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2022 Best Value Theology Schools for a Master’s in California

10 Ranked Colleges
858 Degrees Awarded
$17,000 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Theology Schools for a Master's in California

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Theology Schools for a Master’s in California” ranking.

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 California, there were 1,174 theological and ministerial studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $35,914 and $41,541 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 858 theological and ministerial studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $60,281 and $50,119 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Theology Schools for a Master’s in California” ranking analyzed 10 colleges that offered 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

The theology school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Theology Schools for a Master’s in California”.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Theology Schools for a Master’s in California

The colleges and universities below are the best for california master’s degree theology students.

Top 10 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Theological & Ministerial Studies in California

#1

The Master's University and Seminary

Santa Clarita, California

Out of the 10 schools in the Best Value Theology Schools for a Master’s in California that were part of this year’s ranking, The Master’s University and Seminary landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in Santa Clarita, California, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 90 diplomas to qualified masters’s theology students in 2019-2020.

The Master’s University did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at The Master’s University are $10,590.

Read more about Theological & Ministerial Studies at The Master’s University

#2

Biola University

La Mirada, California

Out of the 10 schools in the Best Value Theology Schools for a Master’s in California that were part of this year’s ranking, Biola University landed the #2 spot on the list. Biola University is a private not-for-profit institution located in La Mirada, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 54 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Biola, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Biola are $11,772, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Theological & Ministerial Studies at Biola

#3

Fuller Theological Seminary

Pasadena, California

Out of the 10 schools in the Best Value Theology Schools for a Master’s in California that were part of this year’s ranking, Fuller Theological Seminary landed the #3 spot on the list. Fuller Theological Seminary is a small school located in Pasadena, California that handed out 286 masters’s theology degrees in 2019-2020.

Fuller did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Fuller are $21,300, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Fuller Theological & Ministerial Studies Report

#4

Fresno Pacific University

Fresno, California
#5 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Fresno Pacific University. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Theology Schools for a Master’s in California list. Fresno Pacific is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Fresno, California. It awarded 9 masters’s theology degrees in 2019-2020.

Fresno Pacific not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Fresno Pacific University are $15,000, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Theological & Ministerial Studies at Fresno Pacific University

#5

SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary

El Dorado Hills, California
#10 in overall quality

Out of the 10 schools in the Best Value Theology Schools for a Master’s in California that were part of this year’s ranking, SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary landed the #5 spot on the list. El Dorado Hills, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s theology degrees to 19 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at School of Urban Missions, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at School of Urban Missions are $6,969, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Theological & Ministerial Studies at SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary

#6

Azusa Pacific University

Azusa, California

With a ranking of #6, Azusa Pacific University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Theology Schools for a Master’s in California list. Azusa, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s theology degrees to 43 students in 2019-2020.

Azusa Pacific also made our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #7. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Azusa Pacific University are $16,571.

Full Azusa Pacific University Theological & Ministerial Studies Report

#8 in overall quality

Vanguard University of Southern California came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theology Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. Vanguard is located in Costa Mesa, California and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 4 masters’s theology degrees to qualified students.

Vanguard not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Vanguard are $16,180.

Read more about Theological & Ministerial Studies at Vanguard University of Southern California

#8

Santa Clara University

Santa Clara, California

Santa Clara University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Theology Schools for a Master’s in California list. Santa Clara, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s theology degrees to 30 students in 2019-2020.

SCU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Santa Clara University are $23,507, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full SCU Theological & Ministerial Studies Report

#9

Hope International University

Fullerton, California

Hope International University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theology Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. Hope International University is located in Fullerton, California and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 34 masters’s theology degrees to qualified students.

Hope did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Hope International University are $14,916, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Hope Theological & Ministerial Studies Report

#10

American Jewish University

Los Angeles, California

American Jewish University landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Theology Schools for a Master’s in California ranking. AJU is a small school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 7 masters’s theology degrees in 2019-2020.

AJU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at American Jewish University are $32,301, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Theological & Ministerial Studies at AJU

Switch to a Different Ranking Method

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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