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Theological & Ministerial Studies

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2022 Best Value Theology Schools for an Associate

17 Ranked Colleges
360 Degrees Awarded
$20,000 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Theology Schools for an Associate

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Theology Schools for an Associate” ranking - to help you make that decision.

In 2019-2020, 15,051 people earned their degree in theological and ministerial studies, making the major the 55th most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, theological and ministerial studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $36,911 and had an average of $41,597 in loans still to pay off.

At the associate degree level specifically, there were 360 theological and ministerial studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $33,082 and $17,678 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Theology Schools for an Associate” ranking, we looked at 17 colleges that offer a degree in theological and ministerial studies. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great theological and ministerial studies programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the theological and ministerial studies program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

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 for an Associate” list to help you make the college decision.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Best Value Theology Schools for an Associate

The colleges and universities below are the best for associate degree theology students.

Top 17 Best Value Associate Degree Colleges for Theological & Ministerial Studies

#4 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Theology Schools for an Associate. Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary is located in Kansas City, Missouri and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 2 associates’s theology degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our associate degree theology students list, MBTS has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Associate Degree Schools” ranking. It costs about $19,878 for Associate Degree Theology students per year to attend MBTS.

Read full report on Theological & Ministerial Studies at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

#7 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Central Christian College of the Bible. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Theology Schools for an Associate list. Moberly, Missouri is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out associates’s theology degrees to 6 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our associate degree theology students list, Central Christian College of the Bible has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Central Christian College of the Bible is $14,118 for Associate Degree Theology students.

The 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 Central Christian College of the Bible

#3

Nazarene Bible College

Colorado Springs, Colorado
#9 in overall quality

Out of the 17 schools in the Best Value Theology Schools for an Associate that were part of this year’s ranking, Nazarene Bible College landed the #3 spot on the list. This small school is located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and it awarded 5 associates’s theology degrees in 2019-2020.

Nazarene Bible College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Associate Degree Schools” list.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Full Nazarene Bible College Theological & Ministerial Studies Report

#4

The Baptist College of Florida

Graceville, Florida
#12 in overall quality

Out of the 17 schools in the Best Value Theology Schools for an Associate that were part of this year’s ranking, The Baptist College of Florida landed the #4 spot on the list. BCF is located in Graceville, Florida and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 2 associates’s theology degrees to qualified students.

BCF also made our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Associate Degree Schools” list, coming in at #12. It costs about $10,288 for Associate Degree Theology students per year to attend The Baptist College of Florida.

The 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 The Baptist College of Florida

#5

Johnson University

Knoxville, Tennessee
#5 in overall quality

Out of the 17 schools in the Best Value Theology Schools for an Associate that were part of this year’s ranking, Johnson University landed the #5 spot on the list. Johnson University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Knoxville, Tennessee. It awarded 4 associates’s theology degrees in 2019-2020.

Johnson University also made our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Associate Degree Schools” list, coming in at #5. The yearly cost to attend Johnson University is $18,915 for Associate Degree Theology students.

The impressive 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.

Read more about Theological & Ministerial Studies at Johnson University

#6

University of Valley Forge

Phoenixville, Pennsylvania
#1 in overall quality

University of Valley Forge landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Theology Schools for an Associate ranking. This small school is located in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 5 associates’s theology degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our associate degree theology students list, UVF has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UVF is $20,636 for Associate Degree Theology students.

Read more about Theological & Ministerial Studies at UVF

#11 in overall quality

Indiana Wesleyan University - National & Global landed the #7 spot on the 2022 Best Value Theology Schools for an Associate ranking. This fairly large school is located in Marion, Indiana, and it awarded 1 associates’s theology degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our associate degree theology students list, IWU has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for IWU is $22,207 for associate degree theology students.

Read more about Theological & Ministerial Studies at IWU

#8

Ohio Christian University

Circleville, Ohio
#10 in overall quality

Ohio Christian University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Theology Schools for an Associate ranking, coming in at #8. This small school is located in Circleville, Ohio, and it awarded 48 associates’s theology degrees in 2019-2020.

OCU also made our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Associate Degree Schools” list, coming in at #10. The yearly cost to attend Ohio Christian University is $24,500 for associate degree theology students.

The 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.

Full Ohio Christian University Theological & Ministerial Studies Report

#9

Point University

West Point, Georgia
#8 in overall quality

Point University landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Theology Schools for an Associate ranking. Point is located in West Point, Georgia and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 2 associates’s theology degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Point, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Point University is $16,187 for associate degree theology students.

Read more about Theological & Ministerial Studies at Point

#10

Southeastern University

Lakeland, Florida
#2 in overall quality

Southeastern University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Theology Schools for an Associate list. This medium-sized school is located in Lakeland, Florida, and it awarded 158 associates’s theology degrees in 2019-2020.

SEU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Associate Degree Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for SEU is $24,909 for associate degree theology students.

Read more about Theological & Ministerial Studies at Southeastern University

#3 in overall quality

With a ranking of #11, Franciscan University of Steubenville did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Theology Schools for an Associate list. Franciscan U is a private not-for-profit institution located in Steubenville, Ohio. The school has a small population, and it awarded 9 associates’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Franciscan U also made our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Associate Degree Schools” list, coming in at #3. It costs about $24,918 for Associate Degree Theology students per year to attend Franciscan University of Steubenville.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The low student loan default rate of 2.4% 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 Franciscan University of Steubenville Theological & Ministerial Studies Report

#12

Bob Jones University

Greenville, South Carolina
#13 in overall quality

Bob Jones University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Theology Schools for an Associate ranking, coming in at #12. Bob Jones University is located in Greenville, South Carolina and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 2 associates’s theology degrees to qualified students.

Bob Jones University also took the #13 spot in our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Bob Jones University is $12,923 for Associate Degree Theology students.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, 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 86%.

Read full report on Theological & Ministerial Studies at Bob Jones University

#13

Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, Oklahoma
#6 in overall quality

With a ranking of #13, Oklahoma Wesleyan University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Theology Schools for an Associate list. OKWU or OWU is a small school located in Bartlesville, Oklahoma that handed out 1 associates’s theology degrees in 2019-2020.

OKWU or OWU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Associate Degree Schools” list. It costs about $25,246 for Associate Degree Theology students per year to attend OKWU or OWU.

The impressive 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 more about Theological & Ministerial Studies at OKWU or OWU

#14

Piedmont International University

Winston-Salem, North Carolina
#15 in overall quality

Piedmont International University ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Theology Schools for an Associate list. Piedmont International University is located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 2 associates’s theology degrees to qualified students.

Piedmont International University also took the #15 spot in our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Associate Degree Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Piedmont International University is $14,461 for Associate Degree Theology students.

The 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

#14 in overall quality

Northwest University - College of Adult and Professional Studies came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theology Schools for an Associate ranking. Northwest University - College of Adult and Professional Studies is located in Kirkland, Washington and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 26 associates’s theology degrees to qualified students.

Northwest University CAPS also took the #14 spot in our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Associate Degree Schools” ranking. It costs about $26,232 for Associate Degree Theology students per year to attend Northwest University CAPS.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Theological & Ministerial Studies at Northwest University CAPS

#16

The King's University

Southlake, Texas
#16 in overall quality

The King’s University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Theology Schools for an Associate ranking, coming in at #16. The King’s University is a small school located in Southlake, Texas that handed out 4 associates’s theology degrees in 2019-2020.

TKU also made our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Associate Degree Schools” list, coming in at #16. The yearly cost to attend The King’s University is $24,344 for Associate Degree Theology students.

The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 10 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 The King’s University

#17

Boise Bible College

Boise, Idaho
#17 in overall quality

Boise Bible College landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Theology Schools for an Associate ranking. Boise, Idaho is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out associates’s theology degrees to 1 students in 2019-2020.

Boise Bible College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Associate Degree Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for Boise Bible College is $20,185 for associate degree theology students.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Theological & Ministerial Studies at Boise Bible College

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Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

Credits

  • Credit for the banner image above goes to Jonund.

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