2026 Best Value Theology & Religious Vocations Schools in Tennessee
[Theology & Religious Vocations](/majors/theology-and-religious-vocations/) 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.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 21 schools to find the best return on investment for theology & religious vocations students.
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2026 Best Value Theology & Religious Vocations Schools in Tennessee
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the theology & religious vocations degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Theology & Religious Vocations Schools
Trevecca Nazarene University tops our 2026 list of the best value theology & religious vocations schools in Tennessee. Set in the city of Nashville, Trevecca Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $31,300 in tuition and fees. 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. The acceptance rate is 69%.
A rank of #2 makes Vanderbilt University one of the best values for theology & religious vocations. Set in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $67,498 in tuition and fees. Theology & Religious Vocations graduates carry a median of $13,975 in student loans. Early-career theology & religious vocations graduates make about $42,583. Set against $13,975 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 6%.
Freed Hardeman University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in theology & religious vocations, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the town of Henderson, Freed Hardeman University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $25,620. Typical student debt for theology & religious vocations graduates is $25,000. Early-career theology & religious vocations graduates make about $44,142. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Freed Hardeman University admits about 60% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes Johnson University one of 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. Soon after graduation, theology & religious vocations degree recipients from Johnson University generally make around $36,515. That is a strong return on a $25,126 median debt. The acceptance rate is 65%.
Lee University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value theology & religious vocations schools. Lee University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cleveland. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $23,790. Theology & Religious Vocations graduates carry a median of $28,736 in student loans. Theology & Religious Vocations graduates of Lee University earn a median of $37,392 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $28,736 median debt. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
Milligan College earned the #6 position for value in theology & religious vocations this year. Located in the suburb of Milligan, Milligan College is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $40,450 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for theology & religious vocations graduates is $26,150. Early-career theology & religious vocations graduates make about $64,327. Set against $26,150 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Southern Adventist University earned the #7 position for value in theology & religious vocations this year. Set in the suburb of Collegedale, Southern Adventist University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $27,300 in tuition and fees. Theology & Religious Vocations graduates carry a median of $25,498 in student loans. Theology & Religious Vocations graduates of Southern Adventist University earn a median of $61,366 early in their careers. Set against $25,498 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 66%.
Lipscomb University landed the #8 spot for theology & religious vocations value this year. Located in the city of Nashville, Lipscomb University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,572. Students borrow a median of $23,529 to complete the theology & religious vocations program here. Theology & Religious Vocations graduates of Lipscomb University earn a median of $48,949 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,529 median debt. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
Sewanee The University Of The South ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value theology & religious vocations schools. Set in the rural area of Sewanee, Sewanee The University Of The South is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $56,120 in tuition and fees. Theology & Religious Vocations graduates carry a median of $22,091 in student loans. Theology & Religious Vocations graduates of Sewanee The University Of The South earn a median of $36,927 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Sewanee The University Of The South admits about 57% of applicants.
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Notes and References
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 · 21 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.
