2026 Best Value Divinity/Ministry Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[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.
College Factual analyzed 54 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value divinity/ministry schools.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Divinity/Ministry Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the divinity/ministry degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Divinity/Ministry Schools
North Park University earned the #1 spot for value among divinity/ministry schools in the Great Lakes Region. North Park University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. In-state tuition and fees average $36,710. Divinity/ministry graduates carry a median of $27,360 in student loans. Divinity/ministry graduates of North Park University earn a median of $51,611 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,360 median debt. The acceptance rate is 68%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Grace College And Theological Seminary earned it the #2 place for divinity/ministry. Set in the town of Winona Lake, Grace College And Theological Seminary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $29,645. Divinity/ministry graduates carry a median of $21,211 in student loans. Divinity/ministry graduates of Grace College And Theological Seminary earn a median of $42,188 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Andrews University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value divinity/ministry schools. Located in the town of Berrien Springs, Andrews University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $35,056 in tuition and fees. Divinity/ministry graduates carry a median of $26,314 in student loans. Early-career divinity/ministry graduates make about $68,117. Set against $26,314 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Andrews University admits about 82% of applicants.
University Of Chicago is a great value for students pursuing a degree in divinity/ministry, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $69,324. Divinity/ministry graduates carry a median of $15,854 in student loans. Early-career divinity/ministry graduates make about $45,985. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Chicago admits about 4% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes Trinity International University Illinois one of the best values for divinity/ministry. Trinity International University Illinois is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Deerfield. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,320. Students borrow a median of $26,892 to complete the divinity/ministry program here. Early-career divinity/ministry graduates make about $50,178. Set against $26,892 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted.
Ashland University placed #6 among the best values for divinity/ministry. Located in the town of Ashland, Ashland University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $31,210. Students borrow a median of $24,536 to complete the divinity/ministry program here. Divinity/ministry graduates of Ashland University earn a median of $52,813 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Ohio Christian University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value divinity/ministry schools. Set in the rural area of Circleville, Ohio Christian University is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $19,190 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for divinity/ministry graduates is $30,947. Divinity/ministry graduates of Ohio Christian University earn a median of $45,829 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Ohio Christian University admits about 38% of applicants.
Anderson University Indiana came in at #8 for value in divinity/ministry this year. Located in the city of Anderson, Anderson University Indiana is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,240. Typical student debt for divinity/ministry graduates is $27,401. Soon after graduation, divinity/ministry degree recipients from Anderson University Indiana generally make around $41,376. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Anderson University Indiana admits about 79% of applicants.
Cornerstone University landed the #9 spot for divinity/ministry value this year. Located in the city of Grand Rapids, Cornerstone University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $23,000. Divinity/ministry graduates carry a median of $43,009 in student loans. Early-career divinity/ministry graduates make about $46,456. That is a strong return on a $43,009 median debt. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Capital University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value divinity/ministry schools. Capital University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Columbus. In-state tuition and fees average $43,234. Typical student debt for divinity/ministry graduates is $28,269. Soon after graduation, divinity/ministry degree recipients from Capital University generally make around $46,516. That is a strong return on a $28,269 median debt. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
Earlham College landed the #11 spot for divinity/ministry value this year. Earlham College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Richmond. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $53,930. Divinity/ministry graduates carry a median of $25,125 in student loans. Early-career divinity/ministry graduates make about $43,038. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
Moody Bible Institute came in at #12 for value in divinity/ministry this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Moody Bible Institute is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,786. Typical student debt for divinity/ministry graduates is $14,000. Divinity/ministry graduates of Moody Bible Institute earn a median of $47,689 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,000 median debt. Moody Bible Institute admits about 83% of applicants.
Cedarville University placed #13 among the best values for divinity/ministry. Set in the rural area of Cedarville, Cedarville University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,150. Divinity/ministry graduates carry a median of $22,110 in student loans. Divinity/ministry graduates of Cedarville University earn a median of $57,104 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 65%.
University Of Notre Dame landed the #14 spot for divinity/ministry value this year. 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 $44,657. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Notre Dame admits about 11% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 54 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 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.
