2026 Best Value Divinity/Ministry Schools in the Southeast Region
[Divinity/Ministry](/majors/theology-and-religious-vocations/theological-ministerial-studies/divinity-ministry/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 74 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for divinity/ministry students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Divinity/Ministry Schools in the Southeast Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in divinity/ministry, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Divinity/Ministry Schools
For return on investment in divinity/ministry, 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. Soon after graduation, divinity/ministry degree recipients from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary generally make around $54,863. Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary admits about 75% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Luther Rice University And Seminary earned it the #2 place for divinity/ministry. Located in the suburb of Lithonia, Luther Rice University And Seminary is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,320. Students borrow a median of $36,730 to complete the divinity/ministry program here. Divinity/ministry graduates of Luther Rice University And Seminary earn a median of $58,008 early in their careers. Set against $36,730 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Vanderbilt University earned it the #3 place for divinity/ministry. Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,498. Typical student debt for divinity/ministry graduates is $13,975. Early-career divinity/ministry graduates make about $42,583. That is a strong return on a $13,975 median debt. Roughly 6% of applicants are accepted.
Regent University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in divinity/ministry, landing the #4 spot this year. Regent University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Virginia Beach. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,650. Divinity/ministry graduates carry a median of $29,451 in student loans. Divinity/ministry graduates of Regent University earn a median of $49,840 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Regent University admits about 38% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in divinity/ministry will find it at Freed Hardeman University, which ranked #5. Set in the town of Henderson, Freed Hardeman University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $25,620. Students borrow a median of $24,479 to complete the divinity/ministry program here. Divinity/ministry graduates of Freed Hardeman University earn a median of $54,530 early in their careers. Set against $24,479 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Freed Hardeman University admits about 60% of applicants.
Shaw University came in at #6 for value in divinity/ministry this year. Set in the city of Raleigh, Shaw University is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $17,738. Divinity/ministry graduates carry a median of $37,044 in student loans. Soon after graduation, divinity/ministry degree recipients from Shaw University generally make around $28,533. Set against $37,044 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Harding University came in at #7 for value in divinity/ministry this year. Harding University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Searcy. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $25,962. Typical student debt for divinity/ministry graduates is $26,715. Divinity/ministry graduates of Harding University earn a median of $53,629 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
Johnson University landed the #8 spot for divinity/ministry value this year. Johnson University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Knoxville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,122. Typical student debt for divinity/ministry graduates is $23,250. Soon after graduation, divinity/ministry degree recipients from Johnson University generally make around $37,989. Set against $23,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 65%.
Virginia Union University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value divinity/ministry schools. Set in the city of Richmond, Virginia Union University is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,830. Divinity/ministry graduates carry a median of $30,593 in student loans. Soon after graduation, divinity/ministry degree recipients from Virginia Union University generally make around $25,910. Set against $30,593 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 98%.
Milligan College landed the #10 spot for divinity/ministry value this year. Set in the suburb of Milligan, Milligan College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,450. Typical student debt for divinity/ministry graduates is $26,150. Divinity/ministry graduates of Milligan College earn a median of $64,327 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Bob Jones University came in at #11 for value in divinity/ministry this year. Bob Jones University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Greenville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $22,892. Students borrow a median of $20,497 to complete the divinity/ministry program here. Soon after graduation, divinity/ministry degree recipients from Bob Jones University generally make around $28,325. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Columbia International University earned the #12 position for value in divinity/ministry this year. Set in the city of Columbia, Columbia International University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $27,900 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $21,667 to complete the divinity/ministry program here. Soon after graduation, divinity/ministry degree recipients from Columbia International University generally make around $32,296. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Erskine College And Seminary came in at #13 for value in divinity/ministry this year. Located in the rural area of Due West, Erskine College And Seminary is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $36,710. Divinity/ministry graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career divinity/ministry 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.
Brewton Parker College placed #14 among the best values for divinity/ministry. Located in the rural area of Mount Vernon, Brewton Parker College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $20,120. Graduates go on to earn a median of $42,009 ten years after entry. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Piedmont International University came in at #15 for value in divinity/ministry this year. Located in the city of Winston-Salem, Piedmont International University is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $17,575. Divinity/ministry graduates carry a median of $35,382 in student loans. Divinity/ministry graduates of Piedmont International University earn a median of $48,372 early in their careers. Set against $35,382 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 40%.
Mercer University earned the #16 position for value in divinity/ministry this year. Mercer University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Macon. In-state tuition and fees average $31,565. Typical student debt for divinity/ministry graduates is $32,463. Soon after graduation, divinity/ministry degree recipients from Mercer University generally make around $42,866. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 69%.
Emory University came in at #17 for value in divinity/ministry this year. Located in the city of Atlanta, Emory University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $64,280. Students borrow a median of $19,431 to complete the divinity/ministry program here. Divinity/ministry graduates of Emory University earn a median of $74,348 early in their careers. Set against $19,431 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Emory University admits about 11% of applicants.
Lenoir Rhyne University came in at #18 for value in divinity/ministry this year. Located in the city of Hickory, Lenoir Rhyne University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $31,900. Typical student debt for divinity/ministry graduates is $26,900. Soon after graduation, divinity/ministry degree recipients from Lenoir Rhyne University generally make around $49,985. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Grace College Of Divinity came in at #19 for value in divinity/ministry this year. Located in the city of Fayetteville, Grace College Of Divinity is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,105. Grace College Of Divinity admits about 53% of applicants.
Campbell University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value divinity/ministry schools. Located in the town of Buies Creek, Campbell University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $41,600. Students borrow a median of $23,641 to complete the divinity/ministry program here. Early-career divinity/ministry graduates make about $40,858. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Campbell University admits about 87% of applicants.
Southern Adventist University placed #21 among the best values for divinity/ministry. Located in the suburb of Collegedale, Southern Adventist University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $27,300. Divinity/ministry graduates carry a median of $25,498 in student loans. Soon after graduation, divinity/ministry degree recipients from Southern Adventist University generally make around $61,366. That is a strong return on a $25,498 median debt. Southern Adventist University admits about 66% of applicants.
Lipscomb University earned the #22 position for value in divinity/ministry this year. Lipscomb University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. In-state tuition and fees average $40,572. Divinity/ministry graduates carry a median of $23,529 in student loans. Early-career divinity/ministry graduates make about $48,949. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Lipscomb University admits about 68% of applicants.
Sewanee The University Of The South landed the #23 spot for divinity/ministry value this year. Set in the rural area of Sewanee, Sewanee The University Of The South is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $56,120. Typical student debt for divinity/ministry graduates is $22,091. Early-career divinity/ministry graduates make about $36,927. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.
Anderson University Sc earned the #24 position for value in divinity/ministry this year. Located in the city of Anderson, Anderson University Sc is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $34,970. Divinity/ministry graduates carry a median of $28,034 in student loans. Soon after graduation, divinity/ministry degree recipients from Anderson University Sc generally make around $49,036. Set against $28,034 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
Wake Forest University came in at #25 for value in divinity/ministry this year. Set in the city of Winston-Salem, Wake Forest University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $67,642. Divinity/ministry graduates carry a median of $21,577 in student loans. Divinity/ministry graduates of Wake Forest University earn a median of $40,732 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 22% of applicants are accepted.
Rest of the Top 29 Best Value Divinity/Ministry Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in divinity/ministry:
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 74 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 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.
