2027 Best Value Philosophy & Religious Studies Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Philosophy & Religious Studies](/majors/philosophy-and-religious-studies/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 17 schools to find the best return on investment for philosophy & religious studies students.
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2027 Best Value Philosophy & Religious Studies Schools in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in philosophy & religious studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Philosophy & Religious Studies Schools
For return on investment in philosophy & religious studies, no school beat University Of Minnesota Twin Cities this year. Set in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,214, with out-of-state students paying around $38,362. Typical student debt for philosophy & religious studies graduates is $21,500. Early-career philosophy & religious studies graduates make about $31,652. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Kansas earned it the #2 place for philosophy & religious studies. Set in the city of Lawrence, University Of Kansas is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,102, while out-of-state students pay about $30,432. Students borrow a median of $23,608 to complete the philosophy & religious studies program here. Early-career philosophy & religious studies graduates make about $56,289. That is a strong return on a $23,608 median debt. University Of Kansas admits about 94% of applicants.
University Of Mary came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value philosophy & religious studies schools. University Of Mary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Bismarck. In-state tuition and fees average $22,356. Students borrow a median of $26,983 to complete the philosophy & religious studies program here. Early-career philosophy & religious studies graduates make about $65,565. That is a strong return on a $26,983 median debt. University Of Mary admits about 75% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in philosophy & religious studies will find it at Missouri State University Springfield, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,502, while out-of-state students pay about $18,770. Philosophy & Religious Studies graduates carry a median of $26,349 in student loans. Early-career philosophy & religious studies graduates make about $22,133. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #5 makes Maharishi University Of Management one of the best values for philosophy & religious studies. Maharishi University Of Management is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Fairfield. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,530. Philosophy & Religious Studies graduates of Maharishi University Of Management earn a median of $73,644 early in their careers. Maharishi University Of Management admits about 96% of applicants.
University Of Missouri Columbia ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value philosophy & religious studies schools. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,837, compared with $36,056 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for philosophy & religious studies graduates is $21,818. Philosophy & Religious Studies graduates of University Of Missouri Columbia earn a median of $53,134 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,818 median debt. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Washington University In St Louis came in at #7 for value in philosophy & religious studies this year. Located in the suburb of St. Louis, Washington University In St Louis is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,790. Students borrow a median of $17,553 to complete the philosophy & religious studies program here. Philosophy & Religious Studies graduates of Washington University In St Louis earn a median of $68,303 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,553 median debt. Roughly 12% of applicants are accepted.
Gustavus Adolphus College placed #8 among the best values for philosophy & religious studies. Located in the town of Saint Peter, Gustavus Adolphus College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $56,076. Typical student debt for philosophy & religious studies graduates is $26,197. Philosophy & Religious Studies graduates of Gustavus Adolphus College earn a median of $44,396 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Iowa placed #9 among the best values for philosophy & religious studies. University Of Iowa is a very large public school located in the city of Iowa City. In-state tuition and fees average $11,283, with out-of-state students paying around $33,371. Typical student debt for philosophy & religious studies graduates is $26,260. Early-career philosophy & religious studies graduates make about $57,375. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Iowa admits about 84% of applicants.
Hannibal Lagrange College placed #10 among the best values for philosophy & religious studies. Located in the town of Hannibal, Hannibal Lagrange College is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $26,880. Students borrow a median of $21,705 to complete the philosophy & religious studies program here. Soon after graduation, philosophy & religious studies degree recipients from Hannibal Lagrange College generally make around $43,544. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Hannibal Lagrange College admits about 73% of applicants.
St Olaf College earned the #11 position for value in philosophy & religious studies this year. Set in the town of Northfield, St Olaf College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $59,760. Students borrow a median of $24,600 to complete the philosophy & religious studies program here. Early-career philosophy & religious studies graduates make about $36,329. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 48%.
Carleton College ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value philosophy & religious studies schools. Set in the town of Northfield, Carleton College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,892. Philosophy & Religious Studies graduates carry a median of $17,566 in student loans. Philosophy & Religious Studies graduates of Carleton College earn a median of $45,096 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,566 median debt. The acceptance rate is 20%.
Crown College landed the #13 spot for philosophy & religious studies value this year. Set in the rural area of Saint Bonifacius, Crown College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $31,410. Philosophy & Religious Studies graduates carry a median of $29,537 in student loans. Philosophy & Religious Studies graduates of Crown College earn a median of $56,689 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 23% of applicants are accepted.
Friends University earned the #14 position for value in philosophy & religious studies this year. Friends University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Wichita. In-state tuition and fees average $34,192. Philosophy & Religious Studies graduates carry a median of $29,721 in student loans. Philosophy & Religious Studies graduates of Friends University earn a median of $46,502 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Friends University admits about 55% of applicants.
Benedictine College landed the #15 spot for philosophy & religious studies value this year. Benedictine College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Atchison. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $36,350. Students borrow a median of $24,990 to complete the philosophy & religious studies program here. Philosophy & Religious Studies graduates of Benedictine College earn a median of $46,255 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,990 median debt. The acceptance rate is 98%.
Bethel University Minnesota landed the #16 spot for philosophy & religious studies value this year. Located in the suburb of Saint Paul, Bethel University Minnesota is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $44,226. Philosophy & Religious Studies graduates carry a median of $25,639 in student loans. Philosophy & Religious Studies graduates of Bethel University Minnesota earn a median of $61,465 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,639 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
University Of St Thomas Minnesota came in at #17 for value in philosophy & religious studies this year. Set in the city of Saint Paul, University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $54,398. Philosophy & Religious Studies graduates carry a median of $19,240 in student loans. Soon after graduation, philosophy & religious studies degree recipients from University Of St Thomas Minnesota generally make around $27,496. Set against $19,240 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 17 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 17 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
