2022 Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Theology
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Theology Schools for a Doctorate” ranking.
Theology is the 131st most popular major in the country with 5,846 degrees awarded in 2019-2020.
At the doctor’s degree level specifically, there were 528 theology graduates with average earnings and debt of $72,680 and $116,043 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value Theology Schools for a Doctorate” ranking, we looked at 34 colleges that offer a degree in theology. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent theology programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.
When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the theology program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
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One Size Does Not Fit All
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 for a Doctorate” list to help you make the college decision.
To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.
Best Value Theology Schools for a Doctorate
The colleges and universities below are the best for doctor’s degree theology students.
Top 25 Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Theology
Out of the 34 schools in the Best Value Theology Schools for a Doctorate that were part of this year’s ranking, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in Kansas City, Missouri, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 34 degrees to qualified doctorate’s theology students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at MBTS, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Theology Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at MBTS are $6,950.
Out of the 34 schools in the Best Value Theology Schools for a Doctorate that were part of this year’s ranking, Fuller Theological Seminary landed the #2 spot on the list. Located in Pasadena, California, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 14 degrees to qualified doctorate’s theology students in 2019-2020.
Fuller did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Theology Doctor’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Fuller Theological Seminary are $21,300.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Liberty University. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Theology Schools for a Doctorate list. Liberty University is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Lynchburg, Virginia. It awarded 75 doctorate’s theology degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Liberty University, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Theology Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Liberty University are $8,349, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Dallas Theological Seminary. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Theology Schools for a Doctorate list. DTS Dallas is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Dallas, Texas. It awarded 1 doctorate’s theology degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at DTS Dallas, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Theology Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at DTS Dallas are $18,430, but some majors have different tuition rates.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Theology Schools for a Doctorate list. LSTC is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 8 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.
LSTC also made our “Best Theology Doctor’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #12. Average graduate tuition and fees at Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago are $19,345, but some majors have different tuition rates.
With a ranking of #6, Regent University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Theology Schools for a Doctorate list. Virginia Beach, Virginia is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctorate’s theology degrees to 14 students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our doctor’s degree theology students list, Regent has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Theology Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Regent University are $17,052, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
With a ranking of #7, Oral Roberts University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Theology Schools for a Doctorate list. Tulsa, Oklahoma is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctorate’s theology degrees to 4 students in 2019-2020.
ORU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #19 on our “Best Theology Doctor’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at ORU are $12,282.
Evangel University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Theology Schools for a Doctorate list. Located in Springfield, Missouri, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 3 degrees to qualified doctorate’s theology students in 2019-2020.
Evangel not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #22 on our “Best Theology Doctor’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Evangel are $8,838, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Bob Jones University landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Theology Schools for a Doctorate ranking. This small school is located in Greenville, South Carolina, and it awarded 3 doctorate’s theology degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Bob Jones University, the school also landed the #24 spot in our “Best Theology Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Bob Jones University are $9,573.
With a ranking of #10, Drew University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Theology Schools for a Doctorate list. Madison, New Jersey is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctorate’s theology degrees to 22 students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Drew, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Theology Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Drew University are $19,871, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Wheaton College Illinois came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theology Schools for a Doctorate ranking. Wheaton College Illinois is a small school located in Wheaton, Illinois that handed out 5 doctorate’s theology degrees in 2019-2020.
Wheaton College Illinois also made our “Best Theology Doctor’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #15. Average graduate tuition and fees at Wheaton College Illinois are $17,424, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Anderson University Indiana came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theology Schools for a Doctorate ranking. Located in Anderson, Indiana, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 5 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s theology students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our doctor’s degree theology students list, Anderson University Indiana has also earned the #23 rank in our “Best Theology Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Anderson University Indiana are $11,455, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Santa Clara University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Theology Schools for a Doctorate ranking, coming in at #13. Santa Clara, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctorate’s theology degrees to 27 students in 2019-2020.
SCU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Theology Doctor’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Santa Clara University are $23,507.
Union University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Theology Schools for a Doctorate ranking. Jackson, Tennessee is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctorate’s theology degrees to 3 students in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Union University are $10,671.
Concordia Seminary ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Theology Schools for a Doctorate list. Located in Saint Louis, Missouri, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 11 degrees to qualified doctorate’s theology students in 2019-2020.
Concordia Seminary also made our “Best Theology Doctor’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #7. Average graduate tuition and fees at Concordia Seminary are $28,815, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Loyola University Chicago landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Theology Schools for a Doctorate ranking. Loyola Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 1 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Loyola Chicago also took the #13 spot in our “Best Theology Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Loyola University Chicago are $19,154, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Pentecostal Theological Seminary ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Theology Schools for a Doctorate list. Pentecostal Theological Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution located in Cleveland, Tennessee. The school has a small population, and it awarded 3 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Pentecostal Theological Seminary are $11,995, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read full report on Theology at Pentecostal Theological Seminary
Ave Maria University landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Theology Schools for a Doctorate ranking. AMU is a private not-for-profit institution located in Ave Maria, Florida. The school has a small population, and it awarded 3 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our doctor’s degree theology students list, AMU has also earned the #25 rank in our “Best Theology Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Ave Maria University are $15,386.
Princeton Theological Seminary did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Theology Schools for a Doctorate ranking, coming in at #19. Princeton Seminary is located in Princeton, New Jersey and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 10 doctorate’s theology degrees to qualified students.
Princeton Seminary did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #20 on our “Best Theology Doctor’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Princeton Theological Seminary are $22,730, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read full report on Theology at Princeton Theological Seminary
Union Presbyterian Seminary landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value Theology Schools for a Doctorate ranking. Richmond, Virginia is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctorate’s theology degrees to 2 students in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Union Presbyterian are $13,190, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Saint Louis University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Theology Schools for a Doctorate ranking, coming in at #21. SLU is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Saint Louis, Missouri. It awarded 1 doctorate’s theology degrees in 2019-2020.
SLU also made our “Best Theology Doctor’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #18. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at SLU are $22,074.
With a ranking of #22, Trinity International University - Illinois did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Theology Schools for a Doctorate list. Trinity International University - Illinois is located in Deerfield, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 9 doctorate’s theology degrees to qualified students.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Trinity International University - Illinois are $17,780, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Boston College ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Theology Schools for a Doctorate list. Located in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 15 degrees to qualified doctorate’s theology students in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Boston College, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Theology Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Boston College are $31,930.
Phillips Theological Seminary landed the #24 spot on the 2022 Best Value Theology Schools for a Doctorate ranking. Phillips Theological Seminary is a small school located in Tulsa, Oklahoma that handed out 1 doctorate’s theology degrees in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Phillips Theological Seminary are $11,720.
Read full report on Theology at Phillips Theological Seminary
Lancaster Theological Seminary landed the #25 spot on the 2022 Best Value Theology Schools for a Doctorate ranking. Located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 7 degrees to qualified doctorate’s theology students in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Lancaster Theological Seminary are $19,670, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
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Notes and References
References
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
Footnotes
- *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
- Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.
Credits
- Credit for the banner image above goes to Jonund.
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