Best Christian Graduate School Programs of 2026

Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University tops this list because its registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing program has the highest median earnings one year after graduation among the programs that match this list. It reports $254,012 for graduates of that program, with 46 graduates reporting earnings. Median debt for the program is n/a.

The figures are program-level, not school-level. That matters here: a school's overall earnings can hide a strong program or lift a weak one. This list compares the program itself, then shows the school's net price and completion rate beside it so you can see the whole picture.

The list is built from the College Scorecard field-of-study file. It reports median earnings one year after graduation for graduates of a named program, plus median debt for that program. One program per school is shown: the school's highest-earning program that matches this list.

Net price and completion describe the whole school, not the program. A low net price is a school-level figure. A high completion rate is a school-level figure. Use them as context, not as a program guarantee.

One published figure orders the list: median earnings one year after graduation for the matching program. There is no composite score and no editorial adjustment. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates reporting earnings are left out because a median from a small group swings too much to compare.

For this graduate list, the matching programs are limited to graduate programs at Christian colleges. A school can have more than one matching program. The highest-earning one is the one shown. No school can pay to be included or to move up.

These are the highest-ranked programs, ordered by median earnings one year after graduation.

1. 01

   Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University

   Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing · Doctoral Degree

   $254,012 median earnings one year after graduation. n/a median program debt. The school reports 41% completion and $12,807 average net price.

   Program earnings

   $254,012

   Program debt

   n/a

   School completion

   41%

   Graduates reporting

   46

2. 02

   Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

   Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing · Master's Degree

   $249,362 median earnings one year after graduation. n/a median program debt. The school reports 64% completion and $20,422 average net price.

   Program earnings

   $249,362

   Program debt

   n/a

   School completion

   64%

   Graduates reporting

   87

3. 03

   Lourdes University

   Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing · Master's Degree

   $248,960 median earnings one year after graduation. n/a median program debt. The school reports 39% completion and $21,245 average net price.

   Program earnings

   $248,960

   Program debt

   n/a

   School completion

   39%

   Graduates reporting

   21

4. 04

   Gannon University

   Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing · Master's Degree

   $237,113 median earnings one year after graduation. n/a median program debt. The school reports 71% completion and $24,443 average net price.

   Program earnings

   $237,113

   Program debt

   n/a

   School completion

   71%

   Graduates reporting

   44

5. 05

   University of Scranton

   Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing · Doctoral Degree

   $233,953 median earnings one year after graduation. n/a median program debt. The school reports 82% completion and $32,132 average net price.

   Program earnings

   $233,953

   Program debt

   n/a

   School completion

   82%

   Graduates reporting

   21

6. 06

   Villanova University

   Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing · Doctoral Degree

   $229,552 median earnings one year after graduation. n/a median program debt. The school reports 93% completion and $41,536 average net price.

   Program earnings

   $229,552

   Program debt

   n/a

   School completion

   93%

   Graduates reporting

   37

7. 07

   AdventHealth University

   Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing · Doctoral Degree

   $226,218 median earnings one year after graduation. n/a median program debt. The school reports 53% completion and $30,906 average net price.

   Program earnings

   $226,218

   Program debt

   n/a

   School completion

   53%

   Graduates reporting

   41

8. 08

   Mount Marty University

   Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing · Doctoral Degree

   $224,939 median earnings one year after graduation. n/a median program debt. The school reports 63% completion and $21,395 average net price.

   Program earnings

   $224,939

   Program debt

   n/a

   School completion

   63%

   Graduates reporting

   63

The federal data does not publish a median debt figure for enough programs on this list to compare. Ask the school for the debt of recent graduates in the program you want.

The median program on this list reports $93,044 one year after graduation. The top program reports $254,012. Earnings one year out are an early signal, not a lifetime total. They vary by field, by role, and by how many graduates go on to further study.

Read the program earnings next to the program debt and the school's completion rate. A high earnings number with very high debt is a different story from a moderate earnings number with low debt. The right comparison is the one that matches the career you actually want.

Graduate programs at Christian colleges range from business and education to nursing, theology, and law. The strongest programs combine a credible credential with a clear return: a license, a promotion, a research path, or a salary that justifies the cost.

1. 01Is the program accredited, and does it lead to the credential you need?
2. 02What assistantships, scholarships, or employer discounts are available?
3. 03What do graduates earn, and how much debt do they carry?

Program accreditation varies by field. Nursing, psychology, law, education, and theology each have their own accreditors. Ask which agency covers the degree you want, and check the credential requirements in your state.

Institutional accreditation is the baseline. It is a review by an agency the U.S. Department of Education recognizes, and it is what makes a school eligible for federal student aid. The schools on this list are in the College Scorecard, which covers institutions that participate in that aid system. Ask the school which agency accredits the program you want, and check the agency at CHEA or the College Scorecard.

Once a program is accredited, these are the questions worth answering before you apply.

1. 01Does the program lead to the credential, license, or next degree you actually want?
2. 02What are the clinical, practicum, residency, or portfolio requirements, and can you complete them near you?
3. 03What will you pay after grants, and how much debt do graduates of this program carry?
4. 04What do graduates of this program earn, and how many graduates are behind that figure?
5. 05Can you transfer credit, and how long will the program take?

This page ranks graduate programs by one published figure. The rest of the hub uses the same rule and the same federal data.

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