Best Theological and Ministerial Studies Degrees in the US by ROI

Top colleges ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment across all active states. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

Programs Analyzed

99

Colleges with salary data

Average 20-Yr Net ROI

+$84,793

Across all programs

Average Annual Cost

$52,939

Cost of attendance

# College State 20-Yr Net ROI Median Salary Annual Cost Avg Debt
1 Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion NY +$1,422,700 $113,135 N/A N/A Full ROI →
2 Concordia Seminary MO +$749,180 $79,459 N/A N/A Full ROI →
3 Concordia Theological Seminary IN +$745,500 $79,275 N/A N/A Full ROI →
4 Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago IL +$703,440 $77,172 N/A N/A Full ROI →
5 University of Dubuque

Grad rate: 40.2%

 IA +$628,660 $78,539 $51,060 N/A Full ROI →
6 Wartburg Theological Seminary IA +$623,340 $73,167 N/A N/A Full ROI →
7 The University of the South

Grad rate: 81.9%

 TN +$578,832 $77,812 $68,704 N/A Full ROI →
8 Luther Seminary MN +$556,200 $69,810 N/A N/A Full ROI →
9 Nashotah House WI +$527,180 $68,359 N/A N/A Full ROI →
10 Pittsburgh Theological Seminary PA +$476,720 $65,836 N/A N/A Full ROI →
11 United Lutheran Seminary PA +$444,480 $64,224 N/A N/A Full ROI →
12 Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

Grad rate: 49.4%

 NC +$411,062 $64,644 $20,909 N/A Full ROI →
13 Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary-Overbrook

Grad rate: 54.8%

 PA +$386,894 $65,830 $44,853 N/A Full ROI →
14 University of Northwestern-St Paul

Grad rate: 69.3%

 MN +$365,148 $65,082 $48,246 N/A Full ROI →
15 Northwest Nazarene University

Grad rate: 59.1%

 ID +$356,370 $64,846 $50,275 N/A Full ROI →
16 The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

Grad rate: 43.5%

 KY +$334,060 $58,703 N/A N/A Full ROI →
17 Pontifical College Josephinum

Grad rate: 35.6%

 OH +$324,300 $58,215 N/A N/A Full ROI →
18 Covenant Theological Seminary MO +$260,220 $55,011 N/A N/A Full ROI →
19 Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

Grad rate: 57.7%

 MO +$258,290 $58,091 $31,765 N/A Full ROI →
20 Missio Theological Seminary PA +$238,040 $53,902 N/A N/A Full ROI →
21 Fuller Theological Seminary CA +$237,040 $53,852 N/A N/A Full ROI →
22 Phillips Theological Seminary OK +$235,600 $53,780 N/A N/A Full ROI →
23 Brite Divinity School TX +$210,200 $52,510 N/A N/A Full ROI →
24 Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global

Grad rate: 38.7%

 IN +$209,706 $54,697 $22,117 N/A Full ROI →
25 University of St Thomas

Grad rate: 77.3%

 MN +$209,032 $58,920 $64,684 N/A Full ROI →
26 Western Theological Seminary MI +$205,640 $52,282 N/A N/A Full ROI →
27 Capital University

Grad rate: 63.3%

 OH +$195,568 $57,187 $54,086 N/A Full ROI →
28 Denver Seminary CO +$183,940 $51,197 N/A N/A Full ROI →
29 Asbury Theological Seminary KY +$177,260 $50,863 N/A N/A Full ROI →
30 Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion

Grad rate: 66.5%

 IN +$168,038 $54,697 $42,951 N/A Full ROI →
31 Princeton Theological Seminary NJ +$155,640 $49,782 N/A N/A Full ROI →
32 Mount St. Mary's University

Grad rate: 61.0%

 MD +$143,984 $55,407 $62,078 N/A Full ROI →
33 Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary IL +$118,920 $47,946 N/A N/A Full ROI →
34 Union Presbyterian Seminary VA +$114,540 $47,727 N/A N/A Full ROI →
35 Pentecostal Theological Seminary TN +$113,860 $47,693 N/A N/A Full ROI →
36 Payne Theological Seminary OH +$109,540 $47,477 N/A N/A Full ROI →
37 Southern Methodist University

Grad rate: 82.8%

 TX +$109,076 $55,707 $82,532 N/A Full ROI →
38 Columbia Theological Seminary GA +$105,900 $47,295 N/A N/A Full ROI →
39 McCormick Theological Seminary IL +$100,080 $47,004 N/A N/A Full ROI →
40 Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York NY +$94,680 $46,734 N/A N/A Full ROI →
41 Howard University

Grad rate: 69.2%

 DC +$85,100 $51,400 $51,450 N/A Full ROI →
42 Yale University

Grad rate: 97.0%

 CT +$82,040 $54,614 $85,120 N/A Full ROI →
43 Bethel University

Grad rate: 75.0%

 MN +$81,040 $51,683 $56,310 N/A Full ROI →
44 Methodist Theological School in Ohio OH +$80,980 $46,049 N/A N/A Full ROI →
45 The Master's University and Seminary

Grad rate: 68.7%

 CA +$79,536 $50,845 $48,682 N/A Full ROI →
46 Pacific School of Religion CA +$79,100 $45,955 N/A N/A Full ROI →
47 Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary MA +$78,800 $45,940 N/A N/A Full ROI →
48 Andrews University

Grad rate: 68.5%

 MI +$78,440 $50,289 $43,670 N/A Full ROI →
49 Columbia International University

Grad rate: 67.7%

 SC +$68,074 $49,422 $40,183 N/A Full ROI →
50 Texas Christian University

Grad rate: 84.7%

 TX +$64,644 $52,510 $72,778 N/A Full ROI →

How ROI is calculated

20-Year Net ROI = Gross Earnings (salary × 20) − Total Degree Cost − Debt Payoff (×1.35) − Baseline Opportunity Cost ($42,000 × 20). Data from the U.S. College Scorecard.

Find Best Theological and Ministerial Studies Degrees by State

Browse Theological and Ministerial Studies programs ranked by 20-year ROI in every state that offers this degree.

Alabama Best Theological and Ministerial Studies → California Best Theological and Ministerial Studies → Colorado Best Theological and Ministerial Studies → Connecticut Best Theological and Ministerial Studies → Florida Best Theological and Ministerial Studies → Georgia Best Theological and Ministerial Studies → Idaho Best Theological and Ministerial Studies → Illinois Best Theological and Ministerial Studies → Indiana Best Theological and Ministerial Studies → Iowa Best Theological and Ministerial Studies → Kentucky Best Theological and Ministerial Studies → Maryland Best Theological and Ministerial Studies → Massachusetts Best Theological and Ministerial Studies → Michigan Best Theological and Ministerial Studies → Minnesota Best Theological and Ministerial Studies → Missouri Best Theological and Ministerial Studies → New Jersey Best Theological and Ministerial Studies → New York Best Theological and Ministerial Studies → North Carolina Best Theological and Ministerial Studies → Ohio Best Theological and Ministerial Studies → Oklahoma Best Theological and Ministerial Studies → Oregon Best Theological and Ministerial Studies → Pennsylvania Best Theological and Ministerial Studies → South Carolina Best Theological and Ministerial Studies → Tennessee Best Theological and Ministerial Studies → Texas Best Theological and Ministerial Studies → Virginia Best Theological and Ministerial Studies → Washington Best Theological and Ministerial Studies → Wisconsin Best Theological and Ministerial Studies →