2026 Best Value Divinity/Ministry Schools in Ohio

[Divinity/Ministry](/majors/theology-and-religious-vocations/theological-ministerial-studies/divinity-ministry/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 12 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value divinity/ministry schools.
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2026 Best Value Divinity/Ministry Schools in Ohio
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the divinity/ministry degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Divinity/Ministry Schools
For return on investment in divinity/ministry, no school beat Ohio Christian University this year. Located in the rural area of Circleville, Ohio Christian University is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $19,190. Divinity/ministry graduates carry a median of $30,947 in student loans. Soon after graduation, divinity/ministry degree recipients from Ohio Christian University generally make around $45,829. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 38%.
A rank of #2 makes Ashland University one of the best values for divinity/ministry. Ashland University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Ashland. Students from in state pay about $31,210 in tuition and fees. Divinity/ministry graduates carry a median of $24,536 in student loans. Early-career divinity/ministry graduates make about $52,813. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Capital University earned it the #3 place for divinity/ministry. Set in the suburb of Columbus, Capital University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $43,234 in tuition and fees. Divinity/ministry graduates carry a median of $28,269 in student loans. Soon after graduation, divinity/ministry degree recipients from Capital University generally make around $46,516. Set against $28,269 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Capital University admits about 70% of applicants.
Cedarville University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value divinity/ministry schools. Set in the rural area of Cedarville, Cedarville University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $37,150. Typical student debt for divinity/ministry graduates is $22,110. Soon after graduation, divinity/ministry degree recipients from Cedarville University generally make around $57,104. Set against $22,110 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Cedarville University admits about 65% of applicants.
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Notes and References
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 · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.