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2023 Best Value Religious Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k

10 Ranked Colleges
292 Degrees Awarded
$17,400 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Religious Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Religious Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking.

In 2020-2021, 1,417 people earned their degree in religious education, making the major the 216th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, religious education graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $30,694 and had an average of $27,203 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 292 religious education graduates with average earnings and debt of $26,278 and $24,114 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Religious Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 10 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in religious education. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great religious education programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the religious education program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Religious Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. 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.

Best Value Religious Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Religious Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 10 Best Value Colleges for Religious Education (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region

1
Moody Theological Seminary and Graduate School crest
Moody Bible Institute
Chicago, Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Moody Bible Institute. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Religious Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Moody Theological Seminary and Graduate School is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 29 ’s religious ed degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region religious ed students whose families make $0-$30k list, Moody Theological Seminary and Graduate School has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Religious Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Moody Theological Seminary and Graduate School is $20,301 for great lakes region religious ed students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.3% 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%.

Read more about Religious Education at Moody Theological Seminary and Graduate School

2

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Franciscan University of Steubenville. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Religious Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Franciscan University of Steubenville is a small school located in Steubenville, Ohio that handed out 63 ’s religious ed degrees in 2020-2021.

Franciscan U also took the #1 spot in our “Best Religious Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Franciscan U is $16,790 for Great Lakes Region Religious Ed students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. 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%.

Read full report on Religious Education at Franciscan University of Steubenville

3
Olivet Nazarene crest
Olivet Nazarene University
Bourbonnais, Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Olivet Nazarene University. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Religious Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Olivet Nazarene is a private not-for-profit institution located in Bourbonnais, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 9 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region religious ed students whose families make $0-$30k list, Olivet Nazarene has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Religious Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Olivet Nazarene University is $16,451 for great lakes region religious ed students whose families make $0-$30k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Olivet Nazarene Religious Education Report

4

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Trinity International University - Illinois. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Religious Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. This small school is located in Deerfield, Illinois, and it awarded 39 ’s religious ed degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region religious ed students whose families make $0-$30k list, TIU Illinois has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Religious Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for TIU Illinois is $17,670 for great lakes region religious ed students whose families make $0-$30k.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 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 Religious Education at Trinity International University - Illinois

5
Wheaton College Illinois crest
Wheaton College Illinois
Wheaton, Illinois

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Wheaton College Illinois. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Religious Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Wheaton College Illinois is located in Wheaton, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 35 ’s religious ed degrees to qualified students.

Wheaton College Illinois also took the #4 spot in our “Best Religious Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Wheaton College Illinois is $15,933 for Great Lakes Region Religious Ed students whose families make $0-$30k.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.5%, 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 90%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read full report on Religious Education at Wheaton College Illinois

6

Grace Christian University ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Religious Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Wyoming, Michigan, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 8 diplomas to qualified ’s religious ed students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Grace, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Religious Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Grace Christian University is $14,466 for great lakes region religious ed students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read more about Religious Education at Grace Christian University

7

Lincoln Christian University landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Best Value Religious Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Lincoln Christian University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Lincoln, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 3 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Lincoln Christian College and Seminary, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Religious Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $16,161 for great lakes region religious ed students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Lincoln Christian College and Seminary.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 5.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Religious Education at Lincoln Christian University

8
Ashland crest
Ashland University
Ashland, Ohio

Ashland University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Religious Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Ashland, Ohio, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 4 degrees to qualified ’s religious ed students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region religious ed students whose families make $0-$30k list, Ashland has also earned the #6 rank in our “Best Religious Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $19,728 for Great Lakes Region Religious Ed students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Ashland.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Ashland University Religious Education Report

9
Cornerstone crest
Cornerstone University
Grand Rapids, Michigan

Cornerstone University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Religious Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 5 diplomas to qualified ’s religious ed students in 2020-2021.

Cornerstone not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Religious Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Cornerstone University is $17,675 for great lakes region religious ed students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.3% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Full Cornerstone University Religious Education Report

10

Indiana Wesleyan University - National & Global landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Best Value Religious Ed Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Indiana Wesleyan University - National & Global is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Marion, Indiana. It awarded 34 ’s religious ed degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region religious ed students whose families make $0-$30k list, IWU has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Religious Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $18,474 for great lakes region religious ed students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Indiana Wesleyan University - National & Global.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 5.0% 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 Indiana Wesleyan University - National & Global Religious Education Report

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