2026 Best Value Lay Ministry Schools
[Lay Ministry](/majors/theology-and-religious-vocations/pastoral-counseling-specialized-ministries/lay-ministry/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 72 schools to find the best return on investment for lay ministry students.
What’s on this page:
Finding the Best Value Lay Ministry School for You
Where you study lay ministry affects both what you pay and what you earn. To help, we created our Best Value Lay Ministry Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.
Learn more about our methodology
Customize Your Rankings
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value Lay Ministry Schools list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Read more about College Factual’s methodology
2026 Best Value Lay Ministry Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the lay ministry degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Lay Ministry Schools
For return on investment in lay ministry, no school beat Andrews University this year. Located in the town of Berrien Springs, Andrews University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $35,056. Lay Ministry graduates carry a median of $26,314 in student loans. Soon after graduation, lay ministry degree recipients from Andrews University generally make around $57,865. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Grace College And Theological Seminary earned it the #2 place for lay ministry. Set in the town of Winona Lake, Grace College And Theological Seminary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $29,645. Lay Ministry graduates carry a median of $25,500 in student loans. Early-career lay ministry graduates make about $34,513. That is a strong return on a $25,500 median debt. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in lay ministry will find it at Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global, which ranked #3. Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global is a large private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Marion. Students from in state pay about $9,648 in tuition and fees. Lay Ministry graduates carry a median of $26,338 in student loans. Lay Ministry graduates of Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global earn a median of $37,004 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southwestern Assemblies Of God University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value lay ministry schools. Located in the suburb of Waxahachie, Southwestern Assemblies Of God University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $25,064. Students borrow a median of $26,750 to complete the lay ministry program here. Early-career lay ministry graduates make about $30,910. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Bethel College Mishawaka came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value lay ministry schools. Bethel College Mishawaka is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Mishawaka. In-state tuition and fees average $34,600. Students borrow a median of $23,319 to complete the lay ministry program here. Soon after graduation, lay ministry degree recipients from Bethel College Mishawaka generally make around $31,046. That is a strong return on a $23,319 median debt. The acceptance rate is 98%.
Regent University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value lay ministry schools. Regent University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Virginia Beach. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,650. Lay Ministry graduates carry a median of $35,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, lay ministry degree recipients from Regent University generally make around $33,407. That is a strong return on a $35,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 38%.
Grace Bible College earned the #7 position for value in lay ministry this year. Set in the city of Wyoming, Grace Bible College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,190. Lay Ministry graduates carry a median of $30,118 in student loans. Lay Ministry graduates of Grace Bible College earn a median of $41,219 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 99%.
North Central University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value lay ministry schools. North Central University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Minneapolis. In-state tuition and fees average $32,220. Typical student debt for lay ministry graduates is $26,750. Lay Ministry graduates of North Central University earn a median of $27,370 early in their careers. Set against $26,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
Southeastern Free Will Baptist Bible College placed #9 among the best values for lay ministry. Located in the rural area of Wendell, Southeastern Free Will Baptist Bible College is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,739.
Calvin College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value lay ministry schools. Calvin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Grand Rapids. In-state tuition and fees average $39,350. Typical student debt for lay ministry graduates is $22,707. Early-career lay ministry graduates make about $44,220. That is a strong return on a $22,707 median debt. The acceptance rate is 71%.
Universidad Teologica Del Caribe earned the #11 position for value in lay ministry this year. Located in the suburb of Trujillo Alto, Universidad Teologica Del Caribe is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $6,660 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $23,536 ten years after entry.
Colorado Christian University earned the #12 position for value in lay ministry this year. Colorado Christian University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Lakewood. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $28,846. Typical student debt for lay ministry graduates is $36,092. Lay Ministry graduates of Colorado Christian University earn a median of $47,333 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $36,092 median debt.
Bethel University Minnesota landed the #13 spot for lay ministry value this year. Bethel University Minnesota is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Paul. In-state tuition and fees average $44,226. Lay Ministry graduates carry a median of $25,639 in student loans. Soon after graduation, lay ministry degree recipients from Bethel University Minnesota generally make around $45,641. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Liberty University placed #14 among the best values for lay ministry. Set in the city of Lynchburg, Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $16,173 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,750 to complete the lay ministry program here. Early-career lay ministry graduates make about $34,083. That is a strong return on a $23,750 median debt. Liberty University admits about 99% of applicants.
University Of St Thomas Minnesota ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value lay ministry schools. Set in the city of Saint Paul, University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $54,398. Typical student debt for lay ministry graduates is $23,923. Early-career lay ministry graduates make about $65,183. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Dallas Baptist University landed the #16 spot for lay ministry value this year. Dallas Baptist University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Dallas. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,190. Lay Ministry graduates carry a median of $22,819 in student loans. Lay Ministry graduates of Dallas Baptist University earn a median of $48,822 early in their careers. Set against $22,819 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Dallas Baptist University admits about 89% of applicants.
The Masters College And Seminary earned the #17 position for value in lay ministry this year. Located in the suburb of Santa Clarita, The Masters College And Seminary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $39,020. Lay Ministry graduates carry a median of $22,089 in student loans. Lay Ministry graduates of The Masters College And Seminary earn a median of $46,541 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,089 median debt. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Narrow Lay Ministry Schools by Region
View All Rankings >
Explore other best-value rankings in majors related to Lay Ministry. See all related rankings.
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 72 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 9 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
