2027 Best Theology Schools in the Southeast Region
Theology is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
College Factual analyzed 20 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best theology schools.
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Best Schools for Theology in the Southeast Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall theology education in the Southeast Region.
Top Schools in Theology
Our analysis ranked Duke University the best school in the country for a degree in theology. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Durham. Duke University graduates 97% of students within six years. Duke University awarded about 186 theology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their theology degree from Duke University earn around $70,809 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,296.
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A rank of #2 makes Emory University one of the top schools for theology. Emory University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Atlanta. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. Emory University awarded about 17 theology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, theology degree recipients from Emory University generally make around $74,348. Students borrow a median of $19,431 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in theology from Emory University
Vanderbilt University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best theology schools. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. There were roughly 13 theology students who graduated with this degree at Vanderbilt University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the theology program make about $42,583 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $13,975 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong theology program will find one at Sewanee The University Of The South, which ranked #4. Set in the rural area of Sewanee, Sewanee The University Of The South is a small private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. Sewanee The University Of The South awarded about 10 theology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their theology degree from Sewanee The University Of The South earn around $36,927 in the first couple years of their career. Sewanee The University Of The South graduates carry a median of $22,091 in student loans.
More information about a degree in theology from Sewanee The University Of The South
Lipscomb University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best theology schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Nashville. About 72% of students finish within six years. Lipscomb University awarded about 17 theology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, theology degree recipients from Lipscomb University generally make around $48,949. Typical student debt for the program is $23,529.
See the full theology program report for Lipscomb University
The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary came in at #6 for theology this year. Located in the city of Louisville, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 35% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 187 theology students who graduated with this degree at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, theology degree recipients from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary generally make around $74,388.
Read more about the theology program at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary earned the #7 position for theology this year. Set in the suburb of Wake Forest, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 17%. There were roughly 27 theology students who graduated with this degree at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in the most recent data year. Theology graduates of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary earn a median of $54,863 early in their careers.
See the full theology program report for Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary landed the #8 spot for theology this year. Located in the city of New Orleans, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 53 theology students who graduated with this degree at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in theology from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary
Columbia International University placed #9 among the best theology schools. Located in the city of Columbia, Columbia International University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Columbia International University graduates 46% of students within six years. Columbia International University awarded about 34 theology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their theology degree from Columbia International University earn around $32,296 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,667 to complete this degree.
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Erskine College And Seminary earned the #10 position for theology this year. Located in the rural area of Due West, Erskine College And Seminary is a small private not-for-profit university. Roughly 45% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 15 theology students who graduated with this degree at Erskine College And Seminary in the most recent data year. Theology graduates of Erskine College And Seminary earn a median of $35,695 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
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Campbellsville University ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best theology schools. Campbellsville University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the town of Campbellsville. About 42% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 12 theology students who graduated with this degree at Campbellsville University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their theology degree from Campbellsville University earn around $54,029 in the first couple years of their career. Campbellsville University graduates carry a median of $24,148 in student loans.
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Ave Maria University landed the #12 spot for theology this year. Set in the rural area of Ave Maria, Ave Maria University is a small private not-for-profit institution. About 47% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 45 theology students who graduated with this degree at Ave Maria University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their theology degree from Ave Maria University earn around $26,924 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,102.
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Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach came in at #13 for theology this year. Located in the city of West Palm Beach, Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 55% of students finish within six years. About 27 theology degrees were awarded at Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach in the most recent year. Students who receive their theology degree from Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach earn around $28,383 in the first couple years of their career. Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach graduates carry a median of $25,750 in student loans.
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Columbia Theological Seminary ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best theology schools. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Decatur. Columbia Theological Seminary awarded about 10 theology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their theology degree from Columbia Theological Seminary earn around $44,694 in the first couple years of their career.
More information about a degree in theology from Columbia Theological Seminary
Liberty University earned the #15 position for theology this year. Set in the city of Lynchburg, Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 67% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 1,257 theology students who graduated with this degree at Liberty University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, theology degree recipients from Liberty University generally make around $53,626. Typical student debt for the program is $27,414.
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Regent University ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best theology schools. Regent University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Virginia Beach. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 46 theology students who graduated with this degree at Regent University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their theology degree from Regent University earn around $49,840 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $29,451.
See the full theology program report for Regent University
Saint Leo University landed the #17 spot for theology this year. Located in the town of Saint Leo, Saint Leo University is a large private not-for-profit university. Saint Leo University graduates 44% of students within six years. About 33 theology degrees were awarded at Saint Leo University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, theology degree recipients from Saint Leo University generally make around $57,662. Typical student debt for the program is $32,116.
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The Baptist College Of Florida placed #18 among the best theology schools. The Baptist College Of Florida is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Graceville. The six-year graduation rate is 46%. The Baptist College Of Florida awarded about 26 theology degrees in the most recent data year. Theology graduates of The Baptist College Of Florida earn a median of $34,350 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,916 to complete this degree.
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Virginia Union University ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best theology schools. Located in the city of Richmond, Virginia Union University is a small private not-for-profit university. Roughly 34% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 14 theology degrees were awarded at Virginia Union University in the most recent year. Students who receive their theology degree from Virginia Union University earn around $25,910 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $30,593 to complete this degree.
Read more about the theology program at Virginia Union University
Asbury Theological Seminary came in at #20 for theology this year. Set in the town of Wilmore, Asbury Theological Seminary is a small private not-for-profit institution. There were roughly 42 theology students who graduated with this degree at Asbury Theological Seminary in the most recent data year. Students who receive their theology degree from Asbury Theological Seminary earn around $48,572 in the first couple years of their career.
Read more about the theology program at Asbury Theological Seminary
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 20 schools evaluated.
- 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.
