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2024 Best Value Theology Schools in the Southwest Region

15 Ranked Colleges
1,105 Degrees Awarded
$24,300 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Theology Schools in the Southwest Region

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. 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 in the Southwest Region” ranking.

In 2020-2021, 15,832 people earned their degree in theological & ministerial studies, making the major the 63rd most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, theological & 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 Southwest region, there were 1,105 theological & ministerial studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $42,762 and $33,437 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Theology Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking looked at 15 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in theological & ministerial studies. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent theological & ministerial studies programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the theological & 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.

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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 in the Southwest Region” list to help you make the college decision.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Best Value Theology Schools in the Southwest Region

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Theology Schools in the Southwest Region.

Top 15 Best Value Colleges for Theological & Ministerial Studies in the Southwest Region

1
Grand Canyon University crest
Grand Canyon University
Phoenix, Arizona

Out of the 15 schools in the Best Value Theology Schools in the Southwest Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Grand Canyon University landed the #1 spot on the list. Grand Canyon University is a private for-profit institution located in Phoenix, Arizona. The school has a large population, and it awarded 47 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Grand Canyon University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Grand Canyon University is $20,585 for southwest region theology students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 5.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Grand Canyon University Theological & Ministerial Studies Report

2

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Dallas Theological Seminary. It ranked #2 on our 2024 Best Value Theology Schools in the Southwest Region list. Dallas, Texas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s theology degrees to 172 students in 2020-2021.

DTS Dallas did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” list.

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 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%.

Read more about Theological & Ministerial Studies at DTS Dallas

3
MACU crest
Mid-America Christian University
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Mid-America Christian University. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Theology Schools in the Southwest Region. This small school is located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and it awarded 44 ’s theology degrees in 2020-2021.

MACU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $18,635 for Southwest Region Theology students per year to attend Mid-America Christian University.

Read more about Theological & Ministerial Studies at MACU

4

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Southwestern Assemblies of God University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Theology Schools in the Southwest Region. Southwestern Assemblies of God University is a small school located in Waxahachie, Texas that handed out 25 ’s theology degrees in 2020-2021.

Southwestern Assemblies of God University also took the #11 spot in our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Southwestern Assemblies of God University is $23,976 for Southwest Region Theology students.

Read full report on Theological & Ministerial Studies at Southwestern Assemblies of God University

5
ORU crest
Oral Roberts University
Tulsa, Oklahoma

Out of the 15 schools in the Best Value Theology Schools in the Southwest Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Oral Roberts University landed the #5 spot on the list. Tulsa, Oklahoma is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s theology degrees to 128 students in 2020-2021.

ORU also took the #3 spot in our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Oral Roberts University is $19,355 for Southwest Region Theology students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.

Read more about Theological & Ministerial Studies at ORU

6

Houston Baptist University ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Theology Schools in the Southwest Region list. This small school is located in Houston, Texas, and it awarded 43 ’s theology degrees in 2020-2021.

HBU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Houston Baptist University is $18,932 for Southwest Region Theology students.

Full Houston Baptist University Theological & Ministerial Studies Report

7

With a ranking of #7, Hardin - Simmons University did quite well on the 2024 Best Value Theology Schools in the Southwest Region list. Hardin - Simmons University is a small school located in Abilene, Texas that handed out 35 ’s theology degrees in 2020-2021.

Hardin - Simmons not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Hardin - Simmons University is $20,041 for Southwest Region Theology students.

Read more about Theological & Ministerial Studies at Hardin - Simmons University

8

Phillips Theological Seminary came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theology Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. This small school is located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and it awarded 21 ’s theology degrees in 2020-2021.

Phillips Theological Seminary did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” list.

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 4.9% 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%.

Full Phillips Theological Seminary Theological & Ministerial Studies Report

9
Brite Divinity crest
Brite Divinity School
Fort Worth, Texas

Brite Divinity School did quite well in the 2024 Best Value Theology Schools in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #9. Fort Worth, Texas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s theology degrees to 19 students in 2020-2021.

Brite Divinity also made our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #9.

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. 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 Brite Divinity School Theological & Ministerial Studies Report

10
OKWU or OWU crest
Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Bartlesville, Oklahoma

Oklahoma Wesleyan University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theology Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. OKWU or OWU is located in Bartlesville, Oklahoma and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 13 ’s theology degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our southwest region theology students list, OKWU or OWU has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Oklahoma Wesleyan University is $27,038 for southwest region theology students.

Full Oklahoma Wesleyan University Theological & Ministerial Studies Report

11

Dallas Baptist University landed the #11 spot on the 2024 Best Value Theology Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. DBU is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Dallas, Texas. It awarded 13 ’s theology degrees in 2020-2021.

DBU also made our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #12. The estimated yearly cost for DBU is $25,301 for southwest region theology students.

Read more about Theological & Ministerial Studies at Dallas Baptist University

12
Baylor crest
Baylor University
Waco, Texas

Baylor University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Theology Schools in the Southwest Region list. Baylor is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Waco, Texas. It awarded 65 ’s theology degrees in 2020-2021.

Baylor did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Baylor is $37,309 for southwest region theology students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.2% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%.

Full Baylor University Theological & Ministerial Studies Report

13

With a ranking of #13, Southern Methodist University did quite well on the 2024 Best Value Theology Schools in the Southwest Region list. Located in Dallas, Texas, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 79 diplomas to qualified ’s theology students in 2020-2021.

SMU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” list. The yearly cost to attend SMU is $38,208 for Southwest Region Theology students.

With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.1% 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 full report on Theological & Ministerial Studies at SMU

14
TKU crest
The King's University
Southlake, Texas

With a ranking of #14, The King’s University did quite well on the 2024 Best Value Theology Schools in the Southwest Region list. Southlake, Texas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s theology degrees to 50 students in 2020-2021.

TKU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #14 on our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” list. It costs about $17,712 for southwest region theology students per year to attend TKU.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read more about Theological & Ministerial Studies at TKU

15

Houston Graduate School of Theology landed the #15 spot on the 2024 Best Value Theology Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. Houston Graduate School of Theology is a small school located in Houston, Texas that handed out 17 ’s theology degrees in 2020-2021.

Houston Graduate School of Theology also made our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Southwest Region” list, coming in at #15.

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 school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Houston Graduate School of Theology Theological & Ministerial Studies Report

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Notes and References

References

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