What are Some Well-Known Divinity Schools in the U.S.?
If you are interested in working within the ministry or becoming a scholar of theology, earning a graduate degree from a research-oriented divinity school can be an intellectually enriching experience. Learn about some of the best-known schools with divinity programs and what each school offers in terms of programs.
What Constitutes a Top Divinity School?
The best divinity schools are typically associated with larger research institutions and provide degree options that can prepare you for work within the ministry or for academic positions. You should have the opportunity to become acquainted with a range of theological denominations and gain valuable perspective on the historical evolution and contemporary nature of religion. You can look for schools where faculty are represented in secondary literature and engaged in a range of research topics.
<h2 id="section---ThreeUniversitiesWithWellKnownDivinitySchools">Three Universities With Well-Known Divinity Schools</h2><h3 id="section---DukeUniversityInDurhamNC">Duke University in Durham, NC</h3><p>The Duke Divinity School was the university's first graduate professional school, founded in 1926. Affiliated with the United Methodist Church and representing a range of theological perspectives, Duke Divinity School attracts students from over thirty different Christian denominations.
</p><p>Duke supports an internationally recognized theological faculty, who rigorously guide students to critically interpret the church's theological systems, the Bible and both contemporary and historical religious practice. In addition to two dual-degree programs, Duke Divinity School offers three graduate-professional degrees, two academic master's degrees and two doctoral programs with the following titles:
</p><ul><li>Master of Divinity
</li><li>Master of Arts in Christian Practice
</li><li>Master of Theological Studies
</li><li>Master of Theology
</li><li>Doctor of Ministry
</li><li>Doctor of Theology
</li></ul><h3 id="section---TheUniversityOfChicagoInIllinois">The University of Chicago in Illinois</h3><p>The University of Chicago was ranked third on U.S. News & World Report's list of National Universities in 2019. The University of Chicago Divinity School is the largest single institutional educator of faculty members in theology departments, religious studies programs and theological seminaries. Chicago also can prepare students for ministry careers through their Master of Divinity program. Students can cultivate a broad-based religious education by studying topics in areas such as the history of Christianity, Judaism and religions; Islamic studies; philosophy of religions; religion and literature; and religious ethics. Chicago offers the following degrees:
</p><ul><li>Master of Arts in Divinity
</li><li>Master of Arts in Religious Studies
</li><li>Master of Divinity
</li><li>Doctor of Philosophy in Divinity
</li></ul><h3 id="section---YaleUniversityInNewHavenCT">Yale University in New Haven, CT</h3><p>Yale was ranked the third best university in the nation in 2019 by <i>U.S. News & World Report</i>. Yale Divinity School has a longstanding tradition concerning the scholarly treatment of Christian traditions within a multi-faith context; the school is nonsectarian and interdenominational. Their distinguished faculty represent a variety of world religions in addition to popular Christian traditions, and students from a large number of denominations attend the school.
</p><p>The Divinity School prepares students for service inside ordained and lay ecclesial ministries or for work within academic religious studies departments and theological schools. Among their degree programs is a Master of Arts in Religion with 15 specializations, including Asian religions, the Bible, Second Temple Judaism, religion in the African Diaspora, Ethics, history of Christianity, liturgical studies, philosophical theology, religions and the arts, theology and women's studies. Here is a list of degrees offered:
</p><ul><li>Master of Divinity
</li><li>Master of Arts in Religion
</li><li>Master of Arts in Religion (concentrated programs)
</li><li>Master of Sacred Theology
</li></ul><h2 id="section---MoreDivinitySchools">More Divinity Schools</h2><p></p><table border="1"><tr><th>College/University</th><th>Institution Type</th><th>Location</th><th>Estimated Graduate In-State Tuition*</th></tr>
<tr><td>Harvard University</td><td>Graduate, Private</td><td>Boston, MA</td><td>$47,000</td></tr>
<tr><td>University of Notre Dame</td><td>Graduate, Private</td><td>Notre Dame, IN</td><td>$53,000</td></tr>
<tr><td>Boston University</td><td>Graduate, Private</td><td>Boston, MA</td><td>$53,000</td></tr>
<tr><td>Liberty University</td><td>Graduate, Private</td><td>Lynchburg, VA</td><td>$8,000</td></tr>
<tr><td>Wake Forest University</td><td>Graduate, Private</td><td>Winston-Salem, NC</td><td>$39,000</td></tr>
<tr><td>Emory University</td><td>Graduate, Private</td><td>Atlanta, GA</td><td>$42,000</td></tr>
<tr><td>Claremont School of Theology</td><td>Graduate, Private</td><td>Claremont, CA</td><td>$25,000</td></tr>
<tr><td>Sacred Heart Seminary & School of Theology</td><td>Graduate, Private</td><td>Franklin, WI</td><td>$11,000</td></tr>
<tr><td>Cairn University</td><td>Graduate, Private</td><td>Langhorne, PA</td><td>$12,000</td></tr>
</table><p><i>*Source: NCES, U.S. Department of Education</i></p>