2026 Best Value Divinity/Ministry Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Divinity/Ministry](/majors/theology-and-religious-vocations/theological-ministerial-studies/divinity-ministry/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong divinity/ministry education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 27 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value divinity/ministry schools.
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2026 Best Value Divinity/Ministry Schools in the The Plains States Region
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
Our analysis ranked Evangel University the best value for a degree in divinity/ministry in the The Plains States Region. Located in the city of Springfield, Evangel University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $28,548. Divinity/ministry graduates carry a median of $24,876 in student loans. Early-career divinity/ministry graduates make about $57,895. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 72%.
A rank of #2 makes City Vision University one of the best values for divinity/ministry. Located in the city of Kansas City, City Vision University is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,600. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $21,123.
A rank of #3 makes Central Christian College Of The Bible one of the best values for divinity/ministry. Located in the town of Moberly, Central Christian College Of The Bible is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,200. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the divinity/ministry program here. Median earnings reach $34,675 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Dubuque one of the best values for divinity/ministry. Set in the city of Dubuque, University Of Dubuque is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,095. Typical student debt for divinity/ministry graduates is $27,204. Soon after graduation, divinity/ministry degree recipients from University Of Dubuque generally make around $51,725. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Dubuque admits about 89% of applicants.
Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary is a great value for students pursuing a degree in divinity/ministry, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Kansas City, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,530. Typical student debt for divinity/ministry graduates is $15,559. Early-career divinity/ministry graduates make about $73,186. That is a strong return on a $15,559 median debt. Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary admits about 96% of applicants.
Northwestern College Minnesota placed #6 among the best values for divinity/ministry. Northwestern College Minnesota is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Paul. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,920. Typical student debt for divinity/ministry graduates is $22,000. Divinity/ministry graduates of Northwestern College Minnesota earn a median of $40,532 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,000 median debt. Northwestern College Minnesota admits about 94% of applicants.
Saint Johns University landed the #7 spot for divinity/ministry value this year. Set in the rural area of Collegeville, Saint Johns University is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $55,816. Typical student debt for divinity/ministry graduates is $26,646. Early-career divinity/ministry graduates make about $47,238. That is a strong return on a $26,646 median debt. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Bethel University Minnesota landed the #8 spot for divinity/ministry value this year. Bethel University Minnesota is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Paul. In-state tuition and fees average $44,226. Divinity/ministry graduates carry a median of $25,639 in student loans. Divinity/ministry graduates of Bethel University Minnesota earn a median of $46,813 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,639 median debt. Bethel University Minnesota admits about 88% of applicants.
University Of St Thomas Minnesota came in at #9 for value in divinity/ministry this year. Set in the city of Saint Paul, University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $54,398 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for divinity/ministry graduates is $23,923. Early-career divinity/ministry graduates make about $71,681. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 85%.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 27 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
