2026 Best Religious Studies Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
Looking for the best Religious Studies graduate certificate degree programs in the United States? This list ranks 780 colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To arm you with the information you need, Course Advisor evaluated schools to produce this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Religious Studies Graduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
University Of St Thomas Minnesota tops our 2026 ranking of the best Religious Studies graduate certificate degree schools in the United States. Located in Saint Paul, MN, University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a private not-for-profit institution. University Of St Thomas Minnesota graduates 77% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $54,398. Graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Read the full report on University Of St Thomas Minnesota
The strong Religious Studies programs at Trinity International University Illinois earned it the #2 place in the United States. Trinity International University Illinois is a private not-for-profit school based in Deerfield, IL. About 46% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,320. The median Religious Studies program debt is $26,892. More on Trinity International University Illinois
Columbia University In The City Of New York came in at #3 on this year's Religious Studies ranking in the United States. Located in New York, NY, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $70,517. Students borrow a median of $23,258 to complete their Religious Studies program here. Read more about Columbia University In The City Of New York
A rank of #4 makes University Of Southern California one of the top choices in the United States. Based in Los Angeles, CA, University Of Southern California is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. In-state tuition and fees run about $71,647. Graduates carry a median of $15,625 in student loans. More on University Of Southern California
A rank of #5 makes University Of Florida one of the top choices in the United States. This public school is set in Gainesville, FL. About 91% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $6,381, while out-of-state students pay about $28,659. Graduates carry a median of $17,669 in student loans. See the full University Of Florida profile
Hartford Seminary landed the #6 spot in the United States this year. See the full Hartford Seminary profile
Willamette University landed the #7 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Willamette University
Austin College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best Religious Studies schools. Read more about Austin College
Missouri Baptist University came in at #9 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Missouri Baptist University
Wright State University Main Campus did well this year, earning the #10 position. See the full Wright State University Main Campus profile
Chandler Gilbert Community College did well this year, earning the #11 position. Read the full report on Chandler Gilbert Community College
Henry Ford Community College placed #12 among Religious Studies schools in the United States. Get the full Henry Ford Community College report
Mount Marty College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best Religious Studies schools. Get the full Mount Marty College report
Rice University
Rice University did well this year, earning the #14 position. See the full Rice University profile
Stillman College
Stillman College landed the #15 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Stillman College
University Of California Santa Cruz came in at #16 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on University Of California Santa Cruz
California Baptist University came in at #17 in this year's ranking. See the full California Baptist University profile
Grinnell College
Grinnell College came in at #18 in this year's ranking. See the full Grinnell College profile
Gustavus Adolphus College came in at #19 in this year's ranking. See the full Gustavus Adolphus College profile
Gratz College
Gratz College came in at #20 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Gratz College
Saint Josephs College New York did well this year, earning the #21 position. Get the full Saint Josephs College New York report
Texas State University San Marcos came in at #22 in this year's ranking. Read more about Texas State University San Marcos
Yeshiva Of Kasho
Yeshiva Of Kasho landed the #23 spot in the United States this year. More on Yeshiva Of Kasho
Randolph Macon College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best Religious Studies schools. Get the full Randolph Macon College report
Chicago Theological Seminary placed #25 among Religious Studies schools in the United States. More on Chicago Theological Seminary
Rest of the Top 50 Best Religious Studies Graduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s ranking:
Converse College
Converse College landed the #26 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Converse College
San Francisco State University placed #27 among Religious Studies schools in the United States. More on San Francisco State University
University Of California San Diego landed the #28 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on University Of California San Diego
California State University Fullerton placed #29 among Religious Studies schools in the United States. Read the full report on California State University Fullerton
Yeshiva Ohr Naftoli came in at #30 in this year's ranking. Read more about Yeshiva Ohr Naftoli
Indiana Wesleyan University did well this year, earning the #31 position. Read the full report on Indiana Wesleyan University
Vanguard University Of Southern California did well this year, earning the #32 position. See the full Vanguard University Of Southern California profile
Cuny Graduate School And University Center placed #33 among Religious Studies schools in the United States. See the full Cuny Graduate School And University Center profile
University Of Central Arkansas landed the #34 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on University Of Central Arkansas
Amridge University did well this year, earning the #35 position. Get the full Amridge University report
Bais Medrash Of Dexter Park did well this year, earning the #36 position. Read the full report on Bais Medrash Of Dexter Park
Calvin College
Calvin College placed #37 among Religious Studies schools in the United States. Read the full report on Calvin College
Saint Joseph College ranked #38 on our 2026 list of the best Religious Studies schools. Read more about Saint Joseph College
Davis And Elkins College ranked #39 on our 2026 list of the best Religious Studies schools. Get the full Davis And Elkins College report
Drake University
Drake University came in at #40 in this year's ranking. More on Drake University
Mosdos Yaakov V Yisroel ranked #41 on our 2026 list of the best Religious Studies schools. Read more about Mosdos Yaakov V Yisroel
Ball State University placed #42 among Religious Studies schools in the United States. More on Ball State University
Oakland City University placed #43 among Religious Studies schools in the United States. See the full Oakland City University profile
The College Of Wooster did well this year, earning the #44 position. See the full The College Of Wooster profile
University Of Rochester came in at #45 in this year's ranking. See the full University Of Rochester profile
Wabash College
Wabash College ranked #46 on our 2026 list of the best Religious Studies schools. Read more about Wabash College
Christian Brothers University did well this year, earning the #47 position. Read more about Christian Brothers University
Cuny Hunter College landed the #48 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Cuny Hunter College
Gardner Webb University landed the #49 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Gardner Webb University report
University Of Wisconsin Madison placed #50 among Religious Studies schools in the United States. Read the full report on University Of Wisconsin Madison
Related Religious Studies Rankings
Explore other degree levels:
- Best Religious Studies Schools (All Levels)
- Best Religious Studies Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Religious Studies Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Religious Studies Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Religious Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Religious Studies Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Religious Studies Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 780 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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