2026 Best Religious Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best Religious Education bachelor’s degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 130 institutions by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To arm you with the information you need, Course Advisor analyzed schools to build this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Religious Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the United States
Here are the top-ranked schools:
Grand Canyon University tops our 2026 ranking of the best Religious Education bachelor's degree schools in the United States. This private for-profit school is set in Phoenix, AZ. Grand Canyon University posts a six-year graduation rate of 44%. In-state tuition and fees average $18,508. Typical Religious Education student debt is $35,436. Read the full report on Grand Canyon University
Olivet Nazarene University came in at #2 on this year's Religious Education ranking in the United States. Located in Bourbonnais, IL, Olivet Nazarene University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $38,900. Typical Religious Education student debt is $26,797. Read more about Olivet Nazarene University
Moody Bible Institute came in at #3 on this year's Religious Education ranking in the United States. Located in Chicago, IL, Moody Bible Institute is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $15,786. Students borrow a median of $14,000 to complete their Religious Education program here. See the full Moody Bible Institute profile
A rank of #4 makes Franciscan University Of Steubenville one of the top choices in the United States. Based in Steubenville, OH, Franciscan University Of Steubenville is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $34,100. Graduates carry a median of $26,980 in student loans. See the full Franciscan University Of Steubenville profile
A rank of #5 makes Trinity International University Illinois one of the top choices in the United States. This private not-for-profit school is set in Deerfield, IL. Trinity International University Illinois posts a six-year graduation rate of 46%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,320. Typical Religious Education student debt is $32,934. Get the full Trinity International University Illinois report
Azusa Pacific University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best Religious Education schools. Set in Azusa, CA, Azusa Pacific University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 62%. In-state tuition and fees average $44,458. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete their Religious Education program here. Read more about Azusa Pacific University
Crown College did well this year, earning the #8 position. Crown College is a private not-for-profit school based in Saint Bonifacius, MN. Roughly 44% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $31,410. Graduates carry a median of $25,937 in student loans. Read more about Crown College
Nazarene Bible College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best Religious Education schools. Set in Colorado Springs, CO, Nazarene Bible College is a private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,482. Nazarene Bible College Religious Education students take on a median of $40,332 in debt. Get the full Nazarene Bible College report
Benedictine College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best Religious Education schools. This private not-for-profit school is set in Atchison, KS. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $36,350 in tuition and fees. Typical Religious Education student debt is $24,625. Get the full Benedictine College report
Biola University placed #11 among Religious Education schools in the United States. Biola University is a private not-for-profit school based in La Mirada, CA. Biola University posts a six-year graduation rate of 68%. In-state tuition and fees run about $48,984. Graduates carry a median of $25,454 in student loans. More on Biola University
Northwest Nazarene University landed the #12 spot in the United States this year. Located in Nampa, ID, Northwest Nazarene University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 71% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,824. The median Religious Education program debt is $27,562. Read the full report on Northwest Nazarene University
Grace Bible College landed the #14 spot in the United States this year. Grace Bible College is a private not-for-profit school based in Wyoming, MI. Grace Bible College posts a six-year graduation rate of 51%. In-state tuition and fees run about $17,190. Graduates carry a median of $30,750 in student loans. Read more about Grace Bible College
Columbia International University landed the #15 spot in the United States this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Columbia, SC. Columbia International University posts a six-year graduation rate of 46%. In-state tuition and fees run about $27,900. Students borrow a median of $21,667 to complete their Religious Education program here. See the full Columbia International University profile
Dallas Baptist University placed #16 among Religious Education schools in the United States. Based in Dallas, TX, Dallas Baptist University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,190. Typical Religious Education student debt is $21,500. See the full Dallas Baptist University profile
Lee University landed the #17 spot in the United States this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Cleveland, TN. About 63% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $23,790. Students borrow a median of $26,422 to complete their Religious Education program here. Read the full report on Lee University
Wheaton College Illinois came in at #18 in this year's ranking. Wheaton College Illinois is a private not-for-profit school based in Wheaton, IL. Wheaton College Illinois posts a six-year graduation rate of 85%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,546. Graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Read the full report on Wheaton College Illinois
Indiana Wesleyan University did well this year, earning the #20 position. Based in Marion, IN, Indiana Wesleyan University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 66% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $32,352. Typical Religious Education student debt is $31,454. Read more about Indiana Wesleyan University
Chestnut Hill College placed #18 among Religious Education schools in the United States. See the full Chestnut Hill College profile
Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Metro did well this year, earning the #19 position. Read the full report on Inter American University Of Puerto Rico Metro
University Of Dallas did well this year, earning the #20 position. More on University Of Dallas
Calvin Theological Seminary did well this year, earning the #21 position. Get the full Calvin Theological Seminary report
Free Will Baptist Bible College landed the #22 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Free Will Baptist Bible College
Liberty University landed the #23 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Liberty University
Nazarene Theological Seminary placed #24 among Religious Education schools in the United States. Read the full report on Nazarene Theological Seminary
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary came in at #25 in this year's ranking. More on Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
Rest of the Top 50 Best Religious Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the United States
These schools also placed among the very best this year:
American Jewish University came in at #26 in this year's ranking. More on American Jewish University
Huntsville Bible College did well this year, earning the #27 position. Read more about Huntsville Bible College
Faith Baptist Bible College And Theological Seminary came in at #28 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Faith Baptist Bible College And Theological Seminary
Oklahoma Baptist University landed the #29 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Oklahoma Baptist University report
Brigham Young University Provo landed the #30 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Brigham Young University Provo
Lindsey Wilson College came in at #31 in this year's ranking. Get the full Lindsey Wilson College report
College Of Our Lady Of The Elms placed #32 among Religious Education schools in the United States. Read the full report on College Of Our Lady Of The Elms
Columbia Theological Seminary ranked #33 on our 2026 list of the best Religious Education schools. See the full Columbia Theological Seminary profile
Universidad Pentecostal Mizpa did well this year, earning the #34 position. Get the full Universidad Pentecostal Mizpa report
Carolina College Of Biblical Studies landed the #35 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Carolina College Of Biblical Studies
Jewish Theological Seminary Of America landed the #36 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Jewish Theological Seminary Of America
Loyola University Chicago placed #37 among Religious Education schools in the United States. Read more about Loyola University Chicago
Rabbinical College Bobover Yeshiva Bnei Zion ranked #38 on our 2026 list of the best Religious Education schools. More on Rabbinical College Bobover Yeshiva Bnei Zion
Virginia Baptist College ranked #39 on our 2026 list of the best Religious Education schools. Read the full report on Virginia Baptist College
Concordia University Texas did well this year, earning the #40 position. See the full Concordia University Texas profile
Cornerstone University landed the #41 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Cornerstone University
Davis And Elkins College ranked #42 on our 2026 list of the best Religious Education schools. Read more about Davis And Elkins College
Talmudic College Of Florida landed the #43 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Talmudic College Of Florida
University Of St Thomas Minnesota landed the #44 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on University Of St Thomas Minnesota
Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary placed #45 among Religious Education schools in the United States. More on Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary
Amridge University did well this year, earning the #46 position. Read more about Amridge University
Seminario Evangelico De Puerto Rico placed #47 among Religious Education schools in the United States. Read the full report on Seminario Evangelico De Puerto Rico
Wayland Baptist University ranked #48 on our 2026 list of the best Religious Education schools. Read more about Wayland Baptist University
Yeshiva Gedolah Imrei Yosef Dspinka came in at #49 in this year's ranking. More on Yeshiva Gedolah Imrei Yosef Dspinka
Central Christian College Of The Bible landed the #50 spot in the United States this year. More on Central Christian College Of The Bible
Related Religious Education Rankings
Compare rankings at other degree levels:
- Best Religious Education Schools (All Levels)
- Best Religious Education Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Religious Education Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Religious Education Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Religious Education Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Religious Education Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Religious Education Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider 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 130 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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