2026 Best Value Theological Ministerial Studies Associate’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Theological Ministerial Studies associate’s degree programs in the United States? This list ranks 464 institutions by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Our scores reflect 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 reviewed schools to build 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 Theological Ministerial Studies Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these high-value schools below:
Leading the list is Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, our #1 best-value Theological Ministerial Studies school in the United States. This private not-for-profit school is set in Kansas City, MO. In-state tuition and fees average $11,530. Graduates carry a median of $15,559 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $50,535. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary admits about 96% of applicants. Get the full Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary report
Ohio Christian University came in at #2 on this year's best-value Theological Ministerial Studies ranking in the United States. This private not-for-profit school is set in Circleville, OH. In-state tuition and fees run about $19,190. The median Theological Ministerial Studies program debt is $30,947. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $39,813. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted. Read the full report on Ohio Christian University
Nazarene Bible College came in at #3 on this year's best-value Theological Ministerial Studies ranking in the United States. Based in Colorado Springs, CO, Nazarene Bible College is a private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,482. Nazarene Bible College Theological Ministerial Studies students take on a median of $40,332 in debt. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $41,450. Set against $40,332 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. See the full Nazarene Bible College profile
Out of the 464 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, Northwest University College Of Adult And Professional Studies landed the #4 spot. Set in Kirkland, WA, Northwest University College Of Adult And Professional Studies is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,652. Students borrow a median of $22,696 to complete their Theological Ministerial Studies program here. Median earnings reach $54,914 ten years out. Set against $22,696 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Get the full Northwest University College Of Adult And Professional Studies report
Kings University came in at #5 on this year's best-value Theological Ministerial Studies ranking in the United States. Set in Southlake, TX, Kings University is a private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,480. Graduates carry a median of $48,998 in student loans. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $41,471. That is a strong return on a $48,998 median debt. About 61% of those who apply are admitted. Read the full report on Kings University
Piedmont International University came in at #6 in this year's value ranking. Set in Winston-Salem, NC, Piedmont International University is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $17,575. Graduates carry a median of $35,382 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $32,864. Set against $35,382 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 40% of those who apply are admitted. Read the full report on Piedmont International University
Southeastern University landed the #7 spot for value in the United States this year. Based in Lakeland, FL, Southeastern University is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $32,950. Graduates carry a median of $19,609 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $46,744 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $19,609 median debt. About 53% of those who apply are admitted. Read the full report on Southeastern University
Johnson University landed the #8 spot for value in the United States this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Knoxville, TN. In-state tuition and fees run about $21,122. The median Theological Ministerial Studies program debt is $23,250. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $40,596. That is a strong return on a $23,250 median debt. The acceptance rate is 65%. More on Johnson University
Oklahoma Wesleyan University landed the #9 spot for value in the United States this year. Oklahoma Wesleyan University is a private not-for-profit school based in Bartlesville, OK. In-state tuition and fees run about $33,550. Oklahoma Wesleyan University Theological Ministerial Studies students take on a median of $29,168 in debt. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $59,841. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted. Read more about Oklahoma Wesleyan University
Valley Forge Christian College offered strong value this year, earning the #10 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Phoenixville, PA. Students from in state pay about $25,240 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $28,000 to complete their Theological Ministerial Studies program here. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $39,016. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Valley Forge Christian College admits about 61% of applicants. More on Valley Forge Christian College
Atlanta Christian College offered strong value this year, earning the #11 position. Based in West Point, GA, Atlanta Christian College is a private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $23,950. Typical Theological Ministerial Studies student debt is $44,023. Atlanta Christian College alumni report median earnings of $38,740 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 44% of applicants are accepted. Get the full Atlanta Christian College report
Franciscan University Of Steubenville landed the #12 spot for value in the United States this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Steubenville, OH. Students from in state pay about $34,100 in tuition and fees. Typical Theological Ministerial Studies student debt is $25,000. Graduates go on to earn a median of $50,030 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 58%. Read the full report on Franciscan University Of Steubenville
South Universityrichmond placed #13 among the best-value Theological Ministerial Studies schools in the United States. Read more about South Universityrichmond
Stillman College
Stillman College came in at #14 in this year's value ranking. More on Stillman College
Allegheny Wesleyan College came in at #15 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Allegheny Wesleyan College report
American Islamic College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best-value Theological Ministerial Studies schools. Get the full American Islamic College report
Erskine College And Seminary ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best-value Theological Ministerial Studies schools. See the full Erskine College And Seminary profile
Trinity Christian College came in at #18 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Trinity Christian College report
Colorado Christian University placed #19 among the best-value Theological Ministerial Studies schools in the United States. Read more about Colorado Christian University
Ecumenical Theological Seminary placed #20 among the best-value Theological Ministerial Studies schools in the United States. More on Ecumenical Theological Seminary
Greensboro College placed #21 among the best-value Theological Ministerial Studies schools in the United States. Get the full Greensboro College report
Reconstructionist Rabbinical College offered strong value this year, earning the #22 position. More on Reconstructionist Rabbinical College
University Of Redlands came in at #23 in this year's value ranking. More on University Of Redlands
Baptist University Of The Americas landed the #24 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Baptist University Of The Americas report
Justice University landed the #25 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Justice University
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Theological Ministerial Studies Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s value ranking:
Saint Vincent De Paul Regional Seminary came in at #26 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Saint Vincent De Paul Regional Seminary
Shaw University
Shaw University placed #27 among the best-value Theological Ministerial Studies schools in the United States. Get the full Shaw University report
Bethel University Minnesota ranked #28 on our 2026 list of the best-value Theological Ministerial Studies schools. Get the full Bethel University Minnesota report
Pentecostal Theological Seminary placed #29 among the best-value Theological Ministerial Studies schools in the United States. More on Pentecostal Theological Seminary
Urshan College
Urshan College ranked #30 on our 2026 list of the best-value Theological Ministerial Studies schools. Read the full report on Urshan College
Yale University
Yale University ranked #31 on our 2026 list of the best-value Theological Ministerial Studies schools. See the full Yale University profile
Mount Saint Mary College ranked #32 on our 2026 list of the best-value Theological Ministerial Studies schools. See the full Mount Saint Mary College profile
Nationsuniversity ranked #33 on our 2026 list of the best-value Theological Ministerial Studies schools. Get the full Nationsuniversity report
Christian Theological Seminary ranked #34 on our 2026 list of the best-value Theological Ministerial Studies schools. Get the full Christian Theological Seminary report
Concordia Seminary ranked #35 on our 2026 list of the best-value Theological Ministerial Studies schools. Get the full Concordia Seminary report
Family Of Faith College came in at #36 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Family Of Faith College
Marquette University placed #37 among the best-value Theological Ministerial Studies schools in the United States. Get the full Marquette University report
Universidad Pentecostal Mizpa came in at #38 in this year's value ranking. More on Universidad Pentecostal Mizpa
Virginia Union University placed #39 among the best-value Theological Ministerial Studies schools in the United States. Get the full Virginia Union University report
Whitworth University placed #40 among the best-value Theological Ministerial Studies schools in the United States. Read the full report on Whitworth University
Mid South Christian College ranked #41 on our 2026 list of the best-value Theological Ministerial Studies schools. Read more about Mid South Christian College
Concordia University Seward landed the #42 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Concordia University Seward
Rabbinical College Bobover Yeshiva Bnei Zion landed the #43 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Rabbinical College Bobover Yeshiva Bnei Zion
Catholic Distance University ranked #44 on our 2026 list of the best-value Theological Ministerial Studies schools. Read the full report on Catholic Distance University
Maranatha Baptist Bible College placed #45 among the best-value Theological Ministerial Studies schools in the United States. See the full Maranatha Baptist Bible College profile
Mesivtha Tifereth Jerusalem Of America ranked #46 on our 2026 list of the best-value Theological Ministerial Studies schools. Read more about Mesivtha Tifereth Jerusalem Of America
Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach placed #47 among the best-value Theological Ministerial Studies schools in the United States. See the full Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach profile
Barclay College
Barclay College offered strong value this year, earning the #48 position. Get the full Barclay College report
Free Will Baptist Bible College offered strong value this year, earning the #49 position. See the full Free Will Baptist Bible College profile
Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary landed the #50 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary profile
Related Theological Ministerial Studies Value Rankings
Compare value rankings at other degree levels:
- Best Value Theological Ministerial Studies Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Theological Ministerial Studies Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Theological Ministerial Studies Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Theological Ministerial Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Theological Ministerial Studies Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Theological Ministerial Studies Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Theological Ministerial Studies Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs 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 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).
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