2026 Best Value Theological Ministerial Studies Certificate Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Theological Ministerial Studies certificate degree programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 464 schools 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.
To arm you with the information you need, Course Advisor evaluated 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 Theological Ministerial Studies Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these high-value schools below:
For return on investment, no school beat Nazarene Bible College this year in the United States. Set in Colorado Springs, CO, Nazarene Bible College is a private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $10,482 in tuition and fees. Graduates carry a median of $40,332 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $41,450. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. See the full Nazarene Bible College profile
Out of the 464 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary landed the #2 spot. Based in Kansas City, MO, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,530. Students borrow a median of $15,559 to complete their Theological Ministerial Studies program here. Median earnings reach $50,535 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%. More on Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
Out of the 464 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, Johnson University landed the #3 spot. Johnson University is a private not-for-profit school based in Knoxville, TN. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,122. Graduates carry a median of $23,250 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $40,596. That is a strong return on a $23,250 median debt. Johnson University admits about 65% of applicants. More on Johnson University
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Liberty University earned it the #4 place in the United States. This private not-for-profit school is set in Lynchburg, VA. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,173. Graduates carry a median of $27,414 in student loans. Median earnings reach $44,813 ten years out. Set against $27,414 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 99% of those who apply are admitted. Read more about Liberty University
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Saint Josephs College Of Maine earned it the #5 place in the United States. Located in Standish, ME, Saint Josephs College Of Maine is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $44,420. Graduates carry a median of $26,625 in student loans. Median earnings reach $59,045 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Saint Josephs College Of Maine has an acceptance rate of 84%. Read the full report on Saint Josephs College Of Maine
Eastern University offered strong value this year, earning the #6 position. Based in Saint Davids, PA, Eastern University is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $38,400. Graduates carry a median of $28,584 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $51,655 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 91%. See the full Eastern University profile
Hope International University landed the #7 spot for value in the United States this year. Located in Fullerton, CA, Hope International University is a private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $38,125. Typical Theological Ministerial Studies student debt is $18,054. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $49,697. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Hope International University admits about 33% of applicants. More on Hope International University
Mid Atlantic Christian University landed the #8 spot for value in the United States this year. Based in Elizabeth City, NC, Mid Atlantic Christian University is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $17,280. Typical Theological Ministerial Studies student debt is $23,422. Mid Atlantic Christian University alumni report median earnings of $38,342 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $23,422 median debt. About 62% of those who apply are admitted. Read the full report on Mid Atlantic Christian University
Memphis Theological Seminary offered strong value this year, earning the #9 position. See the full Memphis Theological Seminary profile
Milligan College
Milligan College offered strong value this year, earning the #10 position. See the full Milligan College profile
University Of Mary placed #11 among the best-value Theological Ministerial Studies schools in the United States. Read the full report on University Of Mary
Concordia University Ann Arbor came in at #12 in this year's value ranking. More on Concordia University Ann Arbor
Lutheran School Of Theology At Chicago landed the #13 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Lutheran School Of Theology At Chicago
Mid America Christian University came in at #14 in this year's value ranking. See the full Mid America Christian University profile
Tabor College
Tabor College came in at #15 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Tabor College report
Trinity Episcopal School For Ministry placed #16 among the best-value Theological Ministerial Studies schools in the United States. Read more about Trinity Episcopal School For Ministry
American Jewish University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best-value Theological Ministerial Studies schools. More on American Jewish University
Graduate Theological Union came in at #18 in this year's value ranking. See the full Graduate Theological Union profile
Union College Nebraska came in at #19 in this year's value ranking. See the full Union College Nebraska profile
Beulah Heights University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best-value Theological Ministerial Studies schools. Read more about Beulah Heights University
Freed Hardeman University landed the #21 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Freed Hardeman University profile
Nashotah House
Nashotah House placed #22 among the best-value Theological Ministerial Studies schools in the United States. See the full Nashotah House profile
Alaska Christian College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best-value Theological Ministerial Studies schools. Get the full Alaska Christian College report
Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best-value Theological Ministerial Studies schools. See the full Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School profile
Pacific Bible College placed #25 among the best-value Theological Ministerial Studies schools in the United States. More on Pacific Bible College
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Theological Ministerial Studies Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
These schools also delivered strong value this year:
Saint Vincent Seminary came in at #26 in this year's value ranking. More on Saint Vincent Seminary
University Of Portland offered strong value this year, earning the #27 position. See the full University Of Portland profile
University Of San Francisco offered strong value this year, earning the #28 position. Read the full report on University Of San Francisco
Bethlehem College And Seminary placed #29 among the best-value Theological Ministerial Studies schools in the United States. More on Bethlehem College And Seminary
Maranatha Baptist Bible College placed #30 among the best-value Theological Ministerial Studies schools in the United States. More on Maranatha Baptist Bible College
Stonehill College landed the #31 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Stonehill College report
Atlanta Christian College came in at #32 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Atlanta Christian College
Bethany Theological Seminary came in at #33 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Bethany Theological Seminary
Saint Anselm College ranked #34 on our 2026 list of the best-value Theological Ministerial Studies schools. Read more about Saint Anselm College
St Johns University New York offered strong value this year, earning the #35 position. Read the full report on St Johns University New York
Concordia University Saint Paul ranked #36 on our 2026 list of the best-value Theological Ministerial Studies schools. Read the full report on Concordia University Saint Paul
New York Theological Seminary placed #37 among the best-value Theological Ministerial Studies schools in the United States. Read more about New York Theological Seminary
Trevecca Nazarene University ranked #38 on our 2026 list of the best-value Theological Ministerial Studies schools. Get the full Trevecca Nazarene University report
Christian Theological Seminary offered strong value this year, earning the #39 position. See the full Christian Theological Seminary profile
John Brown University ranked #40 on our 2026 list of the best-value Theological Ministerial Studies schools. Read the full report on John Brown University
Creighton University placed #41 among the best-value Theological Ministerial Studies schools in the United States. Get the full Creighton University report
Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary landed the #42 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary
Baptist Bible College landed the #43 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Baptist Bible College
Concordia University Wisconsin landed the #44 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Concordia University Wisconsin
Dallas Christian College ranked #45 on our 2026 list of the best-value Theological Ministerial Studies schools. More on Dallas Christian College
Kennedy University Of Baptist landed the #46 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Kennedy University Of Baptist
America Evangelical University landed the #47 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full America Evangelical University report
South Universityrichmond ranked #48 on our 2026 list of the best-value Theological Ministerial Studies schools. More on South Universityrichmond
St Catherine University came in at #49 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on St Catherine University
Dallas Theological Seminary landed the #50 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Dallas Theological Seminary
Related Theological Ministerial Studies Value Rankings
See value rankings for other degree levels:
- Best Value Theological Ministerial Studies Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Theological Ministerial Studies Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Theological Ministerial Studies Associate’s 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
These rankings are produced by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on 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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