by our College Data Analytics Team
[Theology & Religious Vocations](/majors/theology-and-religious-vocations/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 157 schools to find the best return on investment for theology & religious vocations students.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the theology & religious vocations degrees they offer, see the list below.
For return on investment in theology & religious vocations, no school beat Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary this year. Located in the suburb of Wake Forest, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $11,318 in tuition and fees. Early-career theology & religious vocations graduates make about $54,863. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
University Of The Cumberlands is a great value for students pursuing a degree in theology & religious vocations, landing the #2 spot this year. University Of The Cumberlands is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the town of Williamsburg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,875. Students borrow a median of $23,371 to complete the theology & religious vocations program here. Early-career theology & religious vocations graduates make about $50,547. Set against $23,371 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of The Cumberlands admits about 99% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes Luther Rice University And Seminary one of the best values for theology & religious vocations. Set in the suburb of Lithonia, Luther Rice University And Seminary is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,320. Students borrow a median of $36,730 to complete the theology & religious vocations program here. Early-career theology & religious vocations graduates make about $50,657. Set against $36,730 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Luther Rice University And Seminary admits about 92% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes Trevecca Nazarene University one of the best values for theology & religious vocations. Trevecca Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $31,300. Theology & Religious Vocations graduates carry a median of $33,727 in student loans. Theology & Religious Vocations graduates of Trevecca Nazarene University earn a median of $41,235 early in their careers. Set against $33,727 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Trevecca Nazarene University admits about 69% of applicants.
The Baptist College Of Florida came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value theology & religious vocations schools. The Baptist College Of Florida is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Graceville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,000. Theology & Religious Vocations graduates carry a median of $24,916 in student loans. Theology & Religious Vocations graduates of The Baptist College Of Florida earn a median of $34,350 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The Baptist College Of Florida admits about 36% of applicants.
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Clear Creek Baptist Bible College landed the #6 spot for theology & religious vocations value this year. Clear Creek Baptist Bible College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Pineville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,720. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $41,623.
Vanderbilt University came in at #7 for value in theology & religious vocations this year. Located in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,498. Theology & Religious Vocations graduates carry a median of $13,975 in student loans. Theology & Religious Vocations graduates of Vanderbilt University earn a median of $42,583 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,975 median debt. The acceptance rate is 6%.
Shaw University placed #8 among the best values for theology & religious vocations. Shaw University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Raleigh. Students from in state pay about $17,738 in tuition and fees. Theology & Religious Vocations graduates carry a median of $37,044 in student loans. Soon after graduation, theology & religious vocations degree recipients from Shaw University generally make around $28,533. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Campbellsville University came in at #9 for value in theology & religious vocations this year. Set in the town of Campbellsville, Campbellsville University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $27,998 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for theology & religious vocations graduates is $24,148. Early-career theology & religious vocations graduates make about $54,029. Set against $24,148 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Saint Leo University placed #10 among the best values for theology & religious vocations. Set in the town of Saint Leo, Saint Leo University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $30,000. Typical student debt for theology & religious vocations graduates is $32,116. Soon after graduation, theology & religious vocations degree recipients from Saint Leo University generally make around $57,662. That is a strong return on a $32,116 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Freed Hardeman University earned the #11 position for value in theology & religious vocations this year. Freed Hardeman University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Henderson. Students from in state pay about $25,620 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the theology & religious vocations program here. Early-career theology & religious vocations graduates make about $44,142. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Freed Hardeman University admits about 60% of applicants.
Regent University placed #12 among the best values for theology & religious vocations. Regent University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Virginia Beach. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,650. Theology & Religious Vocations graduates carry a median of $35,397 in student loans. Early-career theology & religious vocations graduates make about $46,683. Set against $35,397 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 38%.
Harding University placed #13 among the best values for theology & religious vocations. Harding University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Searcy. Students from in state pay about $25,962 in tuition and fees. Theology & Religious Vocations graduates carry a median of $18,114 in student loans. Soon after graduation, theology & religious vocations degree recipients from Harding University generally make around $48,073. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Harding University admits about 70% of applicants.
Johnson University placed #14 among the best values for theology & religious vocations. Located in the rural area of Knoxville, Johnson University is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $21,122 in tuition and fees. Theology & Religious Vocations graduates carry a median of $25,126 in student loans. Early-career theology & religious vocations graduates make about $36,515. That is a strong return on a $25,126 median debt. Johnson University admits about 65% of applicants.
Lee University came in at #15 for value in theology & religious vocations this year. Located in the city of Cleveland, Lee University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $23,790. Theology & Religious Vocations graduates carry a median of $28,736 in student loans. Early-career theology & religious vocations graduates make about $37,392. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
Bob Jones University earned the #16 position for value in theology & religious vocations this year. Located in the city of Greenville, Bob Jones University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $22,892. Theology & Religious Vocations graduates carry a median of $20,497 in student loans. Soon after graduation, theology & religious vocations degree recipients from Bob Jones University generally make around $28,325. That is a strong return on a $20,497 median debt.
Virginia Union University landed the #17 spot for theology & religious vocations value this year. Set in the city of Richmond, Virginia Union University is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,830. Theology & Religious Vocations graduates carry a median of $30,593 in student loans. Theology & Religious Vocations graduates of Virginia Union University earn a median of $25,910 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $30,593 median debt. The acceptance rate is 98%.
Milligan College landed the #18 spot for theology & religious vocations value this year. Located in the suburb of Milligan, Milligan College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $40,450. Theology & Religious Vocations graduates carry a median of $26,150 in student loans. Soon after graduation, theology & religious vocations degree recipients from Milligan College generally make around $64,327. That is a strong return on a $26,150 median debt. Milligan College admits about 72% of applicants.
Southeastern Free Will Baptist Bible College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best value theology & religious vocations schools. Set in the rural area of Wendell, Southeastern Free Will Baptist Bible College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,739.
Columbia International University came in at #20 for value in theology & religious vocations this year. Columbia International University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Columbia. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $27,900. Typical student debt for theology & religious vocations graduates is $21,500. Early-career theology & religious vocations graduates make about $23,737. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Columbia International University admits about 94% of applicants.
Appalachian Bible College placed #21 among the best values for theology & religious vocations. Located in the suburb of Mount Hope, Appalachian Bible College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,760. Typical student debt for theology & religious vocations graduates is $12,865. Theology & Religious Vocations graduates of Appalachian Bible College earn a median of $21,367 early in their careers. Set against $12,865 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Heritage Bible College came in at #22 for value in theology & religious vocations this year. Set in the rural area of Dunn, Heritage Bible College is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,688. Median earnings reach $30,672 ten years out.
Erskine College And Seminary came in at #23 for value in theology & religious vocations this year. Erskine College And Seminary is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Due West. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $36,710. Theology & Religious Vocations graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career theology & religious vocations graduates make about $35,695. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Erskine College And Seminary admits about 63% of applicants.
Carolina College Of Biblical Studies landed the #24 spot for theology & religious vocations value this year. Set in the city of Fayetteville, Carolina College Of Biblical Studies is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,906. Typical student debt for theology & religious vocations graduates is $24,653. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $24,581. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Piedmont International University placed #25 among the best values for theology & religious vocations. Located in the city of Winston-Salem, Piedmont International University is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,575. Students borrow a median of $34,991 to complete the theology & religious vocations program here. Theology & Religious Vocations graduates of Piedmont International University earn a median of $48,357 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $34,991 median debt. The acceptance rate is 40%.
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in theology & religious vocations:
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This ranking is produced 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 · 157 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 19 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.