 Catholic Theological Union at Chicago
Out of the 18 schools in the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Theology Major in Illinois that were part of this year’s ranking, McCormick Theological Seminary landed the #5 spot on the list. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s theology degrees to 20 students in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad 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 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Full McCormick Theological Seminary Theological & Ministerial Studies Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Chicago Theological Seminary. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Theology Major in Illinois list. Chicago Theological Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 31 masters’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.8% 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 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Read full report on Theological & Ministerial Studies at Chicago Theological Seminary
Garrett - Evangelical Theological Seminary did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Theology Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #7. Garrett - Evangelical Theological Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution located in Evanston, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 21 masters’s degrees in 2021-2022.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. 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 more about Theological & Ministerial Studies at Garrett - Evangelical Theological Seminary
With a ranking of #8, Bexley Hall Seabury Western Theological Seminary Federation did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Theology Major in Illinois list. Bexley Hall Seabury Western Theological Seminary Federation is a small school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 10 masters’s theology degrees in 2021-2022.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Trinity International University - Illinois landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Theology Major in Illinois ranking. Deerfield, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s theology degrees to 97 students in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Trinity International University - Illinois Theological & Ministerial Studies Report
Northern Baptist Theological Seminary came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Theology Major in Illinois ranking. Lisle, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s theology degrees to 7 students in 2021-2022.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Northern Baptist Theological Seminary Theological & Ministerial Studies Report
Lincoln Christian University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Theology Major in Illinois ranking. Lincoln Christian College and Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution located in Lincoln, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 34 masters’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.5% 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 full report on Theological & Ministerial Studies at Lincoln Christian University
Moody Bible Institute did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Theology Major in Illinois ranking, coming in at #12. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 83 degrees to qualified masters’s theology students in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Moody Bible Institute Theological & Ministerial Studies Report
With a ranking of #13, Wheaton College Illinois did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Theology Major in Illinois list. Wheaton College Illinois is located in Wheaton, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 26 masters’s theology degrees to qualified students.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full Wheaton College Illinois Theological & Ministerial Studies Report
With a ranking of #14, North Park University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Theology Major in Illinois list. North Park University is a small school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 55 masters’s theology degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.2% 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 North Park University Theological & Ministerial Studies Report
University of Chicago landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Theology Major in Illinois ranking. UChicago is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 48 masters’s theology degrees in 2021-2022.
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 school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 99%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.5% 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%.
Olivet Nazarene University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Theology Major in Illinois ranking. Bourbonnais, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s theology degrees to 7 students in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Theological & Ministerial Studies at Olivet Nazarene
Loyola University Chicago came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Theology Major in Illinois ranking. Loyola University Chicago is a fairly large school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 12 masters’s theology degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%.
Read more about Theological & Ministerial Studies at Loyola University Chicago
American Islamic College landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Theology Major in Illinois ranking. American Islamic College is a small school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 1 masters’s theology degrees in 2021-2022.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 2 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Full American Islamic College Theological & Ministerial Studies Report
Read more about our data sources and methodologies