by our College Data Analytics Team
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Most Well Attended Theology & Religious Vocations Major for a Doctorate” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
In 2020-2021, 27,459 people earned their degree in theology and religious vocations, making the major the 26th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, theology and religious vocations graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $36,020 and had an average of $26,322 in loans still to pay off.
At the doctor’s degree level specifically, there were 2,356 theology and religious vocations graduates with average earnings and debt of $75,260 and $0 respectively.
This year’s “Most Well Attended Theology & Religious Vocations Major for a Doctorate” ranking looked at 189 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in theology and religious vocations. To top this list, a school must have a successful theology and religious vocations program that graduates more students in the field than other colleges that offer the same major.
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 “Most Well Attended Theology & Religious Vocations Major for a Doctorate” list to help you make the college decision.
We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.
The colleges and universities below are the best for doctor’s degree theology & religious vocations students.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Liberty University. The school came in at #1 for the Most Well Attended Theology & Religious Vocations Major for a Doctorate. Liberty University is a large school located in Lynchburg, Virginia that handed out 191 doctorate’s theology and religious vocations degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Theology & Religious Vocations at Liberty University
Out of the 189 schools in the Most Well Attended Theology & Religious Vocations Major for a Doctorate that were part of this year’s ranking, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary landed the #2 spot on the list. Located in Louisville, Kentucky, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 176 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s theology and religious vocations students in 2020-2021.
Read more about Theology & Religious Vocations at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Theology & Religious Vocations Major for a Doctorate list. MBTS is located in Kansas City, Missouri and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 147 doctorate’s theology and religious vocations degrees to qualified students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.7% 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%.
Out of the 189 schools in the Most Well Attended Theology & Religious Vocations Major for a Doctorate that were part of this year’s ranking, Regent University landed the #4 spot on the list. Regent is a private not-for-profit institution located in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 118 doctorate’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Theology & Religious Vocations at Regent
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Fuller Theological Seminary. The school came in at #5 for the Most Well Attended Theology & Religious Vocations Major for a Doctorate. Pasadena, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctorate’s theology and religious vocations degrees to 105 students in 2020-2021.
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 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Theology & Religious Vocations Major for a Doctorate ranking. New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary is a small school located in New Orleans, Louisiana that handed out 73 doctorate’s theology and religious vocations degrees in 2020-2021.
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Theology & Religious Vocations Major for a Doctorate ranking, coming in at #7. Wake Forest, North Carolina is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctorate’s theology and religious vocations degrees to 64 students in 2020-2021.
Wesley Theological Seminary did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Theology & Religious Vocations Major for a Doctorate ranking, coming in at #8. Wesley Theological Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution located in Washington, District of Columbia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 55 doctorate’s degrees in 2020-2021.
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.
Read full report on Theology & Religious Vocations at Wesley Theological Seminary
Asbury Theological Seminary ranked #9 on this year’s Most Well Attended Theology & Religious Vocations Major for a Doctorate list. Wilmore, Kentucky is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctorate’s theology and religious vocations degrees to 52 students in 2020-2021.
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. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Theology & Religious Vocations at Asbury Theological Seminary
United Theological Seminary landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Theology & Religious Vocations Major for a Doctorate ranking. United Theological Seminary is located in Dayton, Ohio and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 48 doctorate’s theology and religious vocations degrees to qualified students.
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.
Read more about Theology & Religious Vocations at United Theological Seminary
George Fox University ranked #11 on this year’s Most Well Attended Theology & Religious Vocations Major for a Doctorate list. GFU is located in Newberg, Oregon and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 38 doctorate’s theology and religious vocations degrees to qualified students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Theology & Religious Vocations at George Fox University
New York Theological Seminary ranked #12 on this year’s Most Well Attended Theology & Religious Vocations Major for a Doctorate list. New York Theological Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution located in New York, New York. The school has a small population, and it awarded 37 doctorate’s degrees in 2020-2021.
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 Theology & Religious Vocations at New York Theological Seminary
With a ranking of #13, Trinity International University - Illinois did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Theology & Religious Vocations Major for a Doctorate list. TIU Illinois is a small school located in Deerfield, Illinois that handed out 36 doctorate’s theology and religious vocations degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Full Trinity International University - Illinois Theology & Religious Vocations Report
With a ranking of #14, Gordon - Conwell Theological Seminary did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Theology & Religious Vocations Major for a Doctorate list. South Hamilton, Massachusetts is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctorate’s theology and religious vocations degrees to 33 students in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. 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.
Read more about Theology & Religious Vocations at Gordon - Conwell Theological Seminary
Andrews University ranked #15 on this year’s Most Well Attended Theology & Religious Vocations Major for a Doctorate list. Andrews University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Berrien Springs, Michigan. The school has a small population, and it awarded 32 doctorate’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Theology & Religious Vocations at Andrews University
Drew University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Theology & Religious Vocations Major for a Doctorate ranking, coming in at #15. Drew University is a small school located in Madison, New Jersey that handed out 32 doctorate’s theology and religious vocations degrees in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.9% 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%.
With a ranking of #17, Duke University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Theology & Religious Vocations Major for a Doctorate list. This fairly large school is located in Durham, North Carolina, and it awarded 31 doctorate’s theology and religious vocations degrees in 2020-2021.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.3% 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 school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Theology & Religious Vocations at Duke University
Emory University ranked #18 on this year’s Most Well Attended Theology & Religious Vocations Major for a Doctorate list. Located in Atlanta, Georgia, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 30 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s theology and religious vocations students in 2020-2021.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
With a ranking of #19, Biola University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Theology & Religious Vocations Major for a Doctorate list. La Mirada, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctorate’s theology and religious vocations degrees to 28 students in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.7% 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 Master’s University and Seminary came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Theology & Religious Vocations Major for a Doctorate ranking. The Master’s University and Seminary is a small school located in Santa Clarita, California that handed out 27 doctorate’s theology and religious vocations degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.5% 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 Theology & Religious Vocations at The Master’s University
Evangel University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Theology & Religious Vocations Major for a Doctorate ranking, coming in at #21. Springfield, Missouri is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctorate’s theology and religious vocations degrees to 24 students in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Theology & Religious Vocations at Evangel University
With a ranking of #21, Dallas Theological Seminary did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Theology & Religious Vocations Major for a Doctorate list. Dallas Theological Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution located in Dallas, Texas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 24 doctorate’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. 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.
With a ranking of #23, South University’s online programs did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Theology & Religious Vocations Major for a Doctorate list. South University’s online programs is a medium-sized school located in Savannah, Georgia that handed out 22 doctorate’s theology and religious vocations degrees in 2020-2021.
Full South University’s online programs Theology & Religious Vocations Report
With a ranking of #23, Pentecostal Theological Seminary did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Theology & Religious Vocations Major for a Doctorate list. Located in Cleveland, Tennessee, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 22 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s theology and religious vocations students in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Pentecostal Theological Seminary Theology & Religious Vocations Report
McCormick Theological Seminary landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Theology & Religious Vocations Major for a Doctorate ranking. McCormick Theological Seminary is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 22 doctorate’s theology and religious vocations degrees to qualified students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.2% 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%. 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 Theology & Religious Vocations at McCormick Theological Seminary
Not only did these schools make the top 29 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
