2027 Best Value Theology Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
[Theology](/majors/theology-and-religious-vocations/theological-ministerial-studies/theology/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 10 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for theology students.
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2027 Best Value Theology Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in theology, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Theology Schools
Mount St Marys University earned the #1 spot for value among theology schools in the Middle Atlantic Region. Located in the rural area of Emmitsburg, Mount St Marys University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $48,630. Students borrow a median of $23,539 to complete the theology program here. Soon after graduation, theology degree recipients from Mount St Marys University generally make around $50,657. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in theology will find it at Drew University, which ranked #2. Set in the suburb of Madison, Drew University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $47,100 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,449 to complete the theology program here. Soon after graduation, theology degree recipients from Drew University generally make around $49,241. Set against $26,449 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 68%.
Lancaster Bible College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in theology, landing the #3 spot this year. Lancaster Bible College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Lancaster. In-state tuition and fees average $29,990. Typical student debt for theology graduates is $28,507. Soon after graduation, theology degree recipients from Lancaster Bible College generally make around $35,130. Set against $28,507 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 56% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in theology will find it at Eastern University, which ranked #4. Eastern University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Davids. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $38,400. Students borrow a median of $28,584 to complete the theology program here. Theology graduates of Eastern University earn a median of $47,185 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Catholic University Of America came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value theology schools. Located in the city of Washington, Catholic University Of America is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $58,378. Theology graduates carry a median of $25,771 in student loans. Early-career theology graduates make about $65,120. Set against $25,771 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Catholic University Of America admits about 83% of applicants.
Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary landed the #6 spot for theology value this year. Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bethlehem. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $53,500. Theology graduates carry a median of $26,857 in student loans. Early-career theology graduates make about $48,472. That is a strong return on a $26,857 median debt. The acceptance rate is 54%.
Seton Hall University came in at #7 for value in theology this year. Located in the suburb of South Orange, Seton Hall University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $53,170 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,422 to complete the theology program here. Theology graduates of Seton Hall University earn a median of $63,871 early in their careers. Set against $23,422 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 73%.
Valley Forge Christian College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value theology schools. Located in the suburb of Phoenixville, Valley Forge Christian College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $25,240. Students borrow a median of $28,000 to complete the theology program here. Theology graduates of Valley Forge Christian College earn a median of $25,051 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 61%.
Rabbinical College Of Ohr Shimon Yisroel placed #9 among the best values for theology. Set in the city of Brooklyn, Rabbinical College Of Ohr Shimon Yisroel is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $22,300.
Villanova University earned the #10 position for value in theology this year. Located in the suburb of Villanova, Villanova University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $67,776 in tuition and fees. Theology graduates carry a median of $26,184 in student loans. Early-career theology graduates make about $72,601. That is a strong return on a $26,184 median debt. Villanova University admits about 27% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 10 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
