2027 Best Value Divinity/Ministry Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Divinity/Ministry](/majors/theology-and-religious-vocations/theological-ministerial-studies/divinity-ministry/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong divinity/ministry education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 16 schools to find the best return on investment for divinity/ministry students.
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2027 Best Value Divinity/Ministry Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in divinity/ministry, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Divinity/Ministry Schools
Trinity International University Illinois tops our 2027 list of the best value divinity/ministry schools in the Great Lakes Region. Located in the suburb of Deerfield, Trinity International University Illinois is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,320. Students borrow a median of $26,892 to complete the divinity/ministry program here. Soon after graduation, divinity/ministry degree recipients from Trinity International University Illinois generally make around $50,178. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in divinity/ministry will find it at Andrews University, which ranked #2. Andrews University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Berrien Springs. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $35,056. Divinity/ministry graduates carry a median of $26,314 in student loans. Divinity/ministry graduates of Andrews University earn a median of $68,117 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,314 median debt. Andrews University admits about 82% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Chicago one of the best values for divinity/ministry. University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $69,324. Divinity/ministry graduates carry a median of $15,854 in student loans. Divinity/ministry graduates of University Of Chicago earn a median of $45,985 early in their careers. Set against $15,854 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 4%.
Students looking for strong value in divinity/ministry will find it at North Park University, which ranked #4. 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. Typical student debt for divinity/ministry graduates is $27,360. Divinity/ministry graduates of North Park University earn a median of $51,611 early in their careers. Set against $27,360 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 68%.
Students looking for strong value in divinity/ministry will find it at Grace College And Theological Seminary, which ranked #5. Grace College And Theological Seminary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Winona Lake. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $29,645. Typical student debt for divinity/ministry graduates is $21,211. Early-career divinity/ministry graduates make about $42,188. Set against $21,211 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Grace College And Theological Seminary admits about 82% of applicants.
Cornerstone University placed #6 among the best values for divinity/ministry. Set in the city of Grand Rapids, Cornerstone University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $23,000 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $43,009 to complete the divinity/ministry program here. Divinity/ministry graduates of Cornerstone University earn a median of $46,456 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cornerstone University admits about 78% of applicants.
Ohio Christian University placed #7 among the best values for divinity/ministry. Set in the rural area of Circleville, Ohio Christian University is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $19,190. Students borrow a median of $30,947 to complete the divinity/ministry program here. Soon after graduation, divinity/ministry degree recipients from Ohio Christian University generally make around $45,829. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 38%.
Moody Bible Institute landed the #8 spot for divinity/ministry value this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Moody Bible Institute is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $15,786. Students borrow a median of $14,000 to complete the divinity/ministry program here. Early-career divinity/ministry graduates make about $47,689. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
Ashland University came in at #9 for value in divinity/ministry this year. Set in the town of Ashland, Ashland University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $31,210. Divinity/ministry graduates carry a median of $24,536 in student loans. Early-career divinity/ministry graduates make about $52,813. That is a strong return on a $24,536 median debt. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Capital University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value divinity/ministry schools. Set in the suburb of Columbus, Capital University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $43,234. Divinity/ministry graduates carry a median of $28,269 in student loans. Divinity/ministry graduates of Capital University earn a median of $46,516 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $28,269 median debt. Capital University admits about 70% of applicants.
Cedarville University came in at #11 for value in divinity/ministry this year. Cedarville University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Cedarville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,150. Divinity/ministry graduates carry a median of $22,110 in student loans. Soon after graduation, divinity/ministry degree recipients from Cedarville University generally make around $57,104. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cedarville University admits about 65% of applicants.
Earlham College placed #12 among the best values for divinity/ministry. Set in the town of Richmond, Earlham College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $53,930. Typical student debt for divinity/ministry graduates is $25,125. Early-career divinity/ministry graduates make about $43,038. Set against $25,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Earlham College admits about 73% of applicants.
Virginia Baptist College earned the #13 position for value in divinity/ministry this year. Set in the town of Lawrenceburg, Virginia Baptist College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,712. The acceptance rate is 95%.
Anderson University Indiana ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value divinity/ministry schools. Set in the city of Anderson, Anderson University Indiana is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,240. Divinity/ministry graduates carry a median of $27,401 in student loans. Divinity/ministry graduates of Anderson University Indiana earn a median of $41,376 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,401 median debt. The acceptance rate is 79%.
University Of Notre Dame landed the #15 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. Typical student debt for divinity/ministry graduates is $19,000. Soon after graduation, divinity/ministry degree recipients from University Of Notre Dame generally make around $44,657. Set against $19,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 11%.
Wheaton College Illinois earned the #16 position for value in divinity/ministry this year. Set in the suburb of Wheaton, Wheaton College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $45,546 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for divinity/ministry graduates is $23,292. Soon after graduation, divinity/ministry degree recipients from Wheaton College Illinois generally make around $56,069. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 16 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.
