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2024 Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Southwest Region

14 Colleges in the Southwest Region
1,105 Theology Degrees Awarded
$42,762 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.

In 2024, College Factual analyzed 14 schools in order to identify the top ones for its Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Southwest Region ranking. When you put them all together, these colleges and universities awarded 1,105 degrees in theological & ministerial studies during the 2020-2021 academic year.

What's on this page: * Degree-Level Rankings

Choosing a Great Theological & Ministerial Studies School

Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Southwest Region The theology program you select can have a big impact on your future. That's why we developed our collection of Best Schools for Theological & Ministerial Studies rankings. 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.

In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.

Theological & Ministerial Studies Rankings by Degree Level

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

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we've developed the Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Schools in the Southwest Region ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision. 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 the Southwest Region

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 Southwest Region Schools in Theology

1
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
172 Theology Degrees Awarded
$51,697 Median Starting Salary

Dallas Theological Seminary is a good option for students pursuing a degree in theological & ministerial studies. Located in the city of Dallas, DTS Dallas is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

There were roughly 172 theological & ministerial studies students who graduated with this degree at DTS Dallas in the most recent data year. Degree recipients from the theological & ministerial studies degree program at Dallas Theological Seminary earn $8,935 more than the standard college graduate in this field shortly after graduation.

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

2
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
79 Theology Degrees Awarded
40.5% Growth in Graduates

Southern Methodist University is one of the best schools in the country for getting a degree in theological & ministerial studies. SMU is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the suburb of Dallas. A Best Colleges rank of #73 out of 2,217 schools nationwide means SMU is a great university overall.

There were about 79 theological & ministerial studies students who graduated with this degree at SMU 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 $43,670.

More information about a degree in theological & ministerial studies from Southern Methodist University

3
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
128 Theology Degrees Awarded
25.0% Growth in Graduates

Any student pursuing a degree in theological & ministerial studies has to take a look at Oral Roberts University. ORU is a medium-sized private not-for-profit university located in the city of Tulsa. A Best Colleges rank of #1081 out of 2,217 colleges nationwide means ORU is a great university overall.

There were roughly 128 theological & ministerial studies students who graduated with this degree at ORU 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 earnings of $30,952.

More information about a degree in theological & ministerial studies from Oral Roberts University

4
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
2nd Most Popular In OK
44 Theology Degrees Awarded

Every student pursuing a degree in theological & ministerial studies needs to check out Mid-America Christian University. MACU is a small private not-for-profit university located in the large city of Oklahoma City. This university ranks 18th out of 32 colleges for overall quality in the state of Oklahoma.

There were roughly 44 theological & ministerial studies students who graduated with this degree at MACU in the most recent data year.

More information about a degree in theological & ministerial studies from Mid-America Christian University

5
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
65 Theology Degrees Awarded
$42,755 Median Starting Salary

Located in the city of Waco, Baylor is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #123 out of 2,217 schools nationwide means Baylor is a great university overall.

There were approximately 65 theological & ministerial studies students who graduated with this degree at Baylor in the most recent year we have data available. Graduates who receive their degree from the theology program earn an average of $42,755 for their early career.

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

6
Brite Divinity crest
Brite Divinity School
Fort Worth, TX
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
$49,359 Median Starting Salary

Brite Divinity is a fairly small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Fort Worth.

There were approximately 19 theological & ministerial studies students who graduated with this degree at Brite Divinity in the most recent data year. Degree recipients from the theological & ministerial studies program at Brite Divinity School make $6,597 more than the average college graduate in this field when they enter the workforce.

More information about a degree in theological & ministerial studies from Brite Divinity School

7

Located in the town of Bartlesville, OKWU or OWU is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly small student population. This university ranks 16th out of 32 colleges for overall quality in the state of Oklahoma.

There were roughly 13 theological & ministerial studies students who graduated with this degree at OKWU or OWU in the most recent data year. Students who graduate with their degree from the theology program report average early career earnings of $38,789.

More information about a degree in theological & ministerial studies from Oklahoma Wesleyan University

7
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
47 Theology Degrees Awarded
27.7% Growth in Graduates

Grand Canyon University is a very large private for-profit university located in the city of Phoenix. A Best Colleges rank of #272 out of 2,217 schools nationwide means Grand Canyon University is a great university overall.

There were approximately 47 theological & ministerial studies students who graduated with this degree at Grand Canyon University in the most recent data year. Degree recipients from the theological & ministerial studies major at Grand Canyon University get $4,163 more than the typical college grad in this field shortly after graduation.

More information about a degree in theological & ministerial studies from Grand Canyon University

8
Master's Degree Highest Degree Type
43 Theology Degrees Awarded
$45,586 Median Starting Salary

HBU is a small private not-for-profit university located in the city of Houston. This university ranks 67th out of 115 schools for overall quality in the state of Texas.

There were approximately 43 theological & ministerial studies students who graduated with this degree at HBU in the most recent year we have data available. Degree recipients from the theological & ministerial studies program at Houston Baptist University get $2,824 above the standard graduate in this field shortly after graduation.

More information about a degree in theological & ministerial studies from Houston Baptist University

9
Doctor's Degree Highest Degree Type
35 Theology Degrees Awarded
$43,553 Median Starting Salary

Hardin - Simmons is a small private not-for-profit university located in the midsize city of Abilene. This university ranks 79th out of 115 schools for overall quality in the state of Texas.

There were roughly 35 theological & ministerial studies students who graduated with this degree at Hardin - Simmons in the most recent data year. After graduating, theology degree recipients typically make an average of $43,553 in their early careers.

More information about a degree in theological & ministerial studies from Hardin - Simmons University

Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Colleges by State

Explore the best theological & ministerial studies schools for a specific state in the Southwest Region .

State Colleges Degrees Awarded
Texas 317 782
Arizona 287 87
Oklahoma 257 222

View All Rankings >

One of 7 majors within the Theology & Religious Vocations area of study, Theological & Ministerial Studies has other similar majors worth exploring.

Theology Concentrations

Major Annual Graduates
Divinity/Ministry 566
Other Theological & Ministerial Studies 291
Theology 221
Pre-Theology/Pre-Ministerial Studies 27

View All Theology Focus Areas >

Related Major Annual Graduates
Religious Education 466
Biblical Studies 462
Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries 387
Theology & Religious Vocations (Other) 120
Missionary Studies 51
Sacred Music 50

View All Theology Related Majors >

Notes and References

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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