2026 Best Value Divinity/Ministry Schools in Texas

[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 18 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value divinity/ministry schools.
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2026 Best Value Divinity/Ministry Schools in Texas
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in divinity/ministry, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Divinity/Ministry Schools
Leading the list is University Of St Thomas Texas, our #1 best value for divinity/ministry in Texas. Set in the city of Houston, University Of St Thomas Texas is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,634. Typical student debt for divinity/ministry graduates is $23,628. Soon after graduation, divinity/ministry degree recipients from University Of St Thomas Texas generally make around $58,265. Set against $23,628 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Southwestern Assemblies Of God University earned it the #2 place for divinity/ministry. Set in the suburb of Waxahachie, Southwestern Assemblies Of God University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $25,064. Students borrow a median of $28,248 to complete the divinity/ministry program here. Divinity/ministry graduates of Southwestern Assemblies Of God University earn a median of $47,762 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Southwestern Assemblies Of God University admits about 89% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Houston Baptist University earned it the #3 place for divinity/ministry. Set in the city of Houston, Houston Baptist University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $39,430. Typical student debt for divinity/ministry graduates is $25,601. Soon after graduation, divinity/ministry degree recipients from Houston Baptist University generally make around $51,968. That is a strong return on a $25,601 median debt. The acceptance rate is 84%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Abilene Christian University earned it the #4 place for divinity/ministry. Set in the city of Abilene, Abilene Christian University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $44,200. Divinity/ministry graduates carry a median of $23,772 in student loans. Early-career divinity/ministry graduates make about $56,463. That is a strong return on a $23,772 median debt. The acceptance rate is 66%.
Kings University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value divinity/ministry schools. Kings University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Southlake. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,480. Students borrow a median of $48,998 to complete the divinity/ministry program here. Divinity/ministry graduates of Kings University earn a median of $41,066 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $48,998 median debt. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
Southern Methodist University landed the #6 spot for divinity/ministry value this year. Set in the suburb of Dallas, Southern Methodist University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $67,040. Divinity/ministry graduates carry a median of $20,712 in student loans. Soon after graduation, divinity/ministry degree recipients from Southern Methodist University generally make around $54,351. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 63%.
Baylor University landed the #7 spot for divinity/ministry value this year. Located in the city of Waco, Baylor University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $58,100. Typical student debt for divinity/ministry graduates is $23,928. Early-career divinity/ministry graduates make about $44,601. That is a strong return on a $23,928 median debt. Baylor University admits about 51% of applicants.
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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 · 18 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.