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. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 28 schools to find the best return on investment for divinity/ministry students.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in divinity/ministry, balancing cost against outcomes.
New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary earned the #1 spot for value among divinity/ministry schools in the Southeast Region. Located in the city of New Orleans, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,368.
A rank of #2 makes Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary one of the best values for divinity/ministry. Set in the suburb of Wake Forest, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,318. Early-career divinity/ministry graduates make about $54,863. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
Vanderbilt University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in divinity/ministry, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,498. Divinity/ministry graduates carry a median of $13,975 in student loans. Divinity/ministry graduates of Vanderbilt University earn a median of $42,583 early in their careers. Set against $13,975 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 6% of applicants are accepted.
Erskine College And Seminary is a great value for students pursuing a degree in divinity/ministry, landing the #4 spot this year. Erskine College And Seminary is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Due West. Students from in state pay about $36,710 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for divinity/ministry graduates is $27,000. Divinity/ministry graduates of Erskine College And Seminary earn a median of $35,695 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
Virginia Union University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in divinity/ministry, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Richmond, Virginia Union University is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,830. Divinity/ministry graduates carry a median of $30,593 in student loans. Early-career divinity/ministry graduates make about $25,910. Set against $30,593 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Virginia Union University admits about 98% of applicants.
Lenoir Rhyne University came in at #6 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. In-state tuition and fees average $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. Set against $26,900 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Regent University placed #7 among the best values for divinity/ministry. Regent University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Virginia Beach. In-state tuition and fees average $21,650. Typical student debt for divinity/ministry graduates is $29,451. Early-career divinity/ministry graduates make about $49,840. Set against $29,451 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.
Shaw University landed the #8 spot for divinity/ministry value this year. Set in the city of Raleigh, Shaw University is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,738. Divinity/ministry graduates carry a median of $37,044 in student loans. Early-career divinity/ministry graduates make about $28,533. That is a strong return on a $37,044 median debt. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Milligan College landed the #9 spot for divinity/ministry value this year. Milligan College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Milligan. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $40,450. Students borrow a median of $26,150 to complete the divinity/ministry program here. Divinity/ministry graduates of Milligan College earn a median of $64,327 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,150 median debt. Milligan College admits about 72% of applicants.
Johnson University landed the #10 spot for divinity/ministry value this year. Located in the rural area of Knoxville, Johnson University is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $21,122 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the divinity/ministry program here. Divinity/ministry graduates of Johnson University earn a median of $37,989 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,250 median debt. The acceptance rate is 65%.
Bob Jones University ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value divinity/ministry schools. Bob Jones University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Greenville. In-state tuition and fees average $22,892. Students borrow a median of $20,497 to complete the divinity/ministry program here. Early-career divinity/ministry graduates make about $28,325. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Harding University landed the #12 spot for divinity/ministry value this year. Set in the town of Searcy, Harding University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $25,962 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for divinity/ministry graduates is $26,715. Soon after graduation, divinity/ministry degree recipients from Harding University generally make around $53,629. That is a strong return on a $26,715 median debt. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
Emory University ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value divinity/ministry schools. Located in the city of Atlanta, Emory University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $64,280. Students borrow a median of $19,431 to complete the divinity/ministry program here. Soon after graduation, divinity/ministry degree recipients from Emory University generally make around $74,348. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 11%.
Heritage Christian University placed #14 among the best values for divinity/ministry. Set in the city of Florence, Heritage Christian University is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $11,982 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $42,597 ten years after entry. Heritage Christian University admits about 90% of applicants.
Grace College Of Divinity came in at #15 for value in divinity/ministry this year. Set in the city of Fayetteville, Grace College Of Divinity is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,105. Roughly 53% of applicants are accepted.
Anderson University Sc ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value divinity/ministry schools. Set in the city of Anderson, Anderson University Sc is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,970. Divinity/ministry graduates carry a median of $28,034 in student loans. Early-career divinity/ministry graduates make about $49,036. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Anderson University Sc admits about 55% of applicants.
Piedmont International University landed the #17 spot for divinity/ministry value this year. Set in the city of Winston-Salem, Piedmont International University is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,575. Students borrow a median of $35,382 to complete the divinity/ministry program here. Divinity/ministry graduates of Piedmont International University earn a median of $48,372 early in their careers. Set against $35,382 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Piedmont International University admits about 40% of applicants.
Mercer University landed the #18 spot for divinity/ministry value this year. Mercer University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Macon. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $31,565. Typical student debt for divinity/ministry graduates is $32,463. Divinity/ministry graduates of Mercer University earn a median of $42,866 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $32,463 median debt. The acceptance rate is 69%.
Lipscomb University came in at #19 for value in divinity/ministry this year. Lipscomb University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. In-state tuition and fees average $40,572. Divinity/ministry graduates carry a median of $23,529 in student loans. Early-career divinity/ministry graduates make about $48,949. Set against $23,529 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 68%.
Columbia International University came in at #20 for value in divinity/ministry this year. Columbia International University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Columbia. Students from in state pay about $27,900 in tuition and fees. Divinity/ministry graduates carry a median of $21,667 in student loans. Divinity/ministry graduates of Columbia International University earn a median of $32,296 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Columbia International University admits about 94% of applicants.
Sewanee The University Of The South landed the #21 spot for divinity/ministry value this year. Located in the rural area of Sewanee, Sewanee The University Of The South is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $56,120. Typical student debt for divinity/ministry graduates is $22,091. Early-career divinity/ministry graduates make about $36,927. That is a strong return on a $22,091 median debt. The acceptance rate is 57%.
Brewton Parker College came in at #22 for value in divinity/ministry this year. Located in the rural area of Mount Vernon, Brewton Parker College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $20,120. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $42,009. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Luther Rice University And Seminary earned the #23 position for value in divinity/ministry this year. Luther Rice University And Seminary is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Lithonia. In-state tuition and fees average $11,320. Students borrow a median of $36,730 to complete the divinity/ministry program here. Early-career divinity/ministry graduates make about $58,008. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Luther Rice University And Seminary admits about 92% of applicants.
Wake Forest University ranked #24 on our 2027 list of the best value divinity/ministry schools. Located in the city of Winston-Salem, Wake Forest University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,642. Divinity/ministry graduates carry a median of $21,577 in student loans. Early-career divinity/ministry graduates make about $40,732. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 22% of applicants are accepted.
Duke University ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best value divinity/ministry schools. Located in the city of Durham, Duke University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $68,758. Divinity/ministry graduates carry a median of $13,296 in student loans. Soon after graduation, divinity/ministry degree recipients from Duke University generally make around $70,809. Set against $13,296 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 6%.
These schools also delivered strong value for divinity/ministry this year:
The ranking above is published 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 · 28 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 28 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.