2026 Best Value Theological Ministerial Studies Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Theological Ministerial Studies graduate certificate degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 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.
So you can compare your options, 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 Graduate Certificate 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. Set in Kansas City, MO, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $11,530. Typical Theological Ministerial Studies student debt is $15,559. Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary alumni report median earnings of $50,535 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary has an acceptance rate of 96%. See the full Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary profile
Crown College came in at #2 on this year's best-value Theological Ministerial Studies ranking in the United States. Crown College is a private not-for-profit school based in Saint Bonifacius, MN. In-state tuition and fees run about $31,410. The median Theological Ministerial Studies program debt is $29,537. Median earnings reach $48,057 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $29,537 median debt. Crown College has an acceptance rate of 23%. More on Crown College
A rank of #3 makes Johnson University one of the best values in the United States. Based in Knoxville, TN, Johnson University is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $21,122. The median Theological Ministerial Studies program debt is $23,250. Johnson University alumni report median earnings of $40,596 a decade after entry. Set against $23,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 65%. More on Johnson University
A rank of #4 makes Hebrew Union College Jewish Institute Of Religion one of the best values in the United States. Based in New York, NY, Hebrew Union College Jewish Institute Of Religion is a private not-for-profit institution. Read more about Hebrew Union College Jewish Institute Of Religion
A rank of #5 makes Saint Josephs College Of Maine one of the best values 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. The median Theological Ministerial Studies program debt is $26,625. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $59,045. That is a strong return on a $26,625 median debt. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted. Read more about Saint Josephs College Of Maine
Nazarene Theological Seminary offered strong value this year, earning the #6 position. Based in Kansas City, MO, Nazarene Theological Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution. Get the full Nazarene Theological Seminary report
Concordia Seminary offered strong value this year, earning the #7 position. Based in Saint Louis, MO, Concordia Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution. Read the full report on Concordia Seminary
Liberty University offered strong value this year, earning the #8 position. Located in Lynchburg, VA, Liberty University is a private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,173. The median Theological Ministerial Studies program debt is $27,414. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $44,813. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Liberty University admits about 99% of applicants. Read more about Liberty University
Luther Seminary placed #9 among the best-value Theological Ministerial Studies schools in the United States. Set in Saint Paul, MN, Luther Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution. See the full Luther Seminary profile
Seattle University placed #10 among the best-value Theological Ministerial Studies schools in the United States. This private not-for-profit school is set in Seattle, WA. In-state tuition and fees run about $56,721. The median Theological Ministerial Studies program debt is $22,289. Median earnings reach $75,272 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $22,289 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted. Get the full Seattle University report
Denver Seminary landed the #11 spot for value in the United States this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Littleton, CO. See the full Denver Seminary profile
Western Seminary came in at #12 in this year's value ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Portland, OR. Get the full Western Seminary report
Sewanee The University Of The South ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best-value Theological Ministerial Studies schools. Set in Sewanee, TN, Sewanee The University Of The South is a private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $56,120. Graduates carry a median of $22,091 in student loans. Sewanee The University Of The South alumni report median earnings of $64,911 a decade after entry. Set against $22,091 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 57%. Read more about Sewanee The University Of The South
Asbury Theological Seminary offered strong value this year, earning the #14 position. Asbury Theological Seminary is a private not-for-profit school based in Wilmore, KY. More on Asbury Theological Seminary
Fuller Theological Seminary In California landed the #15 spot for value in the United States this year. Based in Pasadena, CA, Fuller Theological Seminary In California is a private not-for-profit institution. Read more about Fuller Theological Seminary In California
Hope International University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best-value Theological Ministerial Studies schools. Hope International University is a private not-for-profit school based in Fullerton, CA. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $38,125. Hope International University Theological Ministerial Studies students take on a median of $18,054 in debt. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $49,697. That is a strong return on a $18,054 median debt. Hope International University admits about 33% of applicants. See the full Hope International University profile
Regent University came in at #17 in this year's value ranking. Regent University is a private not-for-profit school based in Virginia Beach, VA. Students from in state pay about $21,650 in tuition and fees. Typical Theological Ministerial Studies student debt is $29,451. Graduates go on to earn a median of $44,498 ten years after entry. Set against $29,451 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 38% of those who apply are admitted. Read more about Regent University
Catholic University Of America offered strong value this year, earning the #18 position. Located in Washington, DC, Catholic University Of America is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $58,378. Typical Theological Ministerial Studies student debt is $25,771. Graduates go on to earn a median of $73,250 ten years after entry. Set against $25,771 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted. See the full Catholic University Of America profile
Allegheny Wesleyan College placed #19 among the best-value Theological Ministerial Studies schools in the United States. Get the full Allegheny Wesleyan College report
Anderson University Sc came in at #20 in this year's value ranking. More on Anderson University Sc
Baylor University placed #21 among the best-value Theological Ministerial Studies schools in the United States. Read the full report on Baylor University
Reconstructionist Rabbinical College landed the #22 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Reconstructionist Rabbinical College
University Of St Francis offered strong value this year, earning the #23 position. Get the full University Of St Francis report
Iliff School Of Theology came in at #24 in this year's value ranking. More on Iliff School Of Theology
Northwest University came in at #25 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Northwest University
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Theological Ministerial Studies Graduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
These schools also delivered strong value this year:
Shaw University
Shaw University ranked #26 on our 2026 list of the best-value Theological Ministerial Studies schools. See the full Shaw University profile
Concordia University Saint Paul offered strong value this year, earning the #27 position. Get the full Concordia University Saint Paul report
Seton Hall University ranked #28 on our 2026 list of the best-value Theological Ministerial Studies schools. Get the full Seton Hall University report
Viterbo University placed #29 among the best-value Theological Ministerial Studies schools in the United States. More on Viterbo University
Bayamon Central University ranked #30 on our 2026 list of the best-value Theological Ministerial Studies schools. Read more about Bayamon Central University
College Of Saint Elizabeth offered strong value this year, earning the #31 position. Get the full College Of Saint Elizabeth report
Episcopal Theological Seminary Of The Southwest came in at #32 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Episcopal Theological Seminary Of The Southwest
Georgian Court University placed #33 among the best-value Theological Ministerial Studies schools in the United States. Read the full report on Georgian Court University
Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global placed #34 among the best-value Theological Ministerial Studies schools in the United States. Read more about Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global
Mid Atlantic Christian University ranked #35 on our 2026 list of the best-value Theological Ministerial Studies schools. See the full Mid Atlantic Christian University profile
Benedictine College landed the #36 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Benedictine College
Manhattan Christian College offered strong value this year, earning the #37 position. Read the full report on Manhattan Christian College
Saint Martins University landed the #38 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Saint Martins University
Faith Evangelical College And Seminary offered strong value this year, earning the #39 position. Get the full Faith Evangelical College And Seminary report
Hartford Seminary offered strong value this year, earning the #40 position. Get the full Hartford Seminary report
Hebrew College
Hebrew College landed the #41 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Hebrew College profile
Huntsville Bible College ranked #42 on our 2026 list of the best-value Theological Ministerial Studies schools. Get the full Huntsville Bible College report
La Salle University came in at #43 in this year's value ranking. See the full La Salle University profile
Catholic Distance University offered strong value this year, earning the #44 position. Read the full report on Catholic Distance University
Kings College
Kings College offered strong value this year, earning the #45 position. See the full Kings College profile
Meadville Lombard Theological School came in at #46 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Meadville Lombard Theological School
Siena Heights University placed #47 among the best-value Theological Ministerial Studies schools in the United States. Read more about Siena Heights University
University Of Mary offered strong value this year, earning the #48 position. Get the full University Of Mary report
Brewton Parker College placed #49 among the best-value Theological Ministerial Studies schools in the United States. More on Brewton Parker College
Grove City College offered strong value this year, earning the #50 position. More on Grove City College
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 Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Theological Ministerial Studies Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Theological Ministerial Studies Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Theological Ministerial Studies Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published 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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