by our College Data Analytics Team
[Pre-Theology/Pre-Ministerial Studies](/majors/theology-and-religious-vocations/theological-ministerial-studies/pre-theology-pre-ministerial-studies/) 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 11 schools to find the best return on investment for pre-theology/pre-ministerial studies students.
What’s on this page:
Where you study pre-theology/pre-ministerial studies affects both what you pay and what you earn. That is why we built our Best Value Pre-Theology/Pre-Ministerial Studies Schools ranking. It weighs the cost of a degree against the outcomes graduates go on to achieve, so you can find the strongest return on your investment.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value Pre-Theology/Pre-Ministerial Studies Schools list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Learn more about our methodology
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the pre-theology/pre-ministerial studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary earned the #1 spot for value among pre-theology/pre-ministerial studies schools in the United States. Located in the suburb of Wake Forest, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $11,318 in tuition and fees. Early-career pre-theology/pre-ministerial studies graduates make about $54,863. Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary admits about 75% of applicants.
Martin Luther College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value pre-theology/pre-ministerial studies schools. Martin Luther College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of New Ulm. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,120. Pre-Theology/pre-Ministerial Studies graduates carry a median of $18,949 in student loans. Pre-Theology/pre-Ministerial Studies graduates of Martin Luther College earn a median of $15,327 early in their careers. Set against $18,949 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in pre-theology/pre-ministerial studies will find it at Lee University, which ranked #3. Lee University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cleveland. In-state tuition and fees average $23,790. Students borrow a median of $26,422 to complete the pre-theology/pre-ministerial studies program here. Soon after graduation, pre-theology/pre-ministerial studies degree recipients from Lee University generally make around $42,658. Set against $26,422 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 70%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Johnson University earned it the #4 place for pre-theology/pre-ministerial studies. Johnson University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Knoxville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,122. Students borrow a median of $23,250 to complete the pre-theology/pre-ministerial studies program here. Early-career pre-theology/pre-ministerial studies graduates make about $37,989. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Johnson University admits about 65% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Dallas one of the best values for pre-theology/pre-ministerial studies. Set in the city of Irving, University Of Dallas is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $53,930. Students borrow a median of $23,411 to complete the pre-theology/pre-ministerial studies program here. Early-career pre-theology/pre-ministerial studies graduates make about $58,396. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 53% of applicants are accepted.
Grand Canyon University earned the #6 position for value in pre-theology/pre-ministerial studies this year. Grand Canyon University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Phoenix. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,508. Pre-Theology/pre-Ministerial Studies graduates carry a median of $30,027 in student loans. Pre-Theology/pre-Ministerial Studies graduates of Grand Canyon University earn a median of $56,285 early in their careers. Set against $30,027 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 79%.
Columbia International University earned the #7 position for value in pre-theology/pre-ministerial studies this year. Set in the city of Columbia, Columbia International University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $27,900. Students borrow a median of $21,667 to complete the pre-theology/pre-ministerial studies program here. Early-career pre-theology/pre-ministerial studies graduates make about $32,296. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Northwestern College Minnesota came in at #8 for value in pre-theology/pre-ministerial studies this year. Northwestern College Minnesota is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Paul. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,920. Typical student debt for pre-theology/pre-ministerial studies graduates is $22,000. Pre-Theology/pre-Ministerial Studies graduates of Northwestern College Minnesota earn a median of $40,532 early in their careers. Set against $22,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Northwestern College Minnesota admits about 94% of applicants.
Catholic University Of America earned the #9 position for value in pre-theology/pre-ministerial studies this year. Set in the city of Washington, Catholic University Of America is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $58,378. Students borrow a median of $25,771 to complete the pre-theology/pre-ministerial studies program here. Soon after graduation, pre-theology/pre-ministerial studies degree recipients from Catholic University Of America generally make around $65,120. That is a strong return on a $25,771 median debt. The acceptance rate is 83%.
Southeastern University came in at #10 for value in pre-theology/pre-ministerial studies this year. Set in the city of Lakeland, Southeastern University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $32,950. Pre-Theology/pre-Ministerial Studies graduates carry a median of $19,609 in student loans. Soon after graduation, pre-theology/pre-ministerial studies degree recipients from Southeastern University generally make around $33,030. Set against $19,609 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Southeastern University admits about 53% of applicants.
Concordia University Wisconsin ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value pre-theology/pre-ministerial studies schools. Set in the suburb of Mequon, Concordia University Wisconsin is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $35,470 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,926 to complete the pre-theology/pre-ministerial studies program here. Soon after graduation, pre-theology/pre-ministerial studies degree recipients from Concordia University Wisconsin generally make around $58,227. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Explore other best-value rankings in majors related to Pre-Theology/Pre-Ministerial Studies. Browse the parent area of study.
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 · 11 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.