2022 Best Value Theology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region
When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. 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 a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region” ranking - to help you make that decision.
Theological & Ministerial Studies is the 55th most popular major in the country with 15,051 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. 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.
Across the Great Lakes region, there were 2,268 theological and ministerial studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $41,132 and $45,038 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 532 theological and ministerial studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,075 and $25,381 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Theology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region” ranking analyzed 16 colleges that offered a degree in theological and ministerial studies. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent theological and ministerial studies programs, but they also cost less that 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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
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Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Theology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
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. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.
Best Value Theology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region
The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region bachelor’s degree theology students.
Top 16 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Theological & Ministerial Studies in the Great Lakes Region
Out of the 16 schools in the Best Value Theology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Moody Bible Institute landed the #1 spot on the list. Moody Theological Seminary and Graduate School is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 137 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Moody Theological Seminary and Graduate School did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Moody Bible Institute is $16,646 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Theology students.
Read more about Theological & Ministerial Studies at Moody Bible Institute
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Kuyper College. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Theology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region. Grand Rapids, Michigan is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s theology degrees to 10 students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree theology students list, Kuyper has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $20,716 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree theology students per year to attend Kuyper.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Out of the 16 schools in the Best Value Theology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Indiana Wesleyan University - National & Global landed the #3 spot on the list. Indiana Wesleyan University - National & Global is located in Marion, Indiana and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 11 bachelors’s theology degrees to qualified students.
IWU also took the #10 spot in our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $22,207 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree theology students per year to attend Indiana Wesleyan University - National & Global.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Ohio Christian University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Theology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region. Ohio Christian University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Circleville, Ohio. The school has a small population, and it awarded 52 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.
OCU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $24,500 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree theology students per year to attend Ohio Christian University.
Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read full report on Theological & Ministerial Studies at Ohio Christian University
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Franciscan University of Steubenville. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Theology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Franciscan University of Steubenville is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Steubenville, Ohio. It awarded 91 bachelors’s theology degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Franciscan U, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Franciscan University of Steubenville is $24,918 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree theology students.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Theological & Ministerial Studies at Franciscan U
Andrews University ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Theology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region list. This small school is located in Berrien Springs, Michigan, and it awarded 13 bachelors’s theology degrees in 2019-2020.
Andrews also took the #6 spot in our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $21,934 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Theology students per year to attend Andrews University.
The low student loan default rate of 4.8% 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%. 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. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.
Full Andrews University Theological & Ministerial Studies Report
With a ranking of #7, Indiana Wesleyan University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Theology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Marion, Indiana, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 8 degrees to qualified bachelors’s theology students in 2019-2020.
IWU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $20,946 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree theology students per year to attend IWU.
Cornerstone University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Theology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #8. This small school is located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and it awarded 16 bachelors’s theology degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Cornerstone, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $20,740 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Theology students per year to attend Cornerstone.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Olivet Nazarene University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Olivet Nazarene is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Bourbonnais, Illinois. It awarded 8 bachelors’s theology degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Olivet Nazarene, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Olivet Nazarene is $20,195 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Theology students.
The low student loan default rate of 3.4% 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%.
Read full report on Theological & Ministerial Studies at Olivet Nazarene University
Malone University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Malone is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Canton, Ohio. It awarded 2 bachelors’s theology degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree theology students list, Malone has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Malone University is $19,897 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Theology students.
Read full report on Theological & Ministerial Studies at Malone University
Concordia University, Wisconsin landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Theology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Concordia University, Wisconsin is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Mequon, Wisconsin. It awarded 10 bachelors’s theology degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Concordia University, Wisconsin, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $23,855 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Theology students per year to attend Concordia University, Wisconsin.
The low student loan default rate of 4.6% 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 Concordia University, Wisconsin Theological & Ministerial Studies Report
Anderson University Indiana ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Theology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Anderson University Indiana is a small school located in Anderson, Indiana that handed out 3 bachelors’s theology degrees in 2019-2020.
Anderson University Indiana not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Anderson University Indiana is $22,351 for great lakes region bachelor’s 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.
Full Anderson University Indiana Theological & Ministerial Studies Report
Concordia University, Ann Arbor did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Theology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #13. Concordia University, Ann Arbor is a small school located in Ann Arbor, Michigan that handed out 2 bachelors’s theology degrees in 2019-2020.
Concordia University, Ann Arbor also took the #16 spot in our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $24,557 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree theology students per year to attend Concordia University, Ann Arbor.
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. The student loan default rate at the school is 4.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Concordia University, Ann Arbor Theological & Ministerial Studies Report
Loyola University Chicago ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Theology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Loyola Chicago is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 3 bachelors’s theology degrees to qualified students.
Loyola Chicago also took the #7 spot in our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Loyola Chicago is $35,407 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree theology students.
With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Theological & Ministerial Studies at Loyola Chicago
University of Notre Dame came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Notre Dame is a fairly large school located in Notre Dame, Indiana that handed out 48 bachelors’s theology degrees in 2019-2020.
Notre Dame also took the #1 spot in our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Notre Dame is $33,025 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Theology students.
The low student loan default rate of 0.7% 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 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Full University of Notre Dame Theological & Ministerial Studies Report
University of Chicago came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theology Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. University of Chicago is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 4 bachelors’s theology degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UChicago, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Chicago is $27,315 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Theology students.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 100%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 0.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The impressive student-to-faculty ratio of 5 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 University of Chicago
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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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