2026 Best Value Religion/Religious Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools
[Religion/Religious Studies](/majors/philosophy-and-religious-studies/religious-studies/religion-religious-studies/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 581 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value religion/religious studies schools.
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2026 Best Value Religion/Religious Studies Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in religion/religious studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Religion/Religious Studies Schools
For return on investment in religion/religious studies, no school beat University Of Central Florida this year. Set in the suburb of Orlando, University Of Central Florida is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,368, compared with $22,467 for out-of-state students. Religion/religious Studies graduates carry a median of $21,620 in student loans. Soon after graduation, religion/religious studies degree recipients from University Of Central Florida generally make around $51,790. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 40% of applicants are accepted.
American Public University System is a great value for students pursuing a degree in religion/religious studies, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the town of Charles Town, American Public University System is a very large private for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,400. Religion/religious Studies graduates carry a median of $21,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, religion/religious studies degree recipients from American Public University System generally make around $57,404. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in religion/religious studies will find it at University Of Georgia, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,450, with out-of-state students paying around $31,688. Students borrow a median of $21,792 to complete the religion/religious studies program here. Soon after graduation, religion/religious studies degree recipients from University Of Georgia generally make around $53,546. Set against $21,792 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of California Santa Barbara earned it the #4 place for religion/religious studies. University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public school located in the suburb of Santa Barbara. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,444, with out-of-state students paying around $47,332. Religion/religious Studies graduates carry a median of $15,873 in student loans. Religion/religious Studies graduates of University Of California Santa Barbara earn a median of $19,911 early in their careers. Set against $15,873 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 33%.
University Of North Carolina At Charlotte came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value religion/religious studies schools. Set in the city of Charlotte, University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,239 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,492. Typical student debt for religion/religious studies graduates is $24,621. Religion/religious Studies graduates of University Of North Carolina At Charlotte earn a median of $31,123 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,621 median debt. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte admits about 80% of applicants.
Vanguard University Of Southern California earned the #6 position for value in religion/religious studies this year. Vanguard University Of Southern California is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Costa Mesa. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $41,700. Religion/religious Studies graduates carry a median of $21,111 in student loans. Early-career religion/religious studies graduates make about $80,727. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Vanguard University Of Southern California admits about 62% of applicants.
Andrews University landed the #7 spot for religion/religious studies value this year. Located in the town of Berrien Springs, Andrews University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $35,056. Typical student debt for religion/religious studies graduates is $26,314. Soon after graduation, religion/religious studies degree recipients from Andrews University generally make around $62,634. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Saint Leo University came in at #8 for value in religion/religious studies this year. Saint Leo University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the town of Saint Leo. In-state tuition and fees average $30,000. Religion/religious Studies graduates carry a median of $39,471 in student loans. Soon after graduation, religion/religious studies degree recipients from Saint Leo University generally make around $49,458. That is a strong return on a $39,471 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%.
University Of Virginia Main Campus placed #9 among the best values for religion/religious studies. Set in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $23,118, with out-of-state students paying around $61,591. Religion/religious Studies graduates carry a median of $18,267 in student loans. Religion/religious Studies graduates of University Of Virginia Main Campus earn a median of $25,260 early in their careers. Set against $18,267 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 17%.
Wabash College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value religion/religious studies schools. Set in the town of Crawfordsville, Wabash College is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $50,800. Typical student debt for religion/religious studies graduates is $27,000. Early-career religion/religious studies graduates make about $26,455. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Wabash College admits about 63% of applicants.
Faith Evangelical College And Seminary landed the #11 spot for religion/religious studies value this year. Faith Evangelical College And Seminary is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Tacoma. In-state tuition and fees average $8,850. Religion/religious Studies graduates carry a median of $17,813 in student loans. Soon after graduation, religion/religious studies degree recipients from Faith Evangelical College And Seminary generally make around $42,103. That is a strong return on a $17,813 median debt.
Liberty University landed the #12 spot for religion/religious studies value this year. Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lynchburg. In-state tuition and fees average $16,173. Typical student debt for religion/religious studies graduates is $36,495. Early-career religion/religious studies graduates make about $38,540. That is a strong return on a $36,495 median debt. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
University Of St Thomas Minnesota ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value religion/religious studies schools. Set in the city of Saint Paul, University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $54,398. Typical student debt for religion/religious studies graduates is $19,500. Religion/religious Studies graduates of University Of St Thomas Minnesota earn a median of $27,496 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Catholic University Of America landed the #14 spot for religion/religious studies value this year. Set in the city of Washington, Catholic University Of America is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $58,378. Religion/religious Studies graduates carry a median of $25,771 in student loans. Religion/religious Studies graduates of Catholic University Of America earn a median of $65,120 early in their careers. Set against $25,771 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
Baylor University earned the #15 position for value in religion/religious studies this year. Baylor University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Waco. In-state tuition and fees average $58,100. Religion/religious Studies graduates carry a median of $25,612 in student loans. Early-career religion/religious studies graduates make about $31,672. That is a strong return on a $25,612 median debt. Baylor University admits about 51% of applicants.
Other Religion/Religious Studies Degree Levels
Explore the best-value religion/religious studies schools at other degree levels:
View All Religion/Religious Studies Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 581 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 22 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.
