[Religious Education](/majors/theology-and-religious-vocations/religious-education/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong religious education education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 130 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value religious education schools.
Finding the Best Value Religious Education School for You
The right religious education school can pay off for years to come. That is why we developed our Best Value Religious Education Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value Religious Education Schools list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Our analysis ranked Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary the best value for a degree in religious education in the United States. Located in the suburb of Wake Forest, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,318. Religious Education graduates of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary earn a median of $54,863 early in their careers. Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary admits about 75% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of The Cumberlands earned it the #2 place for religious education. Set in the town of Williamsburg, University Of The Cumberlands is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,875. Religious Education graduates carry a median of $23,371 in student loans. Religious Education graduates of University Of The Cumberlands earn a median of $50,547 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,371 median debt. University Of The Cumberlands admits about 99% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes North Park University one of the best values for religious education. North Park University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. In-state tuition and fees average $36,710. Typical student debt for religious education graduates is $27,360. Soon after graduation, religious education degree recipients from North Park University generally make around $51,611. That is a strong return on a $27,360 median debt. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
Azusa Pacific University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in religious education, landing the #4 spot this year. Azusa Pacific University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Azusa. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $44,458. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the religious education program here. Soon after graduation, religious education degree recipients from Azusa Pacific University generally make around $58,302. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Azusa Pacific University admits about 88% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Mount Vernon Nazarene University earned it the #5 place for religious education. Located in the town of Mount Vernon, Mount Vernon Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $27,193. Typical student debt for religious education graduates is $26,602. Early-career religious education graduates make about $53,377. That is a strong return on a $26,602 median debt. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Trinity International University Illinois earned the #6 position for value in religious education this year. Set in the suburb of Deerfield, Trinity International University Illinois is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,320. Typical student debt for religious education graduates is $32,934. Early-career religious education graduates make about $31,903. Set against $32,934 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted.
Grand Canyon University landed the #7 spot for religious education value this year. Set in the city of Phoenix, Grand Canyon University is a very large private for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $18,508 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for religious education graduates is $35,436. Early-career religious education graduates make about $40,439. Set against $35,436 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 79%.
Yeshiva Gedolah Imrei Yosef Dspinka earned the #8 position for value in religious education this year. Yeshiva Gedolah Imrei Yosef Dspinka is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Brooklyn. In-state tuition and fees average $12,500. Soon after graduation, religious education degree recipients from Yeshiva Gedolah Imrei Yosef Dspinka generally make around $14,771.
Franciscan University Of Steubenville landed the #9 spot for religious education value this year. Franciscan University Of Steubenville is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Steubenville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,100. Students borrow a median of $26,980 to complete the religious education program here. Religious Education graduates of Franciscan University Of Steubenville earn a median of $35,803 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,980 median debt. Franciscan University Of Steubenville admits about 58% of applicants.
Concordia University Seward came in at #10 for value in religious education this year. Located in the town of Seward, Concordia University Seward is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $40,640. Students borrow a median of $29,000 to complete the religious education program here. Religious Education graduates of Concordia University Seward earn a median of $55,023 early in their careers. Set against $29,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Concordia University Seward admits about 86% of applicants.
Moody Bible Institute landed the #11 spot for religious education value this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Moody Bible Institute is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,786. Typical student debt for religious education graduates is $14,000. Soon after graduation, religious education degree recipients from Moody Bible Institute generally make around $30,671. That is a strong return on a $14,000 median debt. Moody Bible Institute admits about 83% of applicants.
Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value religious education schools. Set in the city of Kansas City, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $11,530 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $15,559 to complete the religious education program here. Soon after graduation, religious education degree recipients from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary generally make around $55,308. Set against $15,559 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Wheaton College Illinois landed the #13 spot for religious education value this year. Wheaton College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Wheaton. In-state tuition and fees average $45,546. Typical student debt for religious education graduates is $25,000. Religious Education graduates of Wheaton College Illinois earn a median of $37,880 early in their careers. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Wheaton College Illinois admits about 87% of applicants.
Crown College came in at #14 for value in religious education this year. Set in the rural area of Saint Bonifacius, Crown College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $31,410. Students borrow a median of $25,937 to complete the religious education program here. Early-career religious education graduates make about $33,368. That is a strong return on a $25,937 median debt. The acceptance rate is 23%.
Jewish Theological Seminary Of America landed the #15 spot for religious education value this year. Set in the city of New York, Jewish Theological Seminary Of America is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $71,910. Typical student debt for religious education graduates is $16,750. Religious Education graduates of Jewish Theological Seminary Of America earn a median of $78,469 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 49% of applicants are accepted.
Liberty University came in at #16 for value in religious education this year. Set in the city of Lynchburg, Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $16,173 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,414 to complete the religious education program here. Early-career religious education graduates make about $45,877. Set against $27,414 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 99%.
Dallas Baptist University landed the #17 spot for religious education value this year. Dallas Baptist University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Dallas. Students from in state pay about $40,190 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for religious education graduates is $21,500. Early-career religious education graduates make about $32,426. Set against $21,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
This list is compiled 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 · 130 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 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).
[Religious Education](/majors/theology-and-religious-vocations/religious-education/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong religious education education at a price that pays off.
