College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2023 Best Value Theology Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid

29 Ranked Colleges
5,813 Degrees Awarded
$22,100 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Theology Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Theology Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

In 2020-2021, 15,832 people earned their degree in theological and ministerial studies, making the major the 63rd most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, theological and ministerial studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $40,590 and had an average of $26,272 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Southeast region, there were 5,813 theological and ministerial studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $42,235 and $26,413 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Theology Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid” ranking, we looked at 29 colleges that offer a degree in theological and ministerial studies. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality theological and ministerial studies programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the theological and ministerial studies program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Rankings by Degree Other Award Levels
Rankings by Location Check Out Other Locales
More Theology Rankings Other Ranking Categories

When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Theology Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid” list to help you make the college decision.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Best Value Theology Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Theology Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Theological & Ministerial Studies in the Southeast Region (With Aid)

1
Duke crest
Duke University
Durham, North Carolina

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Duke University. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Theology Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid list. Durham, North Carolina is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s theology degrees to 185 students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Duke, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $32,459 for Southeast Region Theology students with aid per year to attend Duke.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Duke University Theological & Ministerial Studies Report

2
Regent crest
Regent University
Virginia Beach, Virginia

Out of the 29 schools in the Best Value Theology Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Regent University landed the #2 spot on the list. Virginia Beach, Virginia is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s theology degrees to 198 students in 2020-2021.

Regent also made our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #12. It costs about $24,888 for southeast region theology students with aid per year to attend Regent University.

Full Regent Theological & Ministerial Studies Report

3

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend The Baptist College of Florida. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Theology Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid. BCF is located in Graceville, Florida and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 16 ’s theology degrees to qualified students.

The estimated yearly cost for BCF is $11,764 for Southeast Region Theology students with aid.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read full report on Theological & Ministerial Studies at BCF

4
CIU crest
Columbia International University
Columbia, South Carolina

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Columbia International University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Theology Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid list. Columbia, South Carolina is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s theology degrees to 47 students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at CIU, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Columbia International University is $18,222 for southeast region theology students with aid.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full CIU Theological & Ministerial Studies Report

5
AMU crest
Ave Maria University
Ave Maria, Florida

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Ave Maria University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Theology Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid. Ave Maria, Florida is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s theology degrees to 37 students in 2020-2021.

AMU also took the #13 spot in our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $18,264 for Southeast Region Theology students with aid per year to attend Ave Maria University.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Theological & Ministerial Studies at AMU

6
Johnson University crest
Johnson University
Knoxville, Tennessee

Johnson University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Theology Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #6. Knoxville, Tennessee is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s theology degrees to 58 students in 2020-2021.

Johnson University also made our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #9. It costs about $17,671 for southeast region theology students with aid per year to attend Johnson University.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full Johnson University Theological & Ministerial Studies Report

7
SEU crest
Southeastern University
Lakeland, Florida

With a ranking of #7, Southeastern University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Theology Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid list. Southeastern University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Lakeland, Florida. It awarded 466 ’s theology degrees in 2020-2021.

SEU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The yearly cost to attend SEU is $26,640 for Southeast Region Theology students with aid.

Read full report on Theological & Ministerial Studies at Southeastern University

8
Harding crest
Harding University
Searcy, Arkansas

Harding University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Theology Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #8. Located in Searcy, Arkansas, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 31 degrees to qualified ’s theology students in 2020-2021.

Harding did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Harding is $19,456 for Southeast Region Theology students with aid.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Harding University Theological & Ministerial Studies Report

9
FHU crest
Freed-Hardeman University
Henderson, Tennessee

With a ranking of #9, Freed-Hardeman University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Theology Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid list. Freed-Hardeman University is a small school located in Henderson, Tennessee that handed out 7 ’s theology degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our southeast region theology students with aid list, FHU has also earned the #18 rank in our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Freed-Hardeman University is $17,152 for southeast region theology students with aid.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Freed-Hardeman University Theological & Ministerial Studies Report

10
Emory crest
Emory University
Atlanta, Georgia

Emory University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Theology Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #10. Located in Atlanta, Georgia, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 145 degrees to qualified ’s theology students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Emory, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $22,597 for southeast region theology students with aid per year to attend Emory.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read full report on Theological & Ministerial Studies at Emory University

11
Vanderbilt crest
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, Tennessee

Vanderbilt University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Theology Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid list. Vanderbilt is located in Nashville, Tennessee and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 57 ’s theology degrees to qualified students.

Vanderbilt not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Vanderbilt University is $19,970 for southeast region theology students with aid.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Theological & Ministerial Studies at Vanderbilt

12
Point crest
Point University
West Point, Georgia

Point University landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Best Value Theology Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Point is a small school located in West Point, Georgia that handed out 19 ’s theology degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our southeast region theology students with aid list, Point has also earned the #22 rank in our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $22,433 for southeast region theology students with aid per year to attend Point.

Full Point University Theological & Ministerial Studies Report

13
Lee University crest
Lee University
Cleveland, Tennessee

Lee University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Theology Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #13. Lee University is located in Cleveland, Tennessee and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 36 ’s theology degrees to qualified students.

Lee University also made our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #23. It costs about $18,219 for southeast region theology students with aid per year to attend Lee University.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Theological & Ministerial Studies at Lee University

14
Lenoir - Rhyne University crest
Lenoir - Rhyne University
Hickory, North Carolina

With a ranking of #14, Lenoir - Rhyne University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Theology Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid list. This small school is located in Hickory, North Carolina, and it awarded 12 ’s theology degrees in 2020-2021.

Lenoir - Rhyne University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #21 on our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Lenoir - Rhyne University is $18,772 for southeast region theology students with aid.

Read full report on Theological & Ministerial Studies at Lenoir - Rhyne University

15
St. Leo University crest
Saint Leo University
Saint Leo, Florida

Saint Leo University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theology Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Saint Leo, Florida is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s theology degrees to 42 students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at St. Leo University, the school also landed the #24 spot in our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for St. Leo University is $18,445 for southeast region theology students with aid.

Read full report on Theological & Ministerial Studies at Saint Leo University

16
Mercer crest
Mercer University
Macon, Georgia

Mercer University landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Best Value Theology Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Macon, Georgia is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s theology degrees to 24 students in 2020-2021.

Mercer not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Mercer University is $20,853 for Southeast Region Theology students with aid.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full Mercer University Theological & Ministerial Studies Report

17
Wake Forest University crest
Wake Forest University
Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Wake Forest University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theology Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and it awarded 34 ’s theology degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our southeast region theology students with aid list, Wake Forest University has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Wake Forest University is $32,845 for Southeast Region Theology students with aid.

With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Wake Forest University Theological & Ministerial Studies Report

18
Liberty University crest
Liberty University
Lynchburg, Virginia

Liberty University ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Theology Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid list. Lynchburg, Virginia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s theology degrees to 1,692 students in 2020-2021.

Liberty University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Liberty University is $29,382 for southeast region theology students with aid.

Read full report on Theological & Ministerial Studies at Liberty University

19
Lipscomb crest
Lipscomb University
Nashville, Tennessee

Lipscomb University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Theology Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #19. Nashville, Tennessee is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s theology degrees to 21 students in 2020-2021.

Lipscomb also took the #15 spot in our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Lipscomb is $25,704 for Southeast Region Theology students with aid.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full Lipscomb Theological & Ministerial Studies Report

20
TMU crest
Truett McConnell University
Cleveland, Georgia

Truett McConnell University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Theology Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid list. TMU is a small school located in Cleveland, Georgia that handed out 4 ’s theology degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend TMU is $19,253 for southeast region theology students with aid.

Read full report on Theological & Ministerial Studies at Truett McConnell University

21
Palm Beach Atlantic crest
Palm Beach Atlantic University
West Palm Beach, Florida

Palm Beach Atlantic University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theology Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Palm Beach Atlantic is a small private not-for-profit school situated in West Palm Beach, Florida. It awarded 31 ’s theology degrees in 2020-2021.

Palm Beach Atlantic did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Palm Beach Atlantic University is $26,530 for Southeast Region Theology students with aid.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Palm Beach Atlantic Theological & Ministerial Studies Report

22
Piedmont International University crest
Piedmont International University
Winston-Salem, North Carolina

With a ranking of #22, Piedmont International University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Theology Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 39 diplomas to qualified ’s theology students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Piedmont International University is $14,466 for Southeast Region Theology students with aid.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read more about Theological & Ministerial Studies at Piedmont International University

23

With a ranking of #23, Kentucky Christian University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Theology Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid list. Grayson, Kentucky is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s theology degrees to 8 students in 2020-2021.

The estimated yearly cost for Kentucky Christian University is $20,709 for Southeast Region Theology students with aid.

Read more about Theological & Ministerial Studies at Kentucky Christian University

24
Campbell crest
Campbell University
Buies Creek, North Carolina

Campbell University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Theology Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #24. Buies Creek, North Carolina is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s theology degrees to 24 students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Campbell is $26,169 for southeast region theology students with aid.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Theological & Ministerial Studies at Campbell University

25
Samford crest
Samford University
Birmingham, Alabama

Samford University came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theology Schools in the Southeast Region For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Birmingham, Alabama, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 34 degrees to qualified ’s theology students in 2020-2021.

Samford also took the #11 spot in our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Samford is $30,072 for southeast region theology students with aid.

With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Samford University Theological & Ministerial Studies Report

Switch to a Different Ranking Method

Notes and References

References

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

Credits

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs

Compare Your School Options