by our College Data Analytics Team
[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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 13 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for divinity/ministry students.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in divinity/ministry, balancing cost against outcomes.
Our analysis ranked City Vision University the best value for a degree in divinity/ministry in Missouri. City Vision University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Kansas City. Students from in state pay about $6,600 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $21,123 ten years after entry.
A rank of #2 makes Evangel University one of the best values for divinity/ministry. Evangel University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Springfield. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $28,548. Typical student debt for divinity/ministry graduates is $24,876. 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%.
Central Christian College Of The Bible came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value divinity/ministry schools. Central Christian College Of The Bible is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Moberly. In-state tuition and fees average $12,200. Divinity/ministry graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $34,675. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt.
Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value divinity/ministry schools. Set in the city of Kansas City, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,530. Students borrow a median of $15,559 to complete the divinity/ministry program here. Divinity/ministry graduates of Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary earn a median of $73,186 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary admits about 96% of applicants.
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The ranking above is published 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 · 13 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.