2026 Best Theological Ministerial Studies Associate’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best Theological Ministerial Studies associate’s degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 464 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 compile this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Theological Ministerial Studies Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
Explore the leading schools below:
Ohio Christian University tops our 2026 ranking of the best Theological Ministerial Studies associate's degree schools in the United States. Based in Circleville, OH, Ohio Christian University is a private not-for-profit institution. Ohio Christian University graduates 50% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $19,190 in tuition and fees. Typical Theological Ministerial Studies student debt is $30,947. Read the full report on Ohio Christian University
The strong Theological Ministerial Studies programs at Southeastern University earned it the #2 place in the United States. Located in Lakeland, FL, Southeastern University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 44% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $32,950 in tuition and fees. Southeastern University Theological Ministerial Studies students take on a median of $19,609 in debt. Get the full Southeastern University report
You'll be in good company at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, which ranked #3 this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Kansas City, MO. Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary graduates 64% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $11,530. Graduates carry a median of $15,559 in student loans. Read the full report on Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
A rank of #4 makes Northwest University College Of Adult And Professional Studies one of the top choices in the United States. Based in Kirkland, WA, Northwest University College Of Adult And Professional Studies is a private not-for-profit institution. About 41% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,652. The median Theological Ministerial Studies program debt is $22,696. More on Northwest University College Of Adult And Professional Studies
A rank of #5 makes Oklahoma Wesleyan University one of the top choices in the United States. Set in Bartlesville, OK, Oklahoma Wesleyan University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 26% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $33,550. Oklahoma Wesleyan University Theological Ministerial Studies students take on a median of $29,168 in debt. Read more about Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Piedmont International University landed the #6 spot in the United States this year. Located in Winston-Salem, NC, Piedmont International University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 21% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $17,575. Typical Theological Ministerial Studies student debt is $35,382. See the full Piedmont International University profile
Nazarene Bible College did well this year, earning the #7 position. 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. Students borrow a median of $40,332 to complete their Theological Ministerial Studies program here. Get the full Nazarene Bible College report
Kings University placed #8 among Theological Ministerial Studies schools in the United States. Based in Southlake, TX, Kings University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 33% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,480. Kings University Theological Ministerial Studies students take on a median of $48,998 in debt. More on Kings University
Franciscan University Of Steubenville did well this year, earning the #9 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Steubenville, OH. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. In-state tuition and fees average $34,100. Franciscan University Of Steubenville Theological Ministerial Studies students take on a median of $25,000 in debt. Read more about Franciscan University Of Steubenville
Johnson University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best Theological Ministerial Studies schools. Based in Knoxville, TN, Johnson University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 54% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,122. The median Theological Ministerial Studies program debt is $23,250. Get the full Johnson University report
Valley Forge Christian College did well this year, earning the #11 position. Based in Phoenixville, PA, Valley Forge Christian College is a private not-for-profit institution. Valley Forge Christian College posts a six-year graduation rate of 49%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $25,240. Valley Forge Christian College Theological Ministerial Studies students take on a median of $28,000 in debt. More on Valley Forge Christian College
Atlanta Christian College came in at #12 in this year's ranking. Located in West Point, GA, Atlanta Christian College is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 38% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $23,950. Graduates carry a median of $44,023 in student loans. Read more about Atlanta Christian College
Assumption College For Sisters came in at #13 in this year's ranking. Get the full Assumption College For Sisters report
Azusa Pacific University landed the #14 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Azusa Pacific University
Wayland Baptist University landed the #15 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Wayland Baptist University
Central Christian College Of The Bible ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best Theological Ministerial Studies schools. Get the full Central Christian College Of The Bible report
Dominican University landed the #17 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Dominican University
Lancaster Bible College placed #18 among Theological Ministerial Studies schools in the United States. Get the full Lancaster Bible College report
Latin American Bible Institute landed the #19 spot in the United States this year. More on Latin American Bible Institute
Epic Bible College did well this year, earning the #20 position. Read the full report on Epic Bible College
Interdenominational Theological Center did well this year, earning the #21 position. More on Interdenominational Theological Center
Earlham College
Earlham College landed the #22 spot in the United States this year. More on Earlham College
Howard University did well this year, earning the #23 position. More on Howard University
Northern Baptist Theological Seminary placed #24 among Theological Ministerial Studies schools in the United States. Get the full Northern Baptist Theological Seminary report
Seton Hall University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best Theological Ministerial Studies schools. Read more about Seton Hall University
Rest of the Top 50 Best Theological Ministerial Studies Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s ranking:
Northwest University placed #26 among Theological Ministerial Studies schools in the United States. Get the full Northwest University report
University Of St Thomas Minnesota came in at #27 in this year's ranking. Read more about University Of St Thomas Minnesota
Boise Bible College came in at #28 in this year's ranking. Get the full Boise Bible College report
Harvard University came in at #29 in this year's ranking. See the full Harvard University profile
Methodist Theological School In Ohio placed #30 among Theological Ministerial Studies schools in the United States. Read the full report on Methodist Theological School In Ohio
Pontifical College Josephinum ranked #31 on our 2026 list of the best Theological Ministerial Studies schools. See the full Pontifical College Josephinum profile
Briar Cliff University ranked #32 on our 2026 list of the best Theological Ministerial Studies schools. See the full Briar Cliff University profile
Huntington University ranked #33 on our 2026 list of the best Theological Ministerial Studies schools. More on Huntington University
Covenant Theological Seminary landed the #34 spot in the United States this year. More on Covenant Theological Seminary
Bryan College Dayton landed the #35 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Bryan College Dayton
Martin Luther College came in at #36 in this year's ranking. See the full Martin Luther College profile
Union University
Union University landed the #37 spot in the United States this year. See the full Union University profile
Phoenix Seminary
Phoenix Seminary landed the #38 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Phoenix Seminary
Baptist University Of The Americas placed #39 among Theological Ministerial Studies schools in the United States. Read more about Baptist University Of The Americas
New York Theological Seminary ranked #40 on our 2026 list of the best Theological Ministerial Studies schools. See the full New York Theological Seminary profile
Westminster Theological Seminary landed the #41 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Westminster Theological Seminary report
Church Divinity School Of The Pacific did well this year, earning the #42 position. Get the full Church Divinity School Of The Pacific report
Mesivtha Tifereth Jerusalem Of America did well this year, earning the #43 position. See the full Mesivtha Tifereth Jerusalem Of America profile
New Brunswick Theological Seminary ranked #44 on our 2026 list of the best Theological Ministerial Studies schools. Read the full report on New Brunswick Theological Seminary
Yeshivah Gedolah Rabbinical College placed #45 among Theological Ministerial Studies schools in the United States. See the full Yeshivah Gedolah Rabbinical College profile
Dallas Baptist University placed #46 among Theological Ministerial Studies schools in the United States. More on Dallas Baptist University
Walla Walla University came in at #47 in this year's ranking. Read more about Walla Walla University
Creighton University did well this year, earning the #48 position. See the full Creighton University profile
The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary did well this year, earning the #49 position. Read more about The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
University Of Portland placed #50 among Theological Ministerial Studies schools in the United States. Read more about University Of Portland
Related Theological Ministerial Studies Rankings
Explore other degree levels:
- Best Theological Ministerial Studies Schools (All Levels)
- Best Theological Ministerial Studies Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Theological Ministerial Studies Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Theological Ministerial Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Theological Ministerial Studies Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Theological Ministerial Studies Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Theological Ministerial Studies 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 464 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).