by our College Data Analytics Team
[Religious Studies](/majors/philosophy-and-religious-studies/religious-studies/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 780 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for religious studies students.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the religious studies degrees they offer, see the list below.
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary tops our 2026 list of the best value religious studies schools in the United States. Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Wake Forest. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,318. Soon after graduation, religious studies degree recipients from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary generally make around $54,863. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
Harvard University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in religious studies, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $61,676. Typical student debt for religious studies graduates is $16,616. Soon after graduation, religious studies degree recipients from Harvard University generally make around $95,207. That is a strong return on a $16,616 median debt. The acceptance rate is 4%.
Columbia University In The City Of New York came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value religious studies schools. Located in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $70,517. Religious Studies graduates carry a median of $23,258 in student loans. Early-career religious studies graduates make about $86,770. Set against $23,258 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 4%.
Wayland Baptist University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value religious studies schools. Set in the town of Plainview, Wayland Baptist University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $23,782. Students borrow a median of $30,204 to complete the religious studies program here. Soon after graduation, religious studies degree recipients from Wayland Baptist University generally make around $51,930. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Wayland Baptist University admits about 56% of applicants.
Ner Israel Rabbinical College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value religious studies schools. Ner Israel Rabbinical College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Baltimore. Students from in state pay about $10,600 in tuition and fees. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $66,330. The acceptance rate is 66%.
1
2
3
4
5
Beth Medrash Govoha ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value religious studies schools. Beth Medrash Govoha is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lakewood. In-state tuition and fees average $25,780. Religious Studies graduates of Beth Medrash Govoha earn a median of $29,393 early in their careers.
Cornerstone University earned the #7 position for value in religious studies this year. Located in the city of Grand Rapids, Cornerstone University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $23,000. Students borrow a median of $29,243 to complete the religious studies program here. Religious Studies graduates of Cornerstone University earn a median of $44,501 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $29,243 median debt. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Franciscan University Of Steubenville landed the #8 spot for religious studies value this year. Located in the city of Steubenville, Franciscan University Of Steubenville is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,100. Religious Studies graduates carry a median of $25,029 in student loans. Religious Studies graduates of Franciscan University Of Steubenville earn a median of $43,020 early in their careers. Set against $25,029 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Franciscan University Of Steubenville admits about 58% of applicants.
Friends University placed #9 among the best values for religious studies. Set in the city of Wichita, Friends University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $34,192 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $29,721 to complete the religious studies program here. Religious Studies graduates of Friends University earn a median of $46,502 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Friends University admits about 55% of applicants.
Touro College earned the #10 position for value in religious studies this year. Located in the city of New York, Touro College is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $20,052. Religious Studies graduates carry a median of $20,285 in student loans. Soon after graduation, religious studies degree recipients from Touro College generally make around $60,520. That is a strong return on a $20,285 median debt. Touro College admits about 61% of applicants.
Yale University earned the #11 position for value in religious studies this year. Set in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,250. Students borrow a median of $14,357 to complete the religious studies program here. Soon after graduation, religious studies degree recipients from Yale University generally make around $74,578. Set against $14,357 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Yale University admits about 4% of applicants.
Crown College came in at #12 for value in religious studies this year. Crown College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Saint Bonifacius. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $31,410. Religious Studies graduates carry a median of $29,537 in student loans. Religious Studies graduates of Crown College earn a median of $56,689 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $29,537 median debt. Crown College admits about 23% of applicants.
Bethel University Minnesota placed #13 among the best values for religious studies. Bethel University Minnesota is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Paul. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $44,226. Typical student debt for religious studies graduates is $25,639. Early-career religious studies graduates make about $61,465. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Bethel University Minnesota admits about 88% of applicants.
Denver Seminary landed the #14 spot for religious studies value this year. Denver Seminary is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Littleton. Religious Studies graduates of Denver Seminary earn a median of $46,243 early in their careers.
Central Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim Lubavitz earned the #15 position for value in religious studies this year. Located in the city of Brooklyn, Central Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim Lubavitz is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,400. Religious Studies graduates of Central Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim Lubavitz earn a median of $9,428 early in their careers. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Jewish Theological Seminary Of America came in at #16 for value in religious studies this year. Jewish Theological Seminary Of America is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $71,910. Typical student debt for religious studies graduates is $16,750. Early-career religious studies graduates make about $78,469. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Jewish Theological Seminary Of America admits about 49% of applicants.
Selma University earned the #17 position for value in religious studies this year. Located in the town of Selma, Selma University is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,800.
University Of St Thomas Minnesota came in at #18 for value in religious studies this year. Located in the city of Saint Paul, University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $54,398. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete the religious studies program here. Religious Studies graduates of University Of St Thomas Minnesota earn a median of $27,496 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of St Thomas Minnesota admits about 85% of applicants.
Trinity Episcopal School For Ministry earned the #19 position for value in religious studies this year. Located in the suburb of Ambridge, Trinity Episcopal School For Ministry is a small private not-for-profit university.
Duke University earned the #20 position for value in religious studies this year. Duke University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Durham. In-state tuition and fees average $68,758. Typical student debt for religious studies graduates is $13,296. Early-career religious studies graduates make about $39,956. Set against $13,296 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 6% of applicants are accepted.
Yeshiva University earned the #21 position for value in religious studies this year. Set in the city of New York, Yeshiva University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $51,800. Typical student debt for religious studies graduates is $20,625. Religious Studies graduates of Yeshiva University earn a median of $52,838 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Yeshiva University admits about 56% of applicants.
Santa Clara University ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best value religious studies schools. Located in the city of Santa Clara, Santa Clara University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $61,293. Religious Studies graduates carry a median of $20,144 in student loans. Soon after graduation, religious studies degree recipients from Santa Clara University generally make around $79,380. Set against $20,144 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Santa Clara University admits about 48% of applicants.
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Religious Studies rankings across degree levels:
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 780 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.