2026 Best Religious Education Doctoral Degree Schools
Looking for the best Religious Education doctoral degree programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 130 schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Our scores reflect factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To help you make your decision, Course Advisor evaluated schools to compile 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 Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Here are the top-ranked schools:
Leading the list is Catholic University Of America, our #1 Religious Education school in the United States. Catholic University Of America is a private not-for-profit school based in Washington, DC. Catholic University Of America posts a six-year graduation rate of 80%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $58,378. Students borrow a median of $25,771 to complete their Religious Education program here. Get the full Catholic University Of America report
You'll be in good company at Trinity International University Illinois, which ranked #2 this year. Trinity International University Illinois is a private not-for-profit school based in Deerfield, IL. Trinity International University Illinois graduates 46% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $12,320. Typical Religious Education student debt is $32,934. Read the full report on Trinity International University Illinois
The strong Religious Education programs at Azusa Pacific University earned it the #3 place in the United States. Set in Azusa, CA, Azusa Pacific University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 62% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $44,458. Azusa Pacific University Religious Education students take on a median of $25,000 in debt. Get the full Azusa Pacific University report
Biola University came in at #4 on this year's Religious Education ranking in the United States. Located in La Mirada, CA, Biola University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 68% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $48,984 in tuition and fees. The median Religious Education program debt is $25,454. More on Biola University
Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary came in at #5 on this year's Religious Education ranking in the United States. Based in Kansas City, MO, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution. Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary posts a six-year graduation rate of 64%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,530. Graduates carry a median of $15,559 in student loans. Get the full Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary report
Boston College came in at #6 in this year's ranking. Based in Chestnut Hill, MA, Boston College is a private not-for-profit institution. About 91% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $70,702. Graduates carry a median of $18,101 in student loans. More on Boston College
Liberty University came in at #7 in this year's ranking. Based in Lynchburg, VA, Liberty University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,173. Typical Religious Education student debt is $27,414. More on Liberty University
Columbia Theological Seminary placed #8 among Religious Education schools in the United States. Based in Decatur, GA, Columbia Theological Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution. Get the full Columbia Theological Seminary report
Andrews University did well this year, earning the #9 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Berrien Springs, MI. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. In-state tuition and fees average $35,056. The median Religious Education program debt is $26,314. Read the full report on Andrews University
Oklahoma Christian University landed the #10 spot in the United States this year. See the full Oklahoma Christian University profile
Morris College
Morris College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best Religious Education schools. Get the full Morris College report
Davis And Elkins College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best Religious Education schools. Read more about Davis And Elkins College
Moody Bible Institute landed the #13 spot in the United States this year. See the full Moody Bible Institute profile
Northwestern College Iowa ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best Religious Education schools. Read more about Northwestern College Iowa
Jewish Theological Seminary Of America ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best Religious Education schools. Read more about Jewish Theological Seminary Of America
American Jewish University came in at #16 in this year's ranking. See the full American Jewish University profile
South Florida Bible College And Theological Seminary did well this year, earning the #17 position. More on South Florida Bible College And Theological Seminary
Regent University did well this year, earning the #18 position. Read the full report on Regent University
College Of Our Lady Of The Elms placed #19 among Religious Education schools in the United States. Get the full College Of Our Lady Of The Elms report
Kentucky Mountain Bible College came in at #20 in this year's ranking. See the full Kentucky Mountain Bible College profile
Calvin Theological Seminary ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best Religious Education schools. See the full Calvin Theological Seminary profile
Concordia University Chicago ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best Religious Education schools. Read more about Concordia University Chicago
Faith Theological Seminary And Christian College landed the #23 spot in the United States this year. More on Faith Theological Seminary And Christian College
Asbury Theological Seminary landed the #24 spot in the United States this year. See the full Asbury Theological Seminary profile
Fordham University did well this year, earning the #25 position. More on Fordham University
Rest of the Top 50 Best Religious Education Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also made the top of the list:
Yeshiva Gedolah Imrei Yosef Dspinka ranked #26 on our 2026 list of the best Religious Education schools. Read the full report on Yeshiva Gedolah Imrei Yosef Dspinka
Eastern Nazarene College ranked #27 on our 2026 list of the best Religious Education schools. Read the full report on Eastern Nazarene College
Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary ranked #28 on our 2026 list of the best Religious Education schools. Read the full report on Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary
Ashland University landed the #29 spot in the United States this year. More on Ashland University
Crown College
Crown College ranked #30 on our 2026 list of the best Religious Education schools. More on Crown College
Faith Evangelical College And Seminary landed the #31 spot in the United States this year. See the full Faith Evangelical College And Seminary profile
Universidad Pentecostal Mizpa ranked #32 on our 2026 list of the best Religious Education schools. Read the full report on Universidad Pentecostal Mizpa
Faith Baptist Bible College And Theological Seminary placed #33 among Religious Education schools in the United States. Read the full report on Faith Baptist Bible College And Theological Seminary
Dallas Theological Seminary placed #34 among Religious Education schools in the United States. Read the full report on Dallas Theological Seminary
Nazarene Bible College landed the #35 spot in the United States this year. More on Nazarene Bible College
Wayland Baptist University placed #36 among Religious Education schools in the United States. Get the full Wayland Baptist University report
Grace Mission University did well this year, earning the #37 position. Read the full report on Grace Mission University
Carolina Christian College came in at #38 in this year's ranking. More on Carolina Christian College
Wesley Theological Seminary landed the #39 spot in the United States this year. More on Wesley Theological Seminary
Concordia University Texas landed the #40 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Concordia University Texas
Franciscan University Of Steubenville placed #41 among Religious Education schools in the United States. See the full Franciscan University Of Steubenville profile
Muskingum University did well this year, earning the #42 position. Get the full Muskingum University report
Unification Theological Seminary came in at #43 in this year's ranking. More on Unification Theological Seminary
John Carroll University came in at #44 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on John Carroll University
Columbia International University ranked #45 on our 2026 list of the best Religious Education schools. See the full Columbia International University profile
Asbury University did well this year, earning the #46 position. See the full Asbury University profile
Claremont School Of Theology did well this year, earning the #47 position. More on Claremont School Of Theology
Bethel University Minnesota came in at #48 in this year's ranking. More on Bethel University Minnesota
University Of Fort Lauderdale came in at #49 in this year's ranking. Get the full University Of Fort Lauderdale report
Huntington University ranked #50 on our 2026 list of the best Religious Education schools. More on Huntington University
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 Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Religious Education Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Religious Education Master’s 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 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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