by our College Data Analytics Team
[Theology](/majors/theology-and-religious-vocations/theological-ministerial-studies/theology/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong theology education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 76 schools to find the best return on investment for theology students.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the theology degrees they offer, see the list below.
Our analysis ranked Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary the best value for a degree in theology in the Southeast Region. Located in the suburb of Wake Forest, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,318. Theology graduates of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary earn a median of $54,863 early in their careers. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Luther Rice University And Seminary came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value theology schools. Luther Rice University And Seminary is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Lithonia. Students from in state pay about $11,320 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $36,730 to complete the theology program here. Theology graduates of Luther Rice University And Seminary earn a median of $58,008 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
The Baptist College Of Florida came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value theology schools. The Baptist College Of Florida is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Graceville. In-state tuition and fees average $15,000. Students borrow a median of $24,916 to complete the theology program here. Soon after graduation, theology degree recipients from The Baptist College Of Florida generally make around $34,350. Set against $24,916 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 36% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes Vanderbilt University one of the best values for theology. Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. In-state tuition and fees average $67,498. Students borrow a median of $13,975 to complete the theology program here. Soon after graduation, theology degree recipients from Vanderbilt University generally make around $42,583. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 6%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Campbellsville University earned it the #5 place for theology. Campbellsville University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the town of Campbellsville. In-state tuition and fees average $27,998. Typical student debt for theology graduates is $24,148. Theology graduates of Campbellsville University earn a median of $54,029 early in their careers. Set against $24,148 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
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Saint Leo University earned the #6 position for value in theology this year. Saint Leo University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the town of Saint Leo. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $30,000. Typical student debt for theology graduates is $32,116. Soon after graduation, theology degree recipients from Saint Leo University generally make around $57,662. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Regent University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value theology schools. Regent University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Virginia Beach. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,650. Typical student debt for theology graduates is $29,451. Early-career theology graduates make about $49,840. That is a strong return on a $29,451 median debt. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.
Freed Hardeman University placed #8 among the best values for theology. Located in the town of Henderson, Freed Hardeman University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $25,620. Typical student debt for theology graduates is $24,479. Early-career theology graduates make about $54,530. Set against $24,479 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Freed Hardeman University admits about 60% of applicants.
Harding University placed #9 among the best values for theology. Harding University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Searcy. Students from in state pay about $25,962 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,715 to complete the theology program here. Soon after graduation, theology degree recipients from Harding University generally make around $53,629. Set against $26,715 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
Lee University earned the #10 position for value in theology this year. Lee University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cleveland. Students from in state pay about $23,790 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,422 to complete the theology program here. Theology graduates of Lee University earn a median of $42,658 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
Bob Jones University came in at #11 for value in theology this year. Located in the city of Greenville, Bob Jones University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $22,892. Typical student debt for theology graduates is $20,497. Early-career theology graduates make about $28,325. That is a strong return on a $20,497 median debt.
Virginia Union University landed the #12 spot for theology value this year. Virginia Union University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Richmond. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,830. Theology graduates carry a median of $30,593 in student loans. Early-career theology graduates make about $25,910. Set against $30,593 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Virginia Union University admits about 98% of applicants.
Milligan College landed the #13 spot for theology value this year. Set in the suburb of Milligan, Milligan College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $40,450. Theology graduates carry a median of $26,150 in student loans. Soon after graduation, theology degree recipients from Milligan College generally make around $64,327. That is a strong return on a $26,150 median debt. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Columbia International University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value theology schools. Columbia International University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Columbia. In-state tuition and fees average $27,900. Typical student debt for theology graduates is $21,667. Soon after graduation, theology degree recipients from Columbia International University generally make around $32,296. Set against $21,667 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Erskine College And Seminary ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value theology schools. Erskine College And Seminary is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Due West. In-state tuition and fees average $36,710. Theology graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Theology graduates of Erskine College And Seminary earn a median of $35,695 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Erskine College And Seminary admits about 63% of applicants.
Mercer University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value theology schools. Set in the city of Macon, Mercer University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $31,565. Theology graduates carry a median of $32,463 in student loans. Early-career theology graduates make about $42,866. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 69%.
Lenoir Rhyne University placed #17 among the best values for theology. Lenoir Rhyne University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Hickory. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $31,900. Typical student debt for theology graduates is $26,900. Early-career theology graduates make about $49,985. That is a strong return on a $26,900 median debt. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Emory University came in at #18 for value in theology this year. Located in the city of Atlanta, Emory University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $64,280 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $19,431 to complete the theology program here. Theology 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. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted.
Ave Maria University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best value theology schools. Ave Maria University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Ave Maria. In-state tuition and fees average $30,198. Typical student debt for theology graduates is $21,102. Early-career theology graduates make about $26,924. That is a strong return on a $21,102 median debt. The acceptance rate is 41%.
Trinity College Of Florida came in at #20 for value in theology this year. Set in the suburb of Trinity, Trinity College Of Florida is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $16,300 in tuition and fees. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $32,465. Trinity College Of Florida admits about 92% of applicants.
Southern Adventist University came in at #21 for value in theology this year. Set in the suburb of Collegedale, Southern Adventist University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $27,300. Theology graduates carry a median of $25,498 in student loans. Early-career theology graduates make about $61,366. That is a strong return on a $25,498 median debt. The acceptance rate is 66%.
Lipscomb University came in at #22 for value in theology this year. Set in the city of Nashville, Lipscomb University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,572. Students borrow a median of $23,529 to complete the theology program here. Soon after graduation, theology degree recipients from Lipscomb University generally make around $48,949. Set against $23,529 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
Sewanee The University Of The South earned the #23 position for value in theology this year. Set in the rural area of Sewanee, Sewanee The University Of The South is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $56,120. Typical student debt for theology graduates is $22,091. Early-career theology graduates make about $36,927. Set against $22,091 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.
Liberty University came in at #24 for value in theology this year. Located in the city of Lynchburg, Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,173. Typical student debt for theology graduates is $27,414. Soon after graduation, theology degree recipients from Liberty University generally make around $53,626. That is a strong return on a $27,414 median debt. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
Southeastern University landed the #25 spot for theology value this year. Located in the city of Lakeland, Southeastern University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $32,950. Students borrow a median of $19,609 to complete the theology program here. Theology graduates of Southeastern University earn a median of $33,030 early in their careers. Set against $19,609 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Southeastern University admits about 53% of applicants.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s theology value ranking:
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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 · 76 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 9 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.