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.