by our College Data Analytics Team
When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. College Factual has developed its “Most Well Attended Theology Major” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
Theological & Ministerial Studies is the 63rd most popular major in the country with 15,832 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. 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.
This year’s “Most Well Attended Theology Major” ranking looked at 470 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in theological and ministerial studies. To top this list, a school must have a successful theological and ministerial studies program that graduates more students in the field than other colleges that offer the same major.
For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
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 “Most Well Attended Theology Major” 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 by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.
The following schools top our list of the Best “Most Well Attended Theology Major”.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Liberty University. The school came in at #1 for the Most Well Attended Theology Major. Liberty University is located in Lynchburg, Virginia and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,692 ’s theology degrees to qualified students.
Read full report on Theological & Ministerial Studies at Liberty University
Out of the 470 schools in the Most Well Attended Theology Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Southeastern University landed the #2 spot on the list. Southeastern University is a medium-sized school located in Lakeland, Florida that handed out 466 ’s theology degrees in 2020-2021.
Full Southeastern University Theological & Ministerial Studies Report
Out of the 470 schools in the Most Well Attended Theology Major that were part of this year’s ranking, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary landed the #3 spot on the list. Louisville, Kentucky is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s theology degrees to 467 students in 2020-2021.
Read more about Theological & Ministerial Studies at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
Out of the 470 schools in the Most Well Attended Theology Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary landed the #4 spot on the list. Located in Kansas City, Missouri, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 464 degrees to qualified ’s theology students in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.7% 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 Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary Theological & Ministerial Studies Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Fuller Theological Seminary. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Theology Major list. Pasadena, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s theology degrees to 378 students in 2020-2021.
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 undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Theological & Ministerial Studies at Fuller
New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Theology Major ranking, coming in at #6. New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary is a small private not-for-profit school situated in New Orleans, Louisiana. It awarded 353 ’s theology degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Theological & Ministerial Studies at NOBTS
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Theology Major ranking. Wake Forest, North Carolina is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s theology degrees to 345 students in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Theological & Ministerial Studies at SEBTS
Asbury Theological Seminary did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Theology Major ranking, coming in at #8. This small school is located in Wilmore, Kentucky, and it awarded 231 ’s theology degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. 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.
Full Asbury Seminary Theological & Ministerial Studies Report
Gordon - Conwell Theological Seminary came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Theology Major ranking. Gordon - Conwell Seminary is located in South Hamilton, Massachusetts and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 214 ’s theology degrees to qualified students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. 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 Gordon - Conwell Seminary
With a ranking of #10, Franciscan University of Steubenville did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Theology Major list. Franciscan U is a private not-for-profit institution located in Steubenville, Ohio. The school has a small population, and it awarded 205 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Moody Bible Institute came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Theology Major ranking. Moody Bible Institute is a small school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 200 ’s theology degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Moody Theological Seminary and Graduate School Theological & Ministerial Studies Report
Yeshivath Viznitz ranked #12 on this year’s Most Well Attended Theology Major list. Yeshivath Viznitz is located in Monsey, New York and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 196 ’s theology degrees to qualified students.
Read more about Theological & Ministerial Studies at Yeshivath Viznitz
Regent University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Theology Major ranking. Regent is a fairly large school located in Virginia Beach, Virginia that handed out 198 ’s theology degrees in 2020-2021.
Duke University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Theology Major ranking, coming in at #14. Durham, North Carolina is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s theology degrees to 185 students in 2020-2021.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 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 0.3% 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 97%.
Dallas Theological Seminary did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Theology Major ranking, coming in at #15. Located in Dallas, Texas, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 172 degrees to qualified ’s theology students in 2020-2021.
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 low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% 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 Dallas Theological Seminary
With a ranking of #16, Ohio Christian University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Theology Major list. Ohio Christian University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Circleville, Ohio. It awarded 156 ’s theology degrees in 2020-2021.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Read full report on Theological & Ministerial Studies at OCU
Andrews University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Theology Major ranking. Andrews University is located in Berrien Springs, Michigan and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 154 ’s theology degrees to qualified students.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Read full report on Theological & Ministerial Studies at Andrews University
With a ranking of #18, The Master’s University and Seminary did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Theology Major list. This small school is located in Santa Clarita, California, and it awarded 150 ’s theology degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Theological & Ministerial Studies at The Master’s University
Emory University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Theology Major ranking. This fairly large school is located in Atlanta, Georgia, and it awarded 145 ’s theology degrees in 2020-2021.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Theological & Ministerial Studies at Emory University
University of Notre Dame came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Theology Major ranking. This fairly large school is located in Notre Dame, Indiana, and it awarded 139 ’s theology degrees in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% 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%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 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 University of Notre Dame
Oral Roberts University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Theology Major ranking, coming in at #21. Located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 128 degrees to qualified ’s theology students in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Theological & Ministerial Studies at Oral Roberts University
Yale University landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Theology Major ranking. This fairly large school is located in New Haven, Connecticut, and it awarded 124 ’s theology degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% 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%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 4 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Luther Seminary came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Theology Major ranking. Luther Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution located in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 127 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
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.
Read more about Theological & Ministerial Studies at Luther Seminary
With a ranking of #24, Boston College did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Theology Major list. Boston College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 110 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% 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 93%.
Full Boston College Theological & Ministerial Studies Report
With a ranking of #25, Princeton Theological Seminary did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Theology Major list. Princeton Seminary is located in Princeton, New Jersey and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 105 ’s theology degrees to qualified students.
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 Princeton Seminary
Not only did these schools make the top 53 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
While not in the ‘top 50’, these schools make the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 54 | Eastern University | Saint Davids, PA |
| 55 | Calvin Theological Seminary | Grand Rapids, MI |
| 56 | University of Dallas | Irving, TX |
| 57 | United Theological Seminary | Dayton, OH |
| 58 | The King’s University | Southlake, TX |
| 58 | Santa Clara University | Santa Clara, CA |
| 60 | Grace School of Theology | Conroe, TX |
| 61 | Johnson University | Knoxville, TN |
| 61 | Columbia International University | Columbia, SC |
| 61 | Mount St Mary’s University | Emmitsburg, MD |
| 61 | Pittsburgh Theological Seminary | Pittsburgh, PA |
| 61 | Pentecostal Theological Seminary | Cleveland, TN |
| 61 | Grand Canyon University | Phoenix, AZ |
| 61 | Hope International University | Fullerton, CA |
| 68 | Saint Meinrad School of Theology | St. Meinrad, IN |
| Rank | College | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 68 | Catholic University of America | Washington, DC |
| 70 | Azusa Pacific University | Azusa, CA |
| 70 | Saint Joseph’s College of Maine | Standish, ME |
Read more about our data sources and methodologies