2026 Best Value Theology Schools in Minnesota

[Theology](/majors/theology-and-religious-vocations/theological-ministerial-studies/theology/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 11 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value theology schools.
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2026 Best Value Theology Schools in Minnesota
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the theology degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Theology Schools
Northwestern College Minnesota tops our 2026 list of the best value theology schools in Minnesota. Northwestern College Minnesota is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Paul. Students from in state pay about $37,920 in tuition and fees. Theology graduates carry a median of $22,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, theology degree recipients from Northwestern College Minnesota generally make around $40,532. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Northwestern College Minnesota admits about 94% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in theology will find it at Saint Johns University, which ranked #2. Located in the rural area of Collegeville, Saint Johns University is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $55,816. Theology graduates carry a median of $26,646 in student loans. Soon after graduation, theology degree recipients from Saint Johns University generally make around $47,238. Set against $26,646 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Students looking for strong value in theology will find it at Bethel University Minnesota, which ranked #3. 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. Typical student debt for theology graduates is $25,639. Soon after graduation, theology degree recipients from Bethel University Minnesota generally make around $46,813. Set against $25,639 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes University Of St Thomas Minnesota one of the best values for theology. University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. Students from in state pay about $54,398 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for theology graduates is $23,923. Theology graduates of University Of St Thomas Minnesota earn a median of $65,183 early in their careers. Set against $23,923 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 11 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.