[Missionary Studies](/majors/theology-and-religious-vocations/missionary-studies/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong missionary studies education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 126 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for missionary studies students.
Finding the Best Value Missionary Studies School for You
The missionary studies program you select can have a big impact on your finances and your future. To help, we created our Best Value Missionary Studies Schools ranking. It weighs the cost of a degree against the outcomes graduates go on to achieve, so you can find the strongest return on your investment.
We offer a number of rankings, including this Best Value Missionary Studies Schools list, to help you decide. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
For return on investment in missionary studies, no school beat Columbia International University this year. Columbia International University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Columbia. Students from in state pay about $27,900 in tuition and fees. Missionary Studies graduates carry a median of $21,667 in student loans. Early-career missionary studies graduates make about $32,296. That is a strong return on a $21,667 median debt. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Word Of Life Bible Institute is a great value for students pursuing a degree in missionary studies, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the rural area of Pottersville, Word Of Life Bible Institute is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $11,500 in tuition and fees. Missionary Studies graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. Missionary Studies graduates of Word Of Life Bible Institute earn a median of $20,638 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Moody Bible Institute earned it the #3 place for missionary studies. Set in the city of Chicago, Moody Bible Institute is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,786. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete the missionary studies program here. Early-career missionary studies graduates make about $26,236. Set against $15,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary is a great value for students pursuing a degree in missionary studies, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Kansas City, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,530. Typical student debt for missionary studies graduates is $7,733. Early-career missionary studies graduates make about $39,368. Set against $7,733 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Bethany Global University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in missionary studies, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Bloomington, Bethany Global University is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,000. Missionary Studies graduates carry a median of $13,276 in student loans. Soon after graduation, missionary studies degree recipients from Bethany Global University generally make around $19,456. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
Colorado Christian University came in at #6 for value in missionary studies this year. Located in the suburb of Lakewood, Colorado Christian University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $28,846. Students borrow a median of $36,092 to complete the missionary studies program here. Missionary Studies graduates of Colorado Christian University earn a median of $47,333 early in their careers. Set against $36,092 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Wheaton College Illinois earned the #7 position for value in missionary studies this year. Wheaton College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Wheaton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,546. Missionary Studies graduates carry a median of $23,292 in student loans. Missionary Studies graduates of Wheaton College Illinois earn a median of $43,654 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,292 median debt. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
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 · 126 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 9 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).
[Missionary Studies](/majors/theology-and-religious-vocations/missionary-studies/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong missionary studies education at a price that pays off.
