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For return on investment in religious studies, no school beat Elyon College this year. Set in the city of Brooklyn, Elyon College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,620.
by our College Data Analytics Team
[Religious Studies](/majors/philosophy-and-religious-studies/religious-studies/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong religious studies education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 23 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for religious studies students.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the religious studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
For return on investment in religious studies, no school beat Elyon College this year. Set in the city of Brooklyn, Elyon College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,620.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Elim Bible Institute And College earned it the #2 place for religious studies. Elim Bible Institute And College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Lima. Students from in state pay about $9,678 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $11,998 to complete the religious studies program here. Religious Studies graduates of Elim Bible Institute And College earn a median of $18,339 early in their careers. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted.
Columbia University In The City Of New York is a great value for students pursuing a degree in religious studies, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $70,517 in tuition and fees. Religious Studies graduates carry a median of $23,258 in student loans. Religious Studies graduates of Columbia University In The City Of New York earn a median of $86,770 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,258 median debt. The acceptance rate is 4%.
A rank of #4 makes Uta Mesivta Of Kiryas Joel one of the best values for religious studies. Located in the city of Monroe, Uta Mesivta Of Kiryas Joel is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $15,500 in tuition and fees. Early-career religious studies graduates make about $22,543.
Mesivta Torah Vodaath Rabbinical Seminary is a great value for students pursuing a degree in religious studies, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Brooklyn, Mesivta Torah Vodaath Rabbinical Seminary is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,200. Early-career religious studies graduates make about $15,903. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Talmudical Seminary Of Bobov came in at #6 for value in religious studies this year. Talmudical Seminary Of Bobov is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Brooklyn. In-state tuition and fees average $13,200. Soon after graduation, religious studies degree recipients from Talmudical Seminary Of Bobov generally make around $17,618. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
Beer Yaakov Talmudic Seminary came in at #7 for value in religious studies this year. Set in the suburb of Spring Valley, Beer Yaakov Talmudic Seminary is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $12,300 in tuition and fees. Religious Studies graduates of Beer Yaakov Talmudic Seminary earn a median of $11,674 early in their careers.
Kehilath Yakov Rabbinical Seminary earned the #8 position for value in religious studies this year. Located in the rural area of Ossining, Kehilath Yakov Rabbinical Seminary is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,200. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $36,442.
Yeshivath Viznitz landed the #9 spot for religious studies value this year. Located in the suburb of Monsey, Yeshivath Viznitz is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,000. Soon after graduation, religious studies degree recipients from Yeshivath Viznitz generally make around $13,078.
Yeshiva Dmonsey Rabbinical College earned the #10 position for value in religious studies this year. Yeshiva Dmonsey Rabbinical College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Monsey. In-state tuition and fees average $9,200. Roughly 37% of applicants are accepted.
Yeshiva Karlin Stolin came in at #11 for value in religious studies this year. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Yeshiva Karlin Stolin is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,000.
Yeshiva Shaarei Torah Of Rockland earned the #12 position for value in religious studies this year. Set in the suburb of Suffern, Yeshiva Shaarei Torah Of Rockland is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $13,000 in tuition and fees. Early-career religious studies graduates make about $29,861. Yeshiva Shaarei Torah Of Rockland admits about 37% of applicants.
Mirrer Yeshiva Cent Institute earned the #13 position for value in religious studies this year. Mirrer Yeshiva Cent Institute is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Brooklyn. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,600. Median earnings reach $41,192 ten years out. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
United Talmudical Seminary came in at #14 for value in religious studies this year. Located in the city of Brooklyn, United Talmudical Seminary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,000. Soon after graduation, religious studies degree recipients from United Talmudical Seminary generally make around $17,779.
Rabbinical College Bobover Yeshiva Bnei Zion earned the #15 position for value in religious studies this year. Rabbinical College Bobover Yeshiva Bnei Zion is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Brooklyn. Students from in state pay about $10,000 in tuition and fees. Religious Studies graduates of Rabbinical College Bobover Yeshiva Bnei Zion earn a median of $10,153 early in their careers.
Yeshiva Derech Chaim landed the #16 spot for religious studies value this year. Yeshiva Derech Chaim is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Brooklyn. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,700. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Bet Medrash Gadol Ateret Torah placed #17 among the best values for religious studies. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Bet Medrash Gadol Ateret Torah is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $10,700 in tuition and fees. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Talmudical Seminary Oholei Torah earned the #18 position for value in religious studies this year. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Talmudical Seminary Oholei Torah is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,750. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $39,230. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Yeshiva Of Nitra Rabbinical College placed #19 among the best values for religious studies. Located in the rural area of Chester, Yeshiva Of Nitra Rabbinical College is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $14,000. Median earnings reach $41,785 ten years out.
Machzikei Hadath Rabbinical College landed the #20 spot for religious studies value this year. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Machzikei Hadath Rabbinical College is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $13,500 in tuition and fees. Early-career religious studies graduates make about $18,546. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted.
Central Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim Lubavitz ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best value religious studies schools. Central Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim Lubavitz is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Brooklyn. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,400. Religious Studies graduates of Central Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim Lubavitz earn a median of $9,428 early in their careers. Central Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim Lubavitz admits about 87% of applicants.
Jewish Theological Seminary Of America ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best value religious studies schools. Located in the city of New York, Jewish Theological Seminary Of America is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $71,910 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $16,750 to complete the religious studies program here. Religious Studies graduates of Jewish Theological Seminary Of America earn a median of $78,469 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 49%.
Yeshiva University placed #23 among the best values for religious studies. Yeshiva University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. In-state tuition and fees average $51,800. Religious Studies graduates carry a median of $20,625 in student loans. Soon after graduation, religious studies degree recipients from Yeshiva University generally make around $52,838. Set against $20,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Yeshiva University admits about 56% of applicants.
This list is compiled 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 · 23 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 23 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.