2026 Best Religious Education Master’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best Religious Education master’s degree programs in the United States? This list ranks 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 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 Education Master’s Degree Schools in the United States
Explore the leading schools below:
No school ranked higher than Hebrew Union College Jewish Institute Of Religion this year in the United States. Located in New York, NY, Hebrew Union College Jewish Institute Of Religion is a private not-for-profit institution. Read the full report on Hebrew Union College Jewish Institute Of Religion
Out of the 130 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, Dallas Theological Seminary landed the #2 spot. Located in Dallas, TX, Dallas Theological Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution. Get the full Dallas Theological Seminary report
Grand Canyon University came in at #3 on this year's Religious Education ranking in the United States. Located in Phoenix, AZ, Grand Canyon University is a private for-profit institution. Grand Canyon University posts a six-year graduation rate of 44%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,508. Typical Religious Education student debt is $35,436. Read more about Grand Canyon University
Crown College came in at #4 on this year's Religious Education ranking in the United States. 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 run about $31,410. Crown College Religious Education students take on a median of $25,937 in debt. Get the full Crown College report
A rank of #5 makes Union Presbyterian Seminary one of the top choices in the United States. Based in Richmond, VA, Union Presbyterian Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution. See the full Union Presbyterian Seminary profile
Franciscan University Of Steubenville came in at #6 in this year's ranking. Located in Steubenville, OH, Franciscan University Of Steubenville is a private not-for-profit institution. Franciscan University Of Steubenville posts a six-year graduation rate of 75%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,100. Graduates carry a median of $26,980 in student loans. More on Franciscan University Of Steubenville
Bethel University Minnesota placed #7 among Religious Education schools in the United States. Set in Saint Paul, MN, Bethel University Minnesota is a private not-for-profit institution. Bethel University Minnesota posts a six-year graduation rate of 71%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $44,226. The median Religious Education program debt is $25,639. Read the full report on Bethel University Minnesota
Emory University did well this year, earning the #8 position. Emory University is a private not-for-profit school based in Atlanta, GA. About 91% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $64,280. Typical Religious Education student debt is $19,431. Read the full report on Emory University
Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary did well this year, earning the #10 position. Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary is a private not-for-profit school based in Kansas City, MO. Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary posts a six-year graduation rate of 64%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,530. Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary Religious Education students take on a median of $15,559 in debt. More on Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
Azusa Pacific University placed #11 among Religious Education schools in the United States. This private not-for-profit school is set in Azusa, CA. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $44,458. Typical Religious Education student debt is $25,000. Get the full Azusa Pacific University report
Faith Evangelical College And Seminary ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best Religious Education schools. Set in Tacoma, WA, Faith Evangelical College And Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution. About 25% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,850. The median Religious Education program debt is $17,813. See the full Faith Evangelical College And Seminary profile
Catholic University Of America did well this year, earning the #13 position. Set in Washington, DC, Catholic University Of America is a private not-for-profit institution. About 80% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $58,378. The median Religious Education program debt is $25,771. Read the full report on Catholic University Of America
Nazarene Theological Seminary came in at #14 in this year's ranking. Located in Kansas City, MO, Nazarene Theological Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution. Read the full report on Nazarene Theological Seminary
Trinity International University Illinois came in at #15 in this year's ranking. Set in Deerfield, IL, Trinity International University Illinois is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 46%. Students from in state pay about $12,320 in tuition and fees. Trinity International University Illinois Religious Education students take on a median of $32,934 in debt. See the full Trinity International University Illinois profile
Erskine College And Seminary ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best Religious Education schools. Erskine College And Seminary is a private not-for-profit school based in Due West, SC. The six-year graduation rate is 45%. In-state tuition and fees average $36,710. Typical Religious Education student debt is $27,000. See the full Erskine College And Seminary profile
Princeton Theological Seminary landed the #17 spot in the United States this year. Set in Princeton, NJ, Princeton Theological Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution. Get the full Princeton Theological Seminary report
Ashland University placed #18 among Religious Education schools in the United States. Located in Ashland, OH, Ashland University is a private not-for-profit institution. Ashland University posts a six-year graduation rate of 60%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $31,210. The median Religious Education program debt is $24,536. Get the full Ashland University report
Wheaton College Illinois ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best Religious Education schools. Based in Wheaton, IL, Wheaton College Illinois is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $45,546. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete their Religious Education program here. Read more about Wheaton College Illinois
Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global placed #21 among Religious Education schools in the United States. This private not-for-profit school is set in Marion, IN. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,648. Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global Religious Education students take on a median of $32,807 in debt. Read more about Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global
Dallas Baptist University came in at #22 in this year's ranking. Located in Dallas, TX, Dallas Baptist University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. Students from in state pay about $40,190 in tuition and fees. Graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Read the full report on Dallas Baptist University
Liberty University landed the #23 spot in the United States this year. Liberty University is a private not-for-profit school based in Lynchburg, VA. About 67% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $16,173 in tuition and fees. Liberty University Religious Education students take on a median of $27,414 in debt. Get the full Liberty University report
Cornerstone University did well this year, earning the #24 position. Based in Grand Rapids, MI, Cornerstone University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $23,000. Typical Religious Education student debt is $29,243. More on Cornerstone University
Regent University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best Religious Education schools. Regent University is a private not-for-profit school based in Virginia Beach, VA. Regent University graduates 58% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $21,650 in tuition and fees. The median Religious Education program debt is $29,451. Read the full report on Regent University
Marian University Indiana placed #24 among Religious Education schools in the United States. Read the full report on Marian University Indiana
University Of St Thomas Minnesota placed #25 among Religious Education schools in the United States. See the full University Of St Thomas Minnesota profile
Rest of the Top 50 Best Religious Education Master’s Degree Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also made the top of the list:
Central Christian College Of The Bible ranked #26 on our 2026 list of the best Religious Education schools. More on Central Christian College Of The Bible
Asbury Theological Seminary ranked #27 on our 2026 list of the best Religious Education schools. Get the full Asbury Theological Seminary report
John Carroll University landed the #28 spot in the United States this year. Get the full John Carroll University report
Free Will Baptist Bible College did well this year, earning the #29 position. Get the full Free Will Baptist Bible College report
Moody Bible Institute placed #30 among Religious Education schools in the United States. Read the full report on Moody Bible Institute
Saint Norbert College ranked #31 on our 2026 list of the best Religious Education schools. Read more about Saint Norbert College
Oklahoma Christian University landed the #32 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Oklahoma Christian University
Andrews University did well this year, earning the #33 position. Read the full report on Andrews University
Universidad Teologica Del Caribe placed #34 among Religious Education schools in the United States. More on Universidad Teologica Del Caribe
Southern Adventist University placed #35 among Religious Education schools in the United States. Get the full Southern Adventist University report
Faith Theological Seminary And Christian College did well this year, earning the #36 position. Read the full report on Faith Theological Seminary And Christian College
American Jewish University landed the #37 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on American Jewish University
Faith Baptist Bible College And Theological Seminary landed the #38 spot in the United States this year. See the full Faith Baptist Bible College And Theological Seminary profile
Amridge University placed #39 among Religious Education schools in the United States. See the full Amridge University profile
Biola University
Biola University landed the #40 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Biola University
Benedictine College landed the #41 spot in the United States this year. See the full Benedictine College profile
Indiana Wesleyan University placed #42 among Religious Education schools in the United States. See the full Indiana Wesleyan University profile
Columbia International University landed the #43 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Columbia International University
Jewish Theological Seminary Of America came in at #44 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Jewish Theological Seminary Of America
College Of Our Lady Of The Elms came in at #45 in this year's ranking. More on College Of Our Lady Of The Elms
University Of The Cumberlands ranked #46 on our 2026 list of the best Religious Education schools. See the full University Of The Cumberlands profile
Oakwood University came in at #47 in this year's ranking. More on Oakwood University
Claremont School Of Theology ranked #48 on our 2026 list of the best Religious Education schools. See the full Claremont School Of Theology profile
Lourdes College
Lourdes College landed the #49 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Lourdes College
Huntington University placed #50 among Religious Education schools in the United States. Get the full Huntington University report
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 Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced 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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