2027 Best Value Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in Texas
[Theological & Ministerial Studies](/majors/theology-and-religious-vocations/theological-ministerial-studies/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 11 schools to find the best return on investment for theological & ministerial studies students.
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2027 Best Value Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in Texas
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in theological & ministerial studies, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools
University Of St Thomas Texas tops our 2027 list of the best value theological & ministerial studies schools in Texas. Set in the city of Houston, University Of St Thomas Texas is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,634. Typical student debt for theological & ministerial studies graduates is $23,628. Early-career theological & ministerial studies graduates make about $58,265. Set against $23,628 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Houston Baptist University earned it the #2 place for theological & ministerial studies. Set in the city of Houston, Houston Baptist University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $39,430 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,601 to complete the theological & ministerial studies program here. Early-career theological & ministerial studies graduates make about $51,968. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Criswell College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value theological & ministerial studies schools. Criswell College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Dallas. Students from in state pay about $15,750 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $43,185 ten years after entry. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in theological & ministerial studies will find it at University Of Dallas, which ranked #4. University Of Dallas is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Irving. Students from in state pay about $53,930 in tuition and fees. Theological & Ministerial Studies graduates carry a median of $23,411 in student loans. Theological & Ministerial Studies graduates of University Of Dallas earn a median of $58,396 early in their careers. Set against $23,411 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Dallas admits about 53% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in theological & ministerial studies will find it at Southwestern Assemblies Of God University, which ranked #5. Southwestern Assemblies Of God University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Waxahachie. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $25,064. Typical student debt for theological & ministerial studies graduates is $28,248. Theological & Ministerial Studies graduates of Southwestern Assemblies Of God University earn a median of $47,762 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Kings University earned the #6 position for value in theological & ministerial studies this year. Kings University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Southlake. In-state tuition and fees average $12,480. Typical student debt for theological & ministerial studies graduates is $48,998. Early-career theological & ministerial studies graduates make about $41,066. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 61%.
Dallas Christian College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value theological & ministerial studies schools. Set in the suburb of Dallas, Dallas Christian College is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $21,680. Students borrow a median of $32,000 to complete the theological & ministerial studies program here. Early-career theological & ministerial studies graduates make about $43,531. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 22%.
Abilene Christian University came in at #8 for value in theological & ministerial studies this year. Abilene Christian University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Abilene. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $44,200. Students borrow a median of $23,772 to complete the theological & ministerial studies program here. Theological & Ministerial Studies graduates of Abilene Christian University earn a median of $56,463 early in their careers. Set against $23,772 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.
Dallas Baptist University came in at #9 for value in theological & ministerial studies this year. Dallas Baptist University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Dallas. Students from in state pay about $40,190 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $22,819 to complete the theological & ministerial studies program here. Theological & Ministerial Studies graduates of Dallas Baptist University earn a median of $48,822 early in their careers. Set against $22,819 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Southern Methodist University landed the #10 spot for theological & ministerial studies value this year. Located in the suburb of Dallas, Southern Methodist University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $67,040. Students borrow a median of $20,712 to complete the theological & ministerial studies program here. Soon after graduation, theological & ministerial studies degree recipients from Southern Methodist University generally make around $54,351. That is a strong return on a $20,712 median debt. The acceptance rate is 63%.
Baylor University landed the #11 spot for theological & ministerial studies value this year. Located in the city of Waco, Baylor University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $58,100. Theological & Ministerial Studies graduates carry a median of $23,928 in student loans. Theological & Ministerial Studies graduates of Baylor University earn a median of $44,601 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,928 median debt. The acceptance rate is 51%.
More Theological & Ministerial Studies Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 11 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 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.
