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2023 Most Popular Master’s Degree Colleges for Theological & Ministerial Studies

342 Ranked Colleges
10,469 Degrees Awarded
$45,172 Avg Salary
Most Well Attended Theology Major for a Master's

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Most Well Attended Theology Major for a Master’s” ranking.

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.

At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 10,469 theological and ministerial studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $58,425 and $0 respectively.

This year’s “Most Well Attended Theology Major for a Master’s” ranking looked at 342 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in theological and ministerial studies. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have one of the most popular theological and ministerial studies programs in the United States.

Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

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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 “Most Well Attended Theology Major for a Master’s” list to help you make the college decision.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. 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.

Most Well Attended Theology Major for a Master’s

The following schools top our list of the Best “Most Well Attended Theology Major for a Master’s”.

1
Liberty University crest
Liberty University
Lynchburg, Virginia

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Liberty University. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Theology Major for a Master’s list. Lynchburg, Virginia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s theology degrees to 1,449 students in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Theological & Ministerial Studies at Liberty University

2

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. The school came in at #2 for the Most Well Attended Theology Major for a Master’s. This small school is located in Louisville, Kentucky, and it awarded 295 masters’s theology degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Theological & Ministerial Studies at SBTS

3
Fuller crest
Fuller Theological Seminary
Pasadena, California

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Fuller Theological Seminary. The school came in at #3 for the Most Well Attended Theology Major for a Master’s. This small school is located in Pasadena, California, and it awarded 282 masters’s theology degrees in 2020-2021.

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%. 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 more about Theological & Ministerial Studies at Fuller Theological Seminary

4

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Theology Major for a Master’s list. This small school is located in Kansas City, Missouri, and it awarded 273 masters’s theology degrees in 2020-2021.

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 more about Theological & Ministerial Studies at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

5

Out of the 342 schools in the Most Well Attended Theology Major for a Master’s that were part of this year’s ranking, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary landed the #5 spot on the list. Wake Forest, North Carolina is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s theology degrees to 267 students in 2020-2021.

Read more about Theological & Ministerial Studies at SEBTS

6
Gordon - Conwell Seminary crest
Gordon - Conwell Theological Seminary
South Hamilton, Massachusetts

With a ranking of #6, Gordon - Conwell Theological Seminary did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Theology Major for a Master’s list. Located in South Hamilton, Massachusetts, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 181 degrees to qualified masters’s theology 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 school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Gordon - Conwell Seminary Theological & Ministerial Studies Report

7

Asbury Theological Seminary landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Theology Major for a Master’s ranking. This small school is located in Wilmore, Kentucky, and it awarded 175 masters’s theology degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.4% 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 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read full report on Theological & Ministerial Studies at Asbury Seminary

8
Duke crest
Duke University
Durham, North Carolina

Duke University ranked #8 on this year’s Most Well Attended Theology Major for a Master’s list. Duke is located in Durham, North Carolina and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 154 masters’s theology degrees to qualified students.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 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 0.3% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Theological & Ministerial Studies at Duke University

9

Dallas Theological Seminary came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Theology Major for a Master’s ranking. Dallas Theological Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution located in Dallas, Texas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 148 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.

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 0.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

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

10

New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Theology Major for a Master’s ranking. New Orleans, Louisiana is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s theology degrees to 144 students in 2020-2021.

Full NOBTS Theological & Ministerial Studies Report

11
Yale crest
Yale University
New Haven, Connecticut

Yale University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Theology Major for a Master’s ranking. Yale University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in New Haven, Connecticut. It awarded 124 masters’s theology degrees in 2020-2021.

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%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 4 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 Yale University

12
Andrews crest
Andrews University
Berrien Springs, Michigan

Andrews University landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Theology Major for a Master’s ranking. Andrews University is located in Berrien Springs, Michigan and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 118 masters’s theology degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.5% 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 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. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Theological & Ministerial Studies at Andrews

13
Emory crest
Emory University
Atlanta, Georgia

Emory University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Theology Major for a Master’s ranking. Emory University is a fairly large school located in Atlanta, Georgia that handed out 115 masters’s theology 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%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Theological & Ministerial Studies at Emory University

14
Luther Seminary crest
Luther Seminary
Saint Paul, Minnesota

Luther Seminary came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Theology Major for a Master’s ranking. Luther Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution located in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The school has a small population, and it awarded 111 masters’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.

Full Luther Seminary Theological & Ministerial Studies Report

15
Princeton Seminary crest
Princeton Theological Seminary
Princeton, New Jersey

Princeton Theological Seminary landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Theology Major for a Master’s ranking. Princeton, New Jersey is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s theology degrees to 99 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.

Full Princeton Seminary Theological & Ministerial Studies Report

16
Boston College crest
Boston College
Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts

Boston College did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Theology Major for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #16. Located in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 96 degrees to qualified masters’s theology students 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Theological & Ministerial Studies at Boston College

17
Harvard crest
Harvard University
Cambridge, Massachusetts

Harvard University ranked #17 on this year’s Most Well Attended Theology Major for a Master’s list. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 94 diplomas to qualified masters’s theology students in 2020-2021.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 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 0.9% 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%.

Read full report on Theological & Ministerial Studies at Harvard

18
The Master's University crest
The Master's University and Seminary
Santa Clarita, California

With a ranking of #18, The Master’s University and Seminary did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Theology Major for a Master’s list. Santa Clarita, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s theology degrees to 93 students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.5% 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 The Master’s University and Seminary Theological & Ministerial Studies Report

19
Biola crest
Biola University
La Mirada, California

Biola University landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Theology Major for a Master’s ranking. La Mirada, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s theology degrees to 92 students in 2020-2021.

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 more about Theological & Ministerial Studies at Biola University

20
Western Seminary-San Jose crest
Western Seminary
Portland, Oregon

Western Seminary ranked #20 on this year’s Most Well Attended Theology Major for a Master’s list. Western Seminary-San Jose is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Portland, Oregon. It awarded 91 masters’s theology degrees 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.

Read full report on Theological & Ministerial Studies at Western Seminary

21

Trinity International University - Illinois came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Theology Major for a Master’s ranking. Located in Deerfield, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 90 diplomas to qualified masters’s theology students in 2020-2021.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 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 TIU Illinois

22

Luther Rice College & Seminary landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Theology Major for a Master’s ranking. Luther Rice is located in Lithonia, Georgia and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 89 masters’s theology degrees to qualified students.

Full Luther Rice Theological & Ministerial Studies Report

23
Union crest
Union Theological Seminary
New York, New York

Union Theological Seminary did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Theology Major for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #23. Union Theological Seminary is a small school located in New York, New York that handed out 88 masters’s theology degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. 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 more about Theological & Ministerial Studies at Union

23
Westminster Theological Seminary crest
Westminster Theological Seminary
Glenside, Pennsylvania

Westminster Theological Seminary landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Theology Major for a Master’s ranking. Westminster Theological Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution located in Glenside, Pennsylvania. The school has a small population, and it awarded 88 masters’s degrees 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.

Read more about Theological & Ministerial Studies at Westminster Theological Seminary

25

Franciscan University of Steubenville ranked #25 on this year’s Most Well Attended Theology Major for a Master’s list. This small school is located in Steubenville, Ohio, and it awarded 83 masters’s theology degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.4% 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 school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Theological & Ministerial Studies at Franciscan University of Steubenville

Rest of the Best 51 in Most Well Attended Theology Major for a Master’s

Not only did these schools make the top 51 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

26
Boston U crest
Boston University
Boston, Massachusetts
27
28
UChicago crest
University of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois
28
Regent crest
Regent University
Virginia Beach, Virginia
30
Concordia Seminary crest
Concordia Seminary
Saint Louis, Missouri
31
Moody Theological Seminary and Graduate School crest
Moody Bible Institute
Chicago, Illinois
31
Notre Dame crest
University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, Indiana
33
VUU crest
Virginia Union University
Richmond, Virginia
34
OCU crest
Ohio Christian University
Circleville, Ohio
34
36
36
Bethel University Minnesota crest
Bethel University Minnesota
Saint Paul, Minnesota
36
SEU crest
Southeastern University
Lakeland, Florida
39
40
Wesley Theological Seminary crest
Wesley Theological Seminary
Washington, District of Columbia
41
Covenant Seminary crest
Covenant Theological Seminary
Saint Louis, Missouri
41
Vanderbilt crest
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, Tennessee
43
44
EU crest
Eastern University
Saint Davids, Pennsylvania
45
46
Calvin Seminary crest
Calvin Theological Seminary
Grand Rapids, Michigan
47
Drew crest
Drew University
Madison, New Jersey
48
Grand Canyon University crest
Grand Canyon University
Phoenix, Arizona
48
50
50
CUA crest
Catholic University of America
Washington, District of Columbia

Rest of the Top 15% Colleges in Most Well Attended Theology Major for a Master’s

While not in the ’top 50’, these schools make the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

RankCollegeLocation
52Nyack CollegeNyack, NY

Notes and References

References

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