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Most Popular Theological & Ministerial Studies Master's Degree Schools

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2023 Most Popular Theological & Ministerial Studies Master's Degree Schools

342 Colleges
$45,172 Avg Salary

Finding the Best Theological & Ministerial Studies Master's Degree School for You

In 2020-2021, 15,832 people earned a degree or certificate in theological and ministerial studies, making the major the #62 most popular in the United States.

Today's students have lots of options to pick from when considering higher education opportunities. Along with traditional schools that require in-person attendence, you can attend one of many reputable online schools. Some programs even offer a hybrid experience. Alternatively, you may choose a trade school that prepares you to enter the workforce with knowledge in a specific field.

The Most Popular Theological & Ministerial Studies Master's Degree Schools ranking is one of many tools that Course Advisor has developed to help you make your educational decision. This report analyzed 342 schools in the United States to see which ones were the most popular master's degree programs for students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from the Theological & Ministerial Studies program at each school on the list.

The following schools top our list of the Most Popular Theological & Ministerial Studies Master's Degree Colleges.

#1

Liberty University

Lynchburg, VA

Our analysis found Liberty University to be the most popular school for theological and ministerial studies students who want to pursue a master’s degree in the United States. Located in the small city of Lynchburg, Liberty University is a private not-for-profit school with a very large student population.

Of the 1,449 students majoring in theology at Liberty University, 69% are male and 31% are female.

Full Theological & Ministerial Studies at Liberty University Report

A rank of #2 on this year’s list means The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary is a great place for theological and ministerial studies students working on their master’s degree. Located in the large city of Louisville, SBTS is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

Women make up 9% of the theology majors at the school.

Read full report on Theological & Ministerial Studies at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Fuller Theological Seminary. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Most Popular Theological & Ministerial Studies Master’s Degree Schools list. Located in the midsize city of Pasadena, Fuller is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

Women make up 45% of the theology majors at the school.

Read full report on Theological & Ministerial Studies at Fuller Theological Seminary

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Most Popular Theological & Ministerial Studies Master’s Degree Schools list. MBTS is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Kansas City.

Of the 273 students majoring in theology at MBTS, 88% are male and 12% are female.

Read full report on Theological & Ministerial Studies at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

A rank of #5 on this year’s list means Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary is a great place for theological and ministerial studies students working on their master’s degree. SEBTS is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of Wake Forest.

About 10% of the students majoring in theology at the school are women while 90% are male.

Full Theological & Ministerial Studies at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary Report

Gordon - Conwell Theological Seminary ranked #6 on this year’s Most Popular Theological & Ministerial Studies Master’s Degree Schools list. Gordon - Conwell Seminary is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of South Hamilton.

Of the 181 students majoring in theology at Gordon - Conwell Seminary, 70% are male and 30% are female.

Read full report on Theological & Ministerial Studies at Gordon - Conwell Theological Seminary

Asbury Theological Seminary landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular master’s degree theological and ministerial studies programs. Located in the fringe town of Wilmore, Asbury Seminary is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.

Of the 175 students majoring in theology at Asbury Seminary, 60% are male and 40% are female.

Read full report on Theological & Ministerial Studies at Asbury Theological Seminary

#8

Duke University

Durham, NC

Duke University landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular master’s degree theological and ministerial studies programs. Duke is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Durham.

Women make up 49% of the theology majors at the school.

Read full report on Theological & Ministerial Studies at Duke University

Dallas Theological Seminary landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular master’s degree theological and ministerial studies programs. Located in the city of Dallas, DTS Dallas is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

Women make up 21% of the theology majors at the school.

Read More…

New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Theological & Ministerial Studies Master’s Degree Schools ranking. NOBTS is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of New Orleans.

Women make up 13% of the theology majors at the school.

Full Theological & Ministerial Studies at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary Report

#11

Yale University

New Haven, CT

With a ranking of #11, Yale University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for theological and ministerial studies students working on their master’s degree. Yale is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the midsize city of New Haven.

Women make up 52% of the theology majors at the school.

Read full report on Theological & Ministerial Studies at Yale University

#12

Andrews University

Berrien Springs, MI

Andrews University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for theological and ministerial studies students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #12 on the list. Andrews is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Berrien Springs.

About 11% of the students majoring in theology at the school are women while 89% are male.

Full Theological & Ministerial Studies at Andrews University Report

#13

Emory University

Atlanta, GA

Emory University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for theological and ministerial studies students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #13 on the list. Emory is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Atlanta.

Women make up 56% of the theology majors at the school.

Read full report on Theological & Ministerial Studies at Emory University

#14

Luther Seminary

Saint Paul, MN

With a ranking of #14, Luther Seminary did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for theological and ministerial studies students working on their master’s degree. Luther Seminary is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul.

Women make up 65% of the theology majors at the school.

Full Theological & Ministerial Studies at Luther Seminary Report

Princeton Theological Seminary ranked #15 on this year’s Most Popular Theological & Ministerial Studies Master’s Degree Schools list. Princeton Seminary is a small private not-for-profit school located in the small city of Princeton.

About 49% of the students majoring in theology at the school are women while 51% are male.

Read More…

#16

Boston College

Chestnut Hill, MA

Boston College ranked #16 on this year’s Most Popular Theological & Ministerial Studies Master’s Degree Schools list. Located in the city of Chestnut Hill, Boston College is a private not-for-profit school with a large student population.

Women make up 46% of the theology majors at the school.

Read full report on Theological & Ministerial Studies at Boston College

#17

Harvard University

Cambridge, MA

Harvard University landed the #17 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular master’s degree theological and ministerial studies programs. Harvard is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the medium-sized city of Cambridge.

About 61% of the students majoring in theology at the school are women while 39% are male.

Read full report on Theological & Ministerial Studies at Harvard University

With a ranking of #18, The Master’s University and Seminary did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for theological and ministerial studies students working on their master’s degree. The Master's University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of Santa Clarita.

Read More…

#19

Biola University

La Mirada, CA

Biola University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for theological and ministerial studies students to get a master’s degree. It came in at #19 on the list. Located in the suburb of La Mirada, Biola is a private not-for-profit college with a moderately-sized student population.

Women make up 20% of the theology majors at the school.

Full Theological & Ministerial Studies at Biola University Report

#20

Western Seminary

Portland, OR

Western Seminary came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Theological & Ministerial Studies Master’s Degree Schools ranking. Western Seminary-San Jose is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Portland.

Women make up 26% of the theology majors at the school.

Full Theological & Ministerial Studies at Western Seminary Report

Trinity International University - Illinois came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Theological & Ministerial Studies Master’s Degree Schools ranking. TIU Illinois is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of Deerfield.

Women make up 18% of the theology majors at the school.

Read full report on Theological & Ministerial Studies at Trinity International University - Illinois

With a ranking of #22, Luther Rice College & Seminary did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for theological and ministerial studies students working on their master’s degree. Located in the suburb of Lithonia, Luther Rice is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

About 21% of the students majoring in theology at the school are women while 79% are male.

Full Theological & Ministerial Studies at Luther Rice College & Seminary Report

#23

Union Theological Seminary

New York, NY

Union Theological Seminary landed the #23 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular master’s degree theological and ministerial studies programs. Located in the city of New York, Union is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

Of the 88 students majoring in theology at Union, 47% are male and 53% are female.

Full Theological & Ministerial Studies at Union Theological Seminary Report

Westminster Theological Seminary ranked #23 on this year’s Most Popular Theological & Ministerial Studies Master’s Degree Schools list. Westminster Theological Seminary is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of Glenside.

Women make up 13% of the theology majors at the school.

Full Theological & Ministerial Studies at Westminster Theological Seminary Report

Franciscan University of Steubenville ranked #25 on this year’s Most Popular Theological & Ministerial Studies Master’s Degree Schools list. Located in the city of Steubenville, Franciscan U is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

Women make up 43% of the theology majors at the school.

Read full report on Theological & Ministerial Studies at Franciscan University of Steubenville

#26

Boston University

Boston, MA
#28

University of Chicago

Chicago, IL
#28

Regent University

Virginia Beach, VA
#30

Concordia Seminary

Saint Louis, MO
#31

University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame, IN
#31

Moody Bible Institute

Chicago, IL
#33

Virginia Union University

Richmond, VA
#34

Ohio Christian University

Circleville, OH
#36

Baylor University

Waco, TX
#36

Southeastern University

Lakeland, FL
#36

Bethel University Minnesota

Saint Paul, MN
#40

Wesley Theological Seminary

Washington, DC
#41

Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN
#41

Covenant Theological Seminary

Saint Louis, MO
#44

Eastern University

Saint Davids, PA
#46

Calvin Theological Seminary

Grand Rapids, MI
#47

Drew University

Madison, NJ
#48

Grand Canyon University

Phoenix, AZ

Additional Award Winners

This section shows the rest of the schools awarded a Most Popular Theological & Ministerial Studies Master's Degree Schools badge. Showing in this list means the school was ranked in the top 15% of the 342 different United States theological and ministerial studies schools we analyzed.

Rank College Location
50 Catholic University of America Washington, DC

Honorable Mentions

Here are some additional popular schools for Theological & Ministerial Studies students that almost earned our Most Popular Theological & Ministerial Studies Master's Degree Schools award.

Rank College Location
52 Nyack College Nyack, NY
53 Catholic Theological Union at Chicago Chicago, IL
54 Nazarene Theological Seminary Kansas City, MO
54 United Lutheran Seminary Gettysburg, PA
56 Saint Leo University Saint Leo, FL
56 Azusa Pacific University Azusa, CA
58 Denver Seminary Littleton, CO
58 Interdenominational Theological Center Atlanta, GA
58 Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago Chicago, IL
61 SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary El Dorado Hills, CA
62 University of Saint Mary of the Lake Mundelein, IL
62 Shepherds Theological Seminary Cary, NC
62 Houston Baptist University Houston, TX
65 Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary - Overbrook Wynnewood, PA
65 George Fox University Newberg, OR
67 Mount St Mary’s University Emmitsburg, MD
67 Pittsburgh Theological Seminary Pittsburgh, PA

Theological & Ministerial Studies by Region

View the Most Popular Theological & Ministerial Studies Master's Degree Schools for a specific region near you.

Region
Southeast
New England
Rocky Mountains
Plains States
Middle Atlantic
Far Western US
Southwest
Great Lakes

One of 7 majors within the area of study, theological and ministerial studies has other similar majors worth exploring.

Related Major Annual Graduates
Biblical Studies 4,119
Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries 3,116
Religious Education 1,417
Missionary Studies 1,220
Theology & Religious Vocations (Other) 1,166

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of the rest of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Credit for the banner image above goes to Jonund.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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