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2023 Best Value Colleges for Theological & Ministerial Studies in the Plains States Region

16 Ranked Colleges
1,649 Degrees Awarded
$24,500 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Theology Schools in the Plains States Region

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Theology Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking - to help you make that decision.

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 Plains States region, there were 1,649 theological and ministerial studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $45,968 and $25,047 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Theology Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking analyzed 16 colleges that offered 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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools

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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 Plains States Region” list to help you make the college 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 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 Plains States Region

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

Top 16 Best Value Colleges for Theological & Ministerial Studies in the Plains States Region

1

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Theology Schools in the Plains States Region list. Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Kansas City, Missouri. It awarded 464 ’s theology degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region theology students list, MBTS has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for MBTS is $19,405 for Plains States 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%.

Read full report on Theological & Ministerial Studies at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

2
Bethel University Minnesota crest
Bethel University Minnesota
Saint Paul, Minnesota

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Bethel University Minnesota. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Theology Schools in the Plains States Region list. Bethel University Minnesota is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It awarded 73 ’s theology degrees in 2020-2021.

Bethel University Minnesota did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Bethel University Minnesota is $28,178 for plains states region theology students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.9% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.

Read full report on Theological & Ministerial Studies at Bethel University Minnesota

3
Crown crest
Crown College
Saint Bonifacius, Minnesota

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Crown College. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Theology Schools in the Plains States Region. Crown is located in Saint Bonifacius, Minnesota and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 16 ’s theology degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Crown, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $25,796 for Plains States Region Theology students per year to attend Crown.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.7% 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 Crown College Theological & Ministerial Studies Report

4
MLC crest
Martin Luther College
New Ulm, Minnesota

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Martin Luther College. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Theology Schools in the Plains States Region. Martin Luther College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in New Ulm, Minnesota. It awarded 37 ’s theology degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region theology students list, MLC has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Martin Luther College is $22,205 for Plains States 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full MLC Theological & Ministerial Studies Report

5
Luther Seminary crest
Luther Seminary
Saint Paul, Minnesota

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Luther Seminary. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Theology Schools in the Plains States Region. Luther Seminary is a small school located in Saint Paul, Minnesota that handed out 127 ’s theology degrees in 2020-2021.

Luther Seminary also took the #3 spot in our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Plains States 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.

Read full report on Theological & Ministerial Studies at Luther Seminary

6
Evangel crest
Evangel University
Springfield, Missouri

Evangel University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theology Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. This small school is located in Springfield, Missouri, and it awarded 29 ’s theology degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Evangel, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Evangel University is $23,719 for Plains States Region Theology students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Evangel Theological & Ministerial Studies Report

7

University of Dubuque did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Theology Schools in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #7. University of Dubuque is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Dubuque, Iowa. It awarded 35 ’s theology degrees in 2020-2021.

UD not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Dubuque is $27,592 for plains states region theology students.

Read full report on Theological & Ministerial Studies at University of Dubuque

8

With a ranking of #8, Saint Paul School of Theology did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Theology Schools in the Plains States Region list. Saint Paul School of Theology is a private not-for-profit institution located in Leawood, Kansas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 18 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Saint Paul School of Theology not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list.

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 Saint Paul School of Theology

9

With a ranking of #9, Wartburg Theological Seminary did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Theology Schools in the Plains States Region list. Dubuque, Iowa is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s theology degrees to 36 students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Wartburg Seminary, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Plains States 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 school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Wartburg Seminary Theological & Ministerial Studies Report

10
Covenant Seminary crest
Covenant Theological Seminary
Saint Louis, Missouri

Covenant Theological Seminary came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theology Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Covenant Seminary is a small school located in Saint Louis, Missouri that handed out 57 ’s theology degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Covenant Seminary, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, 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 more about Theological & Ministerial Studies at Covenant Seminary

11
Eden Theological Seminary crest
Eden Theological Seminary
Webster Groves, Missouri

Eden Theological Seminary ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Theology Schools in the Plains States Region list. Eden Theological Seminary is a small school located in Webster Groves, Missouri that handed out 31 ’s theology degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Eden Theological Seminary, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Plains States 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.

Read full report on Theological & Ministerial Studies at Eden Theological Seminary

12
Concordia Seminary crest
Concordia Seminary
Saint Louis, Missouri

With a ranking of #12, Concordia Seminary did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Theology Schools in the Plains States Region list. Concordia Seminary is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Saint Louis, Missouri. It awarded 125 ’s theology degrees in 2020-2021.

Concordia Seminary also made our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #2.

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. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.7% 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 Concordia Seminary

13

University of Northwestern - St Paul did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Theology Schools in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #13. Located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 25 degrees to qualified ’s theology students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Northwestern, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Northwestern is $22,560 for Plains States Region Theology students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Northwestern Theological & Ministerial Studies Report

14

United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Best Value Theology Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. United Theological Seminary is a small school located in New Brighton, Minnesota that handed out 21 ’s theology degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region theology students list, United Theological Seminary has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Plains States 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 more about Theological & Ministerial Studies at United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities

15
Benedictine College crest
Benedictine College
Atchison, Kansas

Benedictine College landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Best Value Theology Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Benedictine College is located in Atchison, Kansas and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 42 ’s theology degrees to qualified students.

Benedictine College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Benedictine College is $26,253 for plains states region theology students.

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%.

Read full report on Theological & Ministerial Studies at Benedictine College

16
Nazarene Theological Seminary crest
Nazarene Theological Seminary
Kansas City, Missouri

Nazarene Theological Seminary did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Theology Schools in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #16. This small school is located in Kansas City, Missouri, and it awarded 63 ’s theology degrees in 2020-2021.

Nazarene Theological Seminary not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Plains States Region” list.

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 school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Theological & Ministerial Studies at Nazarene Theological Seminary

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