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2024 Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in Illinois

10 Colleges in Illinois
837 Theology Degrees Awarded
$43,075 Avg Early-Career Salary
Theological & Ministerial Studies is above average in terms of popularity with it being the #63 most popular degree program in the country. As a result, there are many college that offer the degree, making your choice of school a hard one.

College Factual looked at 10 colleges and universities when compiling its 2024 Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in Illinois ranking. When you put them all together, these colleges and universities awarded 837 degrees in theological & ministerial studies during the 2020-2021 academic year.

Jump to one of the following sections: * Degree-Level Rankings

Choosing a Great Theological & Ministerial Studies School

Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in Illinois Your choice of theological & ministerial studies school matters, so we have put together these rankings to help you make your decision. For our Best Overall Theological & Ministerial Studies School rankings, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.

You may want to choose one of the degree levels below to find the schools of most interest to you.

Pick Your Theological & Ministerial Studies Degree Level

Bachelor's Degrees in Theology
Master's Degrees in Theology
Doctor's Degrees in Theology

The theology school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we've developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of the Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in Illinois. If you'd like to restrict your choices to just one part of the country, you can filter this list by location.

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.

If you want to learn more about how we derive our rankings, see College Factual's Methodology.

Best Schools for Theological & Ministerial Studies in Illinois

If you aren't interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the theology degrees they offer, see the list below.

10 Top Illinois Schools in Theology

1
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
99 Theology Degrees Awarded
22.2% Growth in Graduates

University of Chicago is a great option for students pursuing a degree in theological & ministerial studies. Located in the city of Chicago, UChicago is a private not-for-profit university with a large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #2 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means UChicago is a great university overall.

There were approximately 99 theological & ministerial studies students who graduated with this degree at UChicago in the most recent data year. Soon after graduating, theology degree recipients usually make around $43,171 in the first five years of their career.

More information about a degree in theological & ministerial studies from University of Chicago

2
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
200 Theology Degrees Awarded
1.5% Growth in Graduates

Any student who is interested in theological & ministerial studies needs to check out Moody Bible Institute. Moody Theological Seminary and Graduate School is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Chicago.

There were approximately 200 theological & ministerial studies students who graduated with this degree at Moody Theological Seminary and Graduate School in the most recent data year. Graduates who receive their degree from the theology program earn around $39,124 for their early career.

More information about a degree in theological & ministerial studies from Moody Bible Institute

3
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
13th Most Popular In IL
17.6% Growth in Graduates

Loyola University Chicago is a wonderful choice for students pursuing a degree in theological & ministerial studies. Located in the city of Chicago, Loyola Chicago is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #137 out of 2,217 schools nationwide means Loyola Chicago is a great university overall.

There were about 17 theological & ministerial studies students who graduated with this degree at Loyola Chicago in the most recent year we have data available.

More information about a degree in theological & ministerial studies from Loyola University Chicago

4
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
12th Most Popular In IL
37.5% Growth in Graduates

Olivet Nazarene University is a wonderful decision for students pursuing a degree in theological & ministerial studies. Located in the small suburb of Bourbonnais, Olivet Nazarene is a private not-for-profit university with a small student population. This university ranks 33rd out of 85 colleges for overall quality in the state of Illinois.

There were about 24 theological & ministerial studies students who graduated with this degree at Olivet Nazarene in the most recent data year.

More information about a degree in theological & ministerial studies from Olivet Nazarene University

5
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
60 Theology Degrees Awarded
15.0% Growth in Graduates

Lincoln Christian College and Seminary is a fairly small private not-for-profit university located in the town of Lincoln.

There were roughly 60 theological & ministerial studies students who graduated with this degree at Lincoln Christian College and Seminary in the most recent data year. Students who graduate with their degree from the theology program report average early career income of $35,010.

More information about a degree in theological & ministerial studies from Lincoln Christian University

6
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
$38,767 Median Starting Salary

Wheaton College Illinois is a small private not-for-profit college located in the large suburb of Wheaton. This college ranks 11th out of 85 schools for overall quality in the state of Illinois.

There were approximately 25 theological & ministerial studies students who graduated with this degree at Wheaton College Illinois in the most recent year we have data available. Students who graduate with their degree from the theology program state that they receive average early career income of $38,767.

More information about a degree in theological & ministerial studies from Wheaton College Illinois

7
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
99 Theology Degrees Awarded
$38,434 Median Starting Salary

TIU Illinois is a small private not-for-profit university located in the suburb of Deerfield. This university ranks 49th out of 85 schools for overall quality in the state of Illinois.

There were roughly 99 theological & ministerial studies students who graduated with this degree at TIU Illinois in the most recent data year. Graduates who receive their degree from the theology program make around $38,434 in their early career salary.

More information about a degree in theological & ministerial studies from Trinity International University - Illinois

8
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
43 Theology Degrees Awarded
14.0% Growth in Graduates

LSTC is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Chicago.

There were about 43 theological & ministerial studies students who graduated with this degree at LSTC in the most recent data year. Theological & Ministerial Studies degree recipients from Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago get an earnings boost of about $16,281 above the average income of theological & ministerial studies majors.

More information about a degree in theological & ministerial studies from Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago

9

McCormick Theological Seminary is a fairly small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago.

There were roughly 27 theological & ministerial studies students who graduated with this degree at McCormick Theological Seminary in the most recent year we have data available. Students who receive their degree from the theology program earn about $40,372 in the first couple years of working.

More information about a degree in theological & ministerial studies from McCormick Theological Seminary

10
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
$38,776 Median Starting Salary

Located in the suburb of Lisle, Northern Seminary is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

There were roughly 17 theological & ministerial studies students who graduated with this degree at Northern Seminary in the most recent year we have data available. After graduating, theology degree recipients usually earn around $38,776 in their early careers.

More information about a degree in theological & ministerial studies from Northern Baptist Theological Seminary

Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Colleges in the Great Lakes Region

Explore all the Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Colleges in the Great Lakes Area or other specific states within that region.

State Colleges Degrees Awarded
Michigan 322 328
Ohio 314 609
Indiana 294 391
Wisconsin 273 80

View All Rankings >

Theological & Ministerial Studies is one of 7 different types of Theology & Religious Vocations programs to choose from.

Theology Focus Areas

Major Annual Graduates
Divinity/Ministry 381
Theology 299
Other Theological & Ministerial Studies 153
Pre-Theology/Pre-Ministerial Studies 4

View All Theology Concentrations >

Related Major Annual Graduates
Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries 292
Biblical Studies 234
Theology & Religious Vocations (Other) 150
Religious Education 148
Missionary Studies 112
Sacred Music 34

View All Theology Related Majors >

Notes and References

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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