Cheapest Religion/Religious Studies Colleges in Texas

Christ Mission College in San Antonio charges just $7,157 net annually for Religion/Religious Studies, making it Texas' most affordable option by a significant margin. The second cheapest program costs $8,750, creating an unusual $1,593 gap at the bottom of the pricing spectrum. While Texas serves as headquarters for numerous faith-based organizations and megachurches that employ religious studies graduates in chaplaincy and ministry roles, the state's 20 programs show dramatic cost variation. Rice University demonstrates this range perfectly, offering the same major for $12,640 net despite a sticker price of $58,128. Public universities like University of Houston provide middle-ground pricing at $13,853 net, while graduation rates span from 10.70% at Texas College to an impressive 95.70% at Rice. Baptist University of the Americas stands out with its specialized focus and 27.30% graduation rate at just $8,750 net cost.

Programs

$7,157 – $41,942

Net Price Range

$25,293

Avg. Program Earnings

52.2%

Avg. Graduation Rate

31 Religion/Religious Studies Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	Christ Mission College San Antonio, Texas	$7,157	$8,229
2	Baptist University of the Americas San Antonio, Texas	$8,750	$7,680	27.3%
3	Wiley University Marshall, Texas	$10,095	$12,500	20.0%
4	Jarvis Christian University Hawkins, Texas	$10,409	$11,720	15.1%
5	Texas College Tyler, Texas	$10,650	$10,008	10.7%
6	Rice University Houston, Texas	$12,640	$58,128	95.7%	8.7%
7	University of Houston Houston, Texas	$13,853	$9,711	64.9%	66.2%
8	University of North Texas Denton, Texas	$14,352	$11,164	59.6%	79.1%
9	Texas State University San Marcos, Texas	$16,438	$11,450	56.2%	87.7%
10	Our Lady of the Lake University San Antonio, Texas	$17,760	$31,728	42.4%
11	Messenger College Bedford, Texas	$18,541	$11,200	55.6%	50.0%
12	Texas Wesleyan University Fort Worth, Texas	$19,398	$37,934	32.4%	60.9%
13	The University of Texas at Austin Austin, Texas	$19,678	$11,678	87.6%	31.4%
14	Houston Christian University Houston, Texas	$19,710	$38,100	49.8%	84.5%
15	McMurry University Abilene, Texas	$19,988	$31,372	38.6%	56.5%
16	Paul Quinn College Dallas, Texas	$20,244	$13,498	38.1%	57.3%
17	Schreiner University Kerrville, Texas	$20,410	$37,396	43.7%	85.2%
18	University of the Incarnate Word San Antonio, Texas	$20,498	$35,660	51.8%	94.2%
19	Wayland Baptist University Plainview, Texas	$20,540	$23,186	19.2%	69.7%
20	Southwestern Adventist University Keene, Texas	$20,581	$24,588	41.1%	53.6%
21	Hardin-Simmons University Abilene, Texas	$21,031	$31,686	49.6%	88.3%
22	Austin College Sherman, Texas	$23,451	$46,500	69.5%	54.4%
23	Saint Edward's University Austin, Texas	$23,636	$51,384	64.2%	85.1%
24	Trinity University San Antonio, Texas	$23,650	$51,352	81.9%	30.5%
25	East Texas Baptist University Marshall, Texas	$23,790	$30,050	48.0%	67.7%
26	Howard Payne University Brownwood, Texas	$25,255	$33,322	31.1%	62.3%
27	Southwestern University Georgetown, Texas	$27,468	$51,058	69.3%	44.8%
28	University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Belton, Texas	$28,690	$33,150	53.4%	95.7%
29	Texas Christian University Fort Worth, Texas	$33,531	$57,220	85.6%	56.1%
30	Southern Methodist University Dallas, Texas	$41,778	$64,460	83.3%	52.3%
31	Baylor University Waco, Texas	$41,942	$54,844	80.2%	45.9%

Frequently Asked Questions

What explains the $12,424 cost difference between the cheapest and most expensive programs?

Christ Mission College at $7,157 net represents the most affordable option, while programs like McMurry University cost $19,988 net annually. Private nonprofit institutions dominate both ends of this range, with schools like Rice University offering substantial financial aid that reduces net costs despite high sticker prices. The wide variation reflects different institutional funding models, with some specialized religious colleges operating on minimal overhead costs.

How do graduation rates correlate with program costs in Texas religious studies?

Rice University achieves a 95.70% graduation rate at $12,640 net, proving that higher costs can yield better completion outcomes. However, Texas College shows just 10.70% graduation rates despite charging $10,650 net, nearly $3,500 more than Christ Mission College. University of Texas at Austin balances strong outcomes with reasonable pricing, posting 87.60% graduation rates for $19,678 net cost.

Is Rice University's 8.68% acceptance rate typical for religious studies programs?

Rice University's 8.68% acceptance rate makes it an extreme outlier among Texas religious studies programs. Most other schools show much higher acceptance rates, with Texas State University accepting 87.70% of applicants and University of North Texas at 79.13%. Even specialized institutions like Messenger College maintain 50.00% acceptance rates, making Rice's selectivity unusual for this field.

Where do religious studies graduates earn the highest starting salaries in Texas?

University of Texas at Austin graduates earn $37,208 annually, representing the highest reported earnings among Texas religious studies programs. This salary reflects the strong job market in Austin's nonprofit sector and state government positions. Houston Christian University graduates start at $24,421, showing a $12,787 difference between the highest and lowest reported earnings in the state.

Does attending a public versus private institution affect costs significantly?

Public universities generally offer better value, with University of Houston charging $13,853 net and University of North Texas at $14,352 net. However, some private institutions like Christ Mission College at $7,157 net actually cost less than public options. Private schools show the widest cost variation, ranging from $7,157 to $19,988 net annually, while public institutions cluster between $13,853 and $19,678 net.

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Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.