2027 Best Value Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in Tennessee
[Theological & Ministerial Studies](/majors/theology-and-religious-vocations/theological-ministerial-studies/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 6 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value theological & ministerial studies schools.
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2027 Best Value Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in Tennessee
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the theological & ministerial studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools
Leading the list is Vanderbilt University, our #1 best value for theological & ministerial studies in Tennessee. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,498. Theological & Ministerial Studies graduates carry a median of $13,975 in student loans. Soon after graduation, theological & ministerial studies degree recipients from Vanderbilt University generally make around $42,583. Set against $13,975 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Vanderbilt University admits about 6% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in theological & ministerial studies will find it at Lee University, which ranked #2. Lee University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cleveland. Students from in state pay about $23,790 in tuition and fees. Theological & Ministerial Studies graduates carry a median of $26,422 in student loans. Soon after graduation, theological & ministerial studies degree recipients from Lee University generally make around $42,658. Set against $26,422 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Lee University admits about 70% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Milligan College earned it the #3 place for theological & ministerial studies. Milligan College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Milligan. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,450. Theological & Ministerial Studies graduates carry a median of $26,150 in student loans. Soon after graduation, theological & ministerial studies degree recipients from Milligan College generally make around $64,327. Set against $26,150 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Johnson University earned it the #4 place for theological & ministerial studies. Located in the rural area of Knoxville, Johnson University is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $21,122 in tuition and fees. Theological & Ministerial Studies graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, theological & ministerial studies degree recipients from Johnson University generally make around $37,989. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #5 makes Lipscomb University one of the best values for theological & ministerial studies. Lipscomb University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,572. Typical student debt for theological & ministerial studies graduates is $23,529. Soon after graduation, theological & ministerial studies degree recipients from Lipscomb University generally make around $48,949. Set against $23,529 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Lipscomb University admits about 68% of applicants.
Sewanee The University Of The South placed #6 among the best values for theological & ministerial studies. Set in the rural area of Sewanee, Sewanee The University Of The South is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $56,120 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for theological & ministerial studies graduates is $22,091. Early-career theological & ministerial studies graduates make about $36,927. That is a strong return on a $22,091 median debt. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 6 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
