2026 Best Value Religious Education Master’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Religious Education master’s degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 130 institutions by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
So you can compare your options, Course Advisor analyzed schools to produce this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Religious Education Master’s Degree Schools in the United States
Here are the top-ranked schools for value:
Our analysis found Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary to be the best-value Religious Education school in the United States. Set in Kansas City, MO, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,530. Graduates carry a median of $15,559 in student loans. Median earnings reach $50,535 ten years out. Set against $15,559 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary admits about 96% of applicants. Get the full Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary report
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Grand Canyon University earned it the #2 place in the United States. Set in Phoenix, AZ, Grand Canyon University is a private for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $18,508 in tuition and fees. The median Religious Education program debt is $35,436. Grand Canyon University alumni report median earnings of $42,186 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. About 79% of those who apply are admitted. Read more about Grand Canyon University
You'll get strong value at Faith Evangelical College And Seminary, which ranked #4 this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Tacoma, WA. In-state tuition and fees average $8,850. Graduates carry a median of $17,813 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $51,006 ten years after entry. Set against $17,813 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. See the full Faith Evangelical College And Seminary profile
You'll get strong value at Crown College, which ranked #5 this year. Crown College is a private not-for-profit school based in Saint Bonifacius, MN. In-state tuition and fees run about $31,410. Crown College Religious Education students take on a median of $25,937 in debt. Crown College alumni report median earnings of $48,057 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Crown College admits about 23% of applicants. Get the full Crown College report
Ashland University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best-value Religious Education schools. Located in Ashland, OH, Ashland University is a private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $31,210. The median Religious Education program debt is $24,536. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $52,928. Set against $24,536 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 76%. Read the full report on Ashland University
Dallas Theological Seminary placed #7 among the best-value Religious Education schools in the United States. Dallas Theological Seminary is a private not-for-profit school based in Dallas, TX. Read the full report on Dallas Theological Seminary
Bethel University Minnesota placed #8 among the best-value Religious Education schools in the United States. This private not-for-profit school is set in Saint Paul, MN. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $44,226. Bethel University Minnesota Religious Education students take on a median of $25,639 in debt. Bethel University Minnesota alumni report median earnings of $63,764 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%. Read the full report on Bethel University Minnesota
Nazarene Theological Seminary came in at #9 in this year's value ranking. Located in Kansas City, MO, Nazarene Theological Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution. Read more about Nazarene Theological Seminary
Hebrew Union College Jewish Institute Of Religion offered strong value this year, earning the #10 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in New York, NY. Get the full Hebrew Union College Jewish Institute Of Religion report
Liberty University landed the #11 spot for value in the United States this year. Based in Lynchburg, VA, Liberty University is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $16,173. Graduates carry a median of $27,414 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $44,813 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Liberty University has an acceptance rate of 99%. See the full Liberty University profile
Franciscan University Of Steubenville landed the #12 spot for value in the United States this year. Based in Steubenville, OH, Franciscan University Of Steubenville is a private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $34,100 in tuition and fees. Typical Religious Education student debt is $26,980. Graduates go on to earn a median of $50,030 ten years after entry. Set against $26,980 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 58% of those who apply are admitted. Read more about Franciscan University Of Steubenville
Union Presbyterian Seminary ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best-value Religious Education schools. Located in Richmond, VA, Union Presbyterian Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution. See the full Union Presbyterian Seminary profile
Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global landed the #14 spot for value in the United States this year. Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global is a private not-for-profit school based in Marion, IN. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,648. Typical Religious Education student debt is $32,807. Median earnings reach $59,986 ten years out. Set against $32,807 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Read the full report on Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global
Erskine College And Seminary offered strong value this year, earning the #15 position. Erskine College And Seminary is a private not-for-profit school based in Due West, SC. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $36,710. Erskine College And Seminary Religious Education students take on a median of $27,000 in debt. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $53,459. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Erskine College And Seminary has an acceptance rate of 63%. More on Erskine College And Seminary
Azusa Pacific University offered strong value this year, earning the #16 position. Azusa Pacific University is a private not-for-profit school based in Azusa, CA. In-state tuition and fees average $44,458. Graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $66,677. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted. More on Azusa Pacific University
Trinity International University Illinois ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best-value Religious Education schools. Located in Deerfield, IL, Trinity International University Illinois is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,320. Graduates carry a median of $32,934 in student loans. Trinity International University Illinois alumni report median earnings of $46,989 a decade after entry. Set against $32,934 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted. Read more about Trinity International University Illinois
Cornerstone University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best-value Religious Education schools. Located in Grand Rapids, MI, Cornerstone University is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $23,000. The median Religious Education program debt is $29,243. Graduates go on to earn a median of $47,314 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $29,243 median debt. About 78% of those who apply are admitted. Read more about Cornerstone University
Wheaton College Illinois came in at #20 in this year's value ranking. Wheaton College Illinois is a private not-for-profit school based in Wheaton, IL. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,546. Wheaton College Illinois Religious Education students take on a median of $25,000 in debt. Graduates go on to earn a median of $63,756 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. Wheaton College Illinois admits about 87% of applicants. See the full Wheaton College Illinois profile
Regent University landed the #21 spot for value in the United States this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Virginia Beach, VA. In-state tuition and fees average $21,650. Graduates carry a median of $29,451 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $44,498. That is a strong return on a $29,451 median debt. The acceptance rate is 38%. More on Regent University
Dallas Baptist University landed the #22 spot for value in the United States this year. Located in Dallas, TX, Dallas Baptist University is a private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,190. Graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $56,807. That is a strong return on a $21,500 median debt. Dallas Baptist University admits about 89% of applicants. Read the full report on Dallas Baptist University
Princeton Theological Seminary came in at #23 in this year's value ranking. Princeton Theological Seminary is a private not-for-profit school based in Princeton, NJ. See the full Princeton Theological Seminary profile
Emory University offered strong value this year, earning the #24 position. Located in Atlanta, GA, Emory University is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $64,280. The median Religious Education program debt is $19,431. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $80,137. That is a strong return on a $19,431 median debt. About 11% of those who apply are admitted. Read more about Emory University
Catholic University Of America ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best-value Religious Education schools. Set in Washington, DC, Catholic University Of America is a private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $58,378. Catholic University Of America Religious Education students take on a median of $25,771 in debt. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $73,250. That is a strong return on a $25,771 median debt. About 83% of those who apply are admitted. Read the full report on Catholic University Of America
Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary came in at #24 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary
Huntington University placed #25 among the best-value Religious Education schools in the United States. Read the full report on Huntington University
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Religious Education Master’s Degree Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s value ranking:
Wesley Biblical Seminary ranked #26 on our 2026 list of the best-value Religious Education schools. See the full Wesley Biblical Seminary profile
Mount Vernon Nazarene University landed the #27 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Mount Vernon Nazarene University report
Davis And Elkins College landed the #28 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Davis And Elkins College
University Of Fort Lauderdale came in at #29 in this year's value ranking. Get the full University Of Fort Lauderdale report
La Roche College
La Roche College offered strong value this year, earning the #30 position. Get the full La Roche College report
Carolina Christian College landed the #31 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Carolina Christian College
Free Will Baptist Bible College placed #32 among the best-value Religious Education schools in the United States. More on Free Will Baptist Bible College
Asbury Theological Seminary placed #33 among the best-value Religious Education schools in the United States. More on Asbury Theological Seminary
Campbellsville University came in at #34 in this year's value ranking. More on Campbellsville University
Hebrew College
Hebrew College ranked #35 on our 2026 list of the best-value Religious Education schools. More on Hebrew College
Benedictine College ranked #36 on our 2026 list of the best-value Religious Education schools. See the full Benedictine College profile
Toccoa Falls College placed #37 among the best-value Religious Education schools in the United States. Get the full Toccoa Falls College report
Loyola University Chicago offered strong value this year, earning the #38 position. More on Loyola University Chicago
Concordia University Irvine ranked #39 on our 2026 list of the best-value Religious Education schools. See the full Concordia University Irvine profile
College Of Our Lady Of The Elms offered strong value this year, earning the #40 position. Read more about College Of Our Lady Of The Elms
Concordia University Texas came in at #41 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Concordia University Texas
Moody Bible Institute came in at #42 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Moody Bible Institute
Morris College
Morris College placed #43 among the best-value Religious Education schools in the United States. See the full Morris College profile
Oakwood University placed #44 among the best-value Religious Education schools in the United States. Get the full Oakwood University report
College Of Saint Elizabeth placed #45 among the best-value Religious Education schools in the United States. Read the full report on College Of Saint Elizabeth
American Jewish University landed the #46 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full American Jewish University report
Columbia International University landed the #47 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Columbia International University
Oklahoma Christian University ranked #48 on our 2026 list of the best-value Religious Education schools. Get the full Oklahoma Christian University report
The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary ranked #49 on our 2026 list of the best-value Religious Education schools. See the full The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary profile
John Carroll University came in at #50 in this year's value ranking. Read more about John Carroll University
Related Religious Education Value Rankings
Explore other degree levels:
- Best Value Religious Education Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Religious Education Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Religious Education Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Religious Education Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Religious Education Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Religious Education Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Religious Education Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider 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 · 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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