2027 Best Value Religious Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Religious Education](/majors/theology-and-religious-vocations/religious-education/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 5 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value religious education schools.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Religious Education Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the religious education degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Religious Education Schools
North Park University earned the #1 spot for value among religious education schools in the Great Lakes Region. Set in the city of Chicago, North Park University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $36,710. Religious Education graduates carry a median of $27,360 in student loans. Religious Education graduates of North Park University earn a median of $51,611 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. North Park University admits about 68% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Moody Bible Institute earned it the #2 place for religious education. Moody Bible Institute is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. In-state tuition and fees average $15,786. Religious Education graduates carry a median of $14,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, religious education degree recipients from Moody Bible Institute generally make around $30,671. Set against $14,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in religious education will find it at Mount Vernon Nazarene University, which ranked #3. Located in the town of Mount Vernon, Mount Vernon Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $27,193. Typical student debt for religious education graduates is $26,602. Early-career religious education graduates make about $53,377. Set against $26,602 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Franciscan University Of Steubenville came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value religious education schools. Franciscan University Of Steubenville is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Steubenville. In-state tuition and fees average $34,100. Religious Education graduates carry a median of $26,980 in student loans. Early-career religious education graduates make about $35,803. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 58% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Wheaton College Illinois earned it the #5 place for religious education. Wheaton College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Wheaton. In-state tuition and fees average $45,546. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the religious education program here. Soon after graduation, religious education degree recipients from Wheaton College Illinois generally make around $37,880. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Narrow Religious Education Schools by State
More Religious Education Rankings
View All Religious Education Rankings >
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 · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.
