Decatur, Illinois is home to about 70,368 residents. Median household income is $50,809 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 21.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Illinois, the top-earning theology-related role is Philosophy and Religion Teacher, Postsecondary at a median $77,720 annually (BLS, May 2025).
Closest Theology Schools to Decatur
The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer theology programs near Decatur, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Decatur city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS data on every site update.
How We Rank Schools
Every school list on this site is ordered by the BOC Score, computed from the most
recent school-level data published by the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS).
To qualify, a school must be currently operating and accredited by an agency recognized by the
U.S. Department of Education. Each eligible school is then scored on five measures, percentile-ranked
against schools at the same credential level:
BOCSCORE
- Graduation rate 30%
- Median earnings, 10 years after entry 25%
- Average net price (lower is better) 20%
- Retention rate 15%
- Fully online availability 10%
Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score.
On this page, schools are ordered by distance from Decatur.
Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.
Graduation rate
63%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$53,213
Avg net price
$20,729/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats- Retention rate: 69%
- Programs offered: 85
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
62%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$55,700
Avg net price
$19,125/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats- Retention rate: 80%
- Programs offered: 45
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
59%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$63,446
Avg net price
$22,313/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats- Retention rate: 68%
- Programs offered: 55
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
TuitionContact school for pricing
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
88%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$63,756
Avg net price
$26,975/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats- Retention rate: 93%
- Programs offered: 49
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
Graduation rate
96%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
$91,885
Avg net price
$14,860/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Key stats- Retention rate: 99%
- Programs offered: 105
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
TuitionContact school for pricing
Source:IPEDS · College Scorecard
TuitionContact school for pricing
Source:Accreditor: Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools · IPEDS · College Scorecard
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Illinois schools on the Illinois theology page.
Theology Wages Near Decatur
| Occupation | Median Annual Wage (Illinois, statewide) |
|---|
| Clergy | $61,820 |
| Director of Religious Activities and Education | $53,600 |
| Religious Worker, All Other | $47,070 |
| Philosophy and Religion Teacher, Postsecondary | $77,720 |
Source: BLS, May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.
Decatur at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|
| Population | 70,368 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $50,809 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 21.3% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 88.4 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
Other Decatur-Area Cities With Theology Programs
- Springfield, IL – 38.7 mi away (160,570 pop)
- Champaign, IL – 39.3 mi away (155,368 pop)
- Urbana, IL – 42.8 mi away (42,014 pop)
- Bloomington, IL – 42.9 mi away (135,015 pop)
- Normal, IL – 46.1 mi away (54,264 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the highest-paying theology roles in Illinois?
Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying theology-related roles in Illinois are: Philosophy and Religion Teacher, Postsecondary ($77,720), Clergy ($61,820), Director of Religious Activities and Education ($53,600). Wages for Decatur workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.
Should I look at programs in Springfield instead of Decatur?
Springfield, IL is 38.7 miles from Decatur and has its own set of local theology programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.
Is Decatur an affordable place to study theology?
Decatur’s median household income of $50,809 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Decatur while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Illinois public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.
How do I verify a program is accredited?
Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.
Learn More About Theology Programs
Other Programs Available in Decatur
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Data verified: September 1, 2026.
Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.
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