by our College Data Analytics Team
[Divinity/Ministry](/majors/theology-and-religious-vocations/theological-ministerial-studies/divinity-ministry/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 19 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for divinity/ministry students.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the divinity/ministry degrees they offer, see the list below.
New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary tops our 2027 list of the best value divinity/ministry schools in the United States. New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of New Orleans. Students from in state pay about $12,368 in tuition and fees.
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary is a great value for students pursuing a degree in divinity/ministry, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Wake Forest, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,318. Divinity/ministry graduates of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary earn a median of $54,863 early in their careers. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
Holy Apostles College And Seminary came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value divinity/ministry schools. Located in the suburb of Cromwell, Holy Apostles College And Seminary is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,580.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Faith Baptist Bible College And Theological Seminary earned it the #4 place for divinity/ministry. Set in the suburb of Ankeny, Faith Baptist Bible College And Theological Seminary is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $20,270 in tuition and fees. Soon after graduation, divinity/ministry degree recipients from Faith Baptist Bible College And Theological Seminary generally make around $21,543. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Oklahoma Baptist University earned it the #5 place for divinity/ministry. Located in the town of Shawnee, Oklahoma Baptist University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $35,570. Students borrow a median of $23,425 to complete the divinity/ministry program here. Divinity/ministry graduates of Oklahoma Baptist University earn a median of $47,100 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,425 median debt. The acceptance rate is 49%.
Moody Bible Institute placed #6 among the best values for divinity/ministry. Set in the city of Chicago, Moody Bible Institute is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,786. Divinity/ministry graduates carry a median of $14,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, divinity/ministry degree recipients from Moody Bible Institute generally make around $33,488. Set against $14,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
Johnson University earned the #7 position for value in divinity/ministry this year. Located in the rural area of Knoxville, Johnson University is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $21,122. Divinity/ministry graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Early-career divinity/ministry graduates make about $33,627. That is a strong return on a $23,250 median debt. The acceptance rate is 65%.
Sum Bible College And Theological Seminary earned the #8 position for value in divinity/ministry this year. Sum Bible College And Theological Seminary is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of El Dorado Hills. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,460. Divinity/ministry graduates carry a median of $29,299 in student loans. Early-career divinity/ministry graduates make about $26,407. Set against $29,299 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 41%.
Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary earned the #9 position for value in divinity/ministry this year. Located in the city of Kansas City, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,530. Divinity/ministry graduates carry a median of $15,559 in student loans. Early-career divinity/ministry graduates make about $73,186. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Grand Canyon University earned the #10 position for value in divinity/ministry this year. Set in the city of Phoenix, Grand Canyon University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,508. Students borrow a median of $30,027 to complete the divinity/ministry program here. Divinity/ministry graduates of Grand Canyon University earn a median of $56,285 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Notre Dame placed #11 among the best values for divinity/ministry. Located in the suburb of Notre Dame, University Of Notre Dame is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $65,025 in tuition and fees. Divinity/ministry graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, divinity/ministry degree recipients from University Of Notre Dame generally make around $45,874. Set against $19,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted.
Oral Roberts University earned the #12 position for value in divinity/ministry this year. Set in the city of Tulsa, Oral Roberts University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $35,470. Students borrow a median of $30,750 to complete the divinity/ministry program here. Divinity/ministry graduates of Oral Roberts University earn a median of $27,088 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
Northwestern College Minnesota earned the #13 position for value in divinity/ministry this year. Northwestern College Minnesota is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Paul. In-state tuition and fees average $37,920. Divinity/ministry graduates carry a median of $22,000 in student loans. Divinity/ministry graduates of Northwestern College Minnesota earn a median of $32,815 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,000 median debt. Northwestern College Minnesota admits about 94% of applicants.
Liberty University came in at #14 for value in divinity/ministry this year. Set in the city of Lynchburg, Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,173. Divinity/ministry graduates carry a median of $27,414 in student loans. Soon after graduation, divinity/ministry degree recipients from Liberty University generally make around $53,626. Set against $27,414 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 99%.
Biola University ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value divinity/ministry schools. Set in the suburb of La Mirada, Biola University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $48,984. Typical student debt for divinity/ministry graduates is $25,308. Soon after graduation, divinity/ministry degree recipients from Biola University generally make around $42,625. That is a strong return on a $25,308 median debt. The acceptance rate is 74%.
George Fox University landed the #16 spot for divinity/ministry value this year. Set in the town of Newberg, George Fox University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $41,320. Typical student debt for divinity/ministry graduates is $25,324. Soon after graduation, divinity/ministry degree recipients from George Fox University generally make around $39,270. Set against $25,324 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Southeastern University earned the #17 position for value in divinity/ministry this year. Southeastern University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lakeland. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $32,950. Students borrow a median of $23,218 to complete the divinity/ministry program here. Divinity/ministry graduates of Southeastern University earn a median of $29,809 early in their careers. Set against $23,218 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 53%.
Valley Forge Christian College earned the #18 position for value in divinity/ministry this year. Valley Forge Christian College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Phoenixville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $25,240. Students borrow a median of $28,000 to complete the divinity/ministry program here. Early-career divinity/ministry graduates make about $25,051. Set against $28,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
The Masters College And Seminary ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best value divinity/ministry schools. The Masters College And Seminary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Santa Clarita. Students from in state pay about $39,020 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,774 to complete the divinity/ministry program here. Early-career divinity/ministry graduates make about $43,677. Set against $23,774 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Divinity/Ministry rankings across degree levels:
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 · 19 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 19 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
