Best Schools for Theological and Ministerial Studies in 2026
28 schools ranked by DegreeWorth Score · Updated 2026
These are the top schools offering Theological and Ministerial Studies, ranked by DegreeWorth Score. The score combines graduate earnings, AI automation resilience, job market demand, and return on tuition investment. The average Theological and Ministerial Studies graduate earns $32,814/yr across 28 schools.
Programs Ranked
28
Avg Earnings
$32,814/yr
Avg DW Score
27/100
AI Risk
Moderate
40% task exposure
All Theological and Ministerial Studies Programs Ranked
Click any row for full AI scenario analysis, earnings projections, and career path breakdown.
| # | School | DW Score | Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
College of Biblical Studies-Houston
Houston, TX · Private nonprofit |
50
49–50 |
$47,781/yr | 15.4x |
| 2 |
Nazarene Bible College
Colorado Springs, CO · Private nonprofit |
46
47–46 |
$40,357/yr | 13.0x |
| 3 |
Northwest University-Center for Online and Extended Education
Kirkland, WA · Private nonprofit |
44
45–44 |
$41,139/yr | 9.3x |
| 4 |
William Jessup University
Rocklin, CA · Private nonprofit |
37
36–37 |
$47,102/yr | 2.2x |
| 5 |
Northwest University
Kirkland, WA · Private nonprofit |
36
37–36 |
$41,139/yr | 3.2x |
| 6 |
The Master's University and Seminary
Santa Clarita, CA · Private nonprofit |
33
34–34 |
$43,677/yr | 2.6x |
| 7 |
Cornerstone University
Grand Rapids, MI · Private nonprofit |
33
35–34 |
$40,873/yr | 2.5x |
| 8 |
Moody Bible Institute
Chicago, IL · Private nonprofit |
31
36–32 |
$33,488/yr | 7.5x |
| 9 |
Martin Luther College
New Ulm, MN · Private nonprofit |
31
31–32 |
$15,327/yr | 9.1x |
| 10 |
Baptist University of Florida
Graceville, FL · Private nonprofit |
30
34–30 |
$34,350/yr | 5.2x |
| 11 |
University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, IN · Private nonprofit |
29
29–30 |
$45,874/yr | 0.9x |
| 12 |
Johnson University Florida
Kissimmee, FL · Private nonprofit |
25
30–26 |
$33,627/yr | 4.5x |
| 13 |
Johnson University
Knoxville, TN · Private nonprofit |
25
30–26 |
$33,627/yr | 4.3x |
| 14 |
The King's University
Southlake, TX · Private nonprofit |
25
31–25 |
$29,593/yr | 4.9x |
| 15 |
Universidad Adventista de las Antillas
Mayaguez, PR · Private nonprofit |
24
28–24 |
$23,365/yr | 11.4x |
| 16 |
Lincoln Christian University
Lincoln, IL · Private nonprofit |
23
29–23 |
$28,299/yr | 3.6x |
| 17 |
Benedictine College
Atchison, KS · Private nonprofit |
23
28–23 |
$32,202/yr | 1.3x |
| 18 |
Seattle Pacific University
Seattle, WA · Private nonprofit |
22
28–23 |
$32,220/yr | 1.1x |
| 19 |
Southeastern University
Lakeland, FL · Private nonprofit |
20
26–21 |
$29,809/yr | 1.3x |
| 20 |
University of Northwestern-St Paul
Saint Paul, MN · Private nonprofit |
20
25–21 |
$32,815/yr | 2.0x |
| 21 |
Bob Jones University
Greenville, SC · Private nonprofit |
20
26–21 |
$28,325/yr | 2.0x |
| 22 |
Mid-America Christian University
Oklahoma City, OK · Private nonprofit |
20
26–21 |
$27,391/yr | 2.4x |
| 23 |
University of Valley Forge
Phoenixville, PA · Private nonprofit |
18
23–19 |
$25,051/yr | 3.8x |
| 24 |
Ave Maria University
Ave Maria, FL · Private nonprofit |
18
24–19 |
$26,924/yr | 1.4x |
| 25 |
Franciscan University of Steubenville
Steubenville, OH · Private nonprofit |
17
23–18 |
$29,656/yr | 2.2x |
| 26 |
Palm Beach Atlantic University
West Palm Beach, FL · Private nonprofit |
15
21–16 |
$28,383/yr | 1.7x |
| 27 |
Concordia University-Nebraska
Seward, NE · Private nonprofit |
15
16–16 |
$19,316/yr | 2.3x |
| 28 |
Oral Roberts University
Tulsa, OK · Private nonprofit |
15
21–16 |
$27,088/yr | 2.0x |
Methodology
Programs are ranked by DegreeWorth Score, which combines four equally weighted factors: graduate earnings (Year 1 after graduation), AI automation resilience (based on OpenAI and academic research), job market size (BLS annual openings), and earnings-to-tuition multiple (10-year projected earnings vs. 4-year tuition).
Earnings data comes from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, which reports actual median earnings of graduates — not self-reported surveys.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best school for Theological and Ministerial Studies?
Based on our DegreeWorth Score, College of Biblical Studies-Houston ranks #1 for Theological and Ministerial Studies with a score of 50/100 and graduate earnings of $47,781/yr.
How much do Theological and Ministerial Studies graduates earn?
Across 28 schools, Theological and Ministerial Studies graduates earn an average of $32,814/yr in their first year. The highest-earning program reports $47,781/yr.
Is Theological and Ministerial Studies a good major for AI resistance?
Theological and Ministerial Studies has an average AI task exposure of 40%, rated "Moderate". This field has moderate AI exposure — some career paths are more resilient than others.
Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (earnings, debt), Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024–2034
(employment projections), OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs research (AI task exposure), Felten et al. AIOE.
Last updated 2025.