2027 Best Value Divinity/Ministry Master’s Degree Schools
[Divinity/Ministry](/majors/theology-and-religious-vocations/theological-ministerial-studies/divinity-ministry/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. 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 139 schools to find the best return on investment for divinity/ministry students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Divinity/Ministry Schools in the United States
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
Trinity International University Illinois earned the #1 spot for value among divinity/ministry schools in the United States. Trinity International University Illinois is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Deerfield. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Trinity International University Illinois admits about 100% of applicants.
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. In-state tuition and fees average $35,056. Typical student debt for divinity/ministry graduates is $26,314. Early-career divinity/ministry graduates make about $68,117. Set against $26,314 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary is a great value for students pursuing a degree in divinity/ministry, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of New Orleans, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $12,368 in tuition and fees.
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value divinity/ministry schools. Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Wake Forest. Students from in state pay about $11,318 in tuition and fees. Early-career divinity/ministry graduates make about $54,863. Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary admits about 75% of applicants.
University Of Chicago is a great value for students pursuing a degree in divinity/ministry, landing the #5 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. Divinity/ministry graduates of University Of Chicago earn a median of $34,557 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,854 median debt. University Of Chicago admits about 4% of applicants.
Vanderbilt University came in at #6 for value in divinity/ministry this year. Set in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,498. Typical student debt for divinity/ministry graduates is $13,975. Divinity/ministry graduates of Vanderbilt University earn a median of $42,583 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 6%.
Fresno Pacific University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value divinity/ministry schools. Located in the city of Fresno, Fresno Pacific University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $36,660 in tuition and fees. Divinity/ministry graduates carry a median of $24,596 in student loans. Divinity/ministry graduates of Fresno Pacific University earn a median of $60,890 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Fresno Pacific University admits about 64% of applicants.
North Park University placed #8 among the best values for divinity/ministry. 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. Typical student debt for divinity/ministry graduates is $27,360. Soon after graduation, divinity/ministry degree recipients from North Park University generally make around $51,611. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
Holy Apostles College And Seminary landed the #9 spot for divinity/ministry value this year. Holy Apostles College And Seminary is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Cromwell. In-state tuition and fees average $9,580.
Harvard University came in at #10 for value in divinity/ministry this year. Located in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $61,676. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete the divinity/ministry program here. Soon after graduation, divinity/ministry degree recipients from Harvard University generally make around $37,385. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 4%.
University Of St Thomas Texas landed the #11 spot for divinity/ministry value this year. Located in the city of Houston, University Of St Thomas Texas is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,634. Students borrow a median of $23,628 to complete the divinity/ministry program here. Soon after graduation, divinity/ministry degree recipients from University Of St Thomas Texas generally make around $58,265. Set against $23,628 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of St Thomas Texas admits about 90% of applicants.
Grace College And Theological Seminary ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value divinity/ministry schools. Set in the town of Winona Lake, Grace College And Theological Seminary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $29,645 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $21,211 to complete the divinity/ministry program here. 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.
Erskine College And Seminary placed #13 among the best values for divinity/ministry. Set in the rural area of Due West, Erskine College And Seminary is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $36,710. Typical student debt for divinity/ministry graduates is $27,000. Early-career divinity/ministry graduates make about $35,695. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary came in at #14 for value in divinity/ministry this year. Located in the city of Louisville, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,046. Soon after graduation, divinity/ministry degree recipients from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary generally make around $56,478. The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary admits about 56% of applicants.
Evangel University came in at #15 for value in divinity/ministry this year. Evangel University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Springfield. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $28,548. Divinity/ministry graduates carry a median of $24,876 in student loans. Divinity/ministry graduates of Evangel University earn a median of $37,136 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,876 median debt. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Lenoir Rhyne University came in at #16 for value in divinity/ministry this year. Located in the city of Hickory, Lenoir Rhyne University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $31,900. Typical student debt for divinity/ministry graduates is $26,900. Soon after graduation, divinity/ministry degree recipients from Lenoir Rhyne University generally make around $49,985. That is a strong return on a $26,900 median debt. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Virginia Union University landed the #17 spot for divinity/ministry value this year. Located in the city of Richmond, Virginia Union University is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $17,830 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for divinity/ministry graduates is $30,593. Soon after graduation, divinity/ministry degree recipients from Virginia Union University generally make around $25,910. Set against $30,593 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
Cornerstone University came in at #18 for value in divinity/ministry this year. Located in the city of Grand Rapids, Cornerstone University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $23,000. Typical student debt for divinity/ministry graduates is $43,009. Early-career divinity/ministry graduates make about $52,039. Set against $43,009 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Regent University came in at #19 for value in divinity/ministry this year. Located in the city of Virginia Beach, Regent University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $21,650 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for divinity/ministry graduates is $29,451. Soon after graduation, divinity/ministry degree recipients from Regent University generally make around $49,840. Set against $29,451 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 38%.
Moody Bible Institute earned the #20 position for value in divinity/ministry this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Moody Bible Institute is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,786. Students borrow a median of $14,000 to complete the divinity/ministry program here. Divinity/ministry graduates of Moody Bible Institute earn a median of $61,890 early in their careers. Set against $14,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 83%.
Life Pacific College ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best value divinity/ministry schools. Located in the suburb of San Dimas, Life Pacific College is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $22,118 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $22,521 to complete the divinity/ministry program here. Soon after graduation, divinity/ministry degree recipients from Life Pacific College generally make around $39,411. That is a strong return on a $22,521 median debt. Life Pacific College admits about 96% of applicants.
Houston Baptist University came in at #22 for value in divinity/ministry this year. Set in the city of Houston, Houston Baptist University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $39,430. Divinity/ministry graduates carry a median of $25,601 in student loans. Soon after graduation, divinity/ministry degree recipients from Houston Baptist University generally make around $51,968. That is a strong return on a $25,601 median debt. Houston Baptist University admits about 84% of applicants.
Emory University landed the #23 spot for divinity/ministry value this year. Set in the city of Atlanta, Emory University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $64,280. Divinity/ministry graduates carry a median of $19,431 in student loans. Early-career divinity/ministry graduates make about $46,547. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted.
Harding University landed the #24 spot for divinity/ministry value this year. Harding University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Searcy. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $25,962. Divinity/ministry graduates carry a median of $26,715 in student loans. Divinity/ministry graduates of Harding University earn a median of $53,629 early in their careers. Set against $26,715 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Harding University admits about 70% of applicants.
Milligan College came in at #25 for value in divinity/ministry this year. Set in the suburb of Milligan, Milligan College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $40,450 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for divinity/ministry graduates is $26,150. Early-career divinity/ministry graduates make about $64,327. That is a strong return on a $26,150 median debt. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Divinity/Ministry Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in divinity/ministry:
Other Divinity/Ministry Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Divinity/Ministry rankings across degree levels:
View All Divinity/Ministry Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 139 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 139 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.
