2023 Best Value Colleges for Theological & Ministerial Studies in the Great Lakes Region
23
Ranked Colleges
2,366
Degrees Awarded
$23,300
Avg Net Price*
With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Theology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking is part of that endeavor.
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 Great Lakes region, there were 2,366 theological and ministerial studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $41,653 and $21,394 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value Theology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking, we looked at 23 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.
To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the theological and ministerial studies program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
One Size Does Not Fit All
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Theology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.
Best Value Theology Schools in the Great Lakes Region
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Theology Schools in the Great Lakes Region.
Top 23 Best Value Colleges for Theological & Ministerial Studies in the Great Lakes Region
Out of the 23 schools in the Best Value Theology Schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Lincoln Christian University landed the #1 spot on the list. Lincoln Christian College and Seminary is located in Lincoln, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 60 ’s theology degrees to qualified students.
Lincoln Christian College and Seminary did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $19,638 for great lakes region theology students per year to attend Lincoln Christian University.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 5.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Theological & Ministerial Studies at Lincoln Christian College and Seminary
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Moody Bible Institute. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Theology Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 200 diplomas to qualified ’s theology students in 2020-2021.
Moody Theological Seminary and Graduate School did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Moody Bible Institute is $19,679 for Great Lakes Region Theology students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.3% 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 Moody Theological Seminary and Graduate School Theological & Ministerial Studies Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Ohio Christian University. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Theology Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. This small school is located in Circleville, Ohio, and it awarded 156 ’s theology degrees in 2020-2021.
OCU also took the #8 spot in our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Ohio Christian University is $22,901 for great lakes region theology students.
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.
Read more about Theological & Ministerial Studies at OCU
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Grace College and Theological Seminary. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Theology Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Grace College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Winona Lake, Indiana. The school has a small population, and it awarded 9 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region theology students list, Grace College has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $20,060 for great lakes region theology students per year to attend Grace College.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Grace College and Theological Seminary Theological & Ministerial Studies Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Ashland University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Theology Schools in the Great Lakes Region. Ashland, Ohio is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s theology degrees to 17 students in 2020-2021.
Ashland also made our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #16. It costs about $20,974 for great lakes region theology students per year to attend Ashland.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.1% 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%.
Read more about Theological & Ministerial Studies at Ashland
With a ranking of #6, McCormick Theological Seminary did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Theology Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. This small school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 27 ’s theology degrees in 2020-2021.
McCormick Theological Seminary also took the #13 spot in our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Theological & Ministerial Studies at McCormick Theological Seminary
Indiana Wesleyan University - National & Global did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Theology Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #7. Located in Marion, Indiana, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 36 diplomas to qualified ’s theology students in 2020-2021.
IWU also made our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #14. It costs about $18,904 for great lakes region theology students per year to attend Indiana Wesleyan University - National & Global.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 5.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Theological & Ministerial Studies at IWU
Wheaton College Illinois came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theology Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Wheaton College Illinois is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Wheaton, Illinois. It awarded 25 ’s theology degrees in 2020-2021.
Wheaton College Illinois also made our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #11. The yearly cost to attend Wheaton College Illinois is $25,692 for Great Lakes Region Theology students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Full Wheaton College Illinois Theological & Ministerial Studies Report
Franciscan University of Steubenville ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Theology Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. This small school is located in Steubenville, Ohio, and it awarded 205 ’s theology degrees in 2020-2021.
Franciscan U also took the #7 spot in our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Franciscan University of Steubenville is $23,415 for great lakes region theology students.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.4% 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 U Theological & Ministerial Studies Report
Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Theology Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. LSTC is a small school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 43 ’s theology degrees in 2020-2021.
LSTC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 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 LSTC
Olivet Nazarene University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Theology Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Olivet Nazarene University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Bourbonnais, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 24 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region theology students list, Olivet Nazarene has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Olivet Nazarene is $19,470 for Great Lakes Region Theology students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Olivet Nazarene University Theological & Ministerial Studies Report
With a ranking of #12, Trinity International University - Illinois did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Theology Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Trinity International University - Illinois is a small school located in Deerfield, Illinois that handed out 99 ’s theology degrees in 2020-2021.
TIU Illinois also took the #18 spot in our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $21,200 for great lakes region theology students per year to attend Trinity International University - Illinois.
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 Trinity International University - Illinois
Christian Theological Seminary ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Theology Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Christian Theological Seminary is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Indianapolis, Indiana. It awarded 23 ’s theology degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Christian Theological Seminary, the school also landed the #20 spot in our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 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 Christian Theological Seminary
Andrews University landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Best Value Theology Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Andrews is a private not-for-profit institution located in Berrien Springs, Michigan. The school has a small population, and it awarded 154 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Andrews did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Andrews is $23,408 for great lakes region theology students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Theological & Ministerial Studies at Andrews
Cornerstone University ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Theology Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 42 diplomas to qualified ’s theology students in 2020-2021.
Cornerstone also took the #19 spot in our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Cornerstone University is $20,397 for great lakes region theology students.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Theological & Ministerial Studies at Cornerstone University
Northern Baptist Theological Seminary ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Theology Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Northern Seminary is a small school located in Lisle, Illinois that handed out 17 ’s theology degrees in 2020-2021.
Northern Seminary did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #21 on our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Read full report on Theological & Ministerial Studies at Northern Baptist Theological Seminary
Indiana Wesleyan University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theology Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Marion, Indiana, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 10 degrees to qualified ’s theology students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at IWU, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Indiana Wesleyan University is $21,204 for great lakes region theology students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 5.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Theological & Ministerial Studies at IWU
Loyola University Chicago landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Best Value Theology Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Loyola University Chicago is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 17 ’s theology degrees in 2020-2021.
Loyola Chicago not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $36,434 for Great Lakes Region Theology students per year to attend Loyola University Chicago.
With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Theological & Ministerial Studies at Loyola University Chicago
Concordia Theological Seminary landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Best Value Theology Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Concordia Theological Seminary is located in Fort Wayne, Indiana and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 34 ’s theology degrees to qualified students.
Concordia Theological Seminary not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 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 Concordia Theological Seminary
Meadville Lombard Theological School came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theology Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This small school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 12 ’s theology degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Meadville Lombard Theological School, the school also landed the #22 spot in our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.9% 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%.
Read more about Theological & Ministerial Studies at Meadville Lombard Theological School
Payne Theological Seminary ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Theology Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Payne Theological Seminary is located in Wilberforce, Ohio and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 40 ’s theology degrees to qualified students.
Payne Theological Seminary also made our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #23.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Full Payne Theological Seminary Theological & Ministerial Studies Report
With a ranking of #22, University of Notre Dame did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Theology Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Notre Dame is located in Notre Dame, Indiana and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 139 ’s theology degrees to qualified students.
Notre Dame also made our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #1. The estimated yearly cost for University of Notre Dame is $31,101 for great lakes region theology students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. 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. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Theological & Ministerial Studies at Notre Dame
University of Chicago came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theology Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s theology degrees to 99 students in 2020-2021.
UChicago not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UChicago is $28,517 for Great Lakes Region Theology students.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 100%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Theological & Ministerial Studies at UChicago
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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
- *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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