2026 Best Value Lay Ministry Schools in Indiana

[Lay Ministry](/majors/theology-and-religious-vocations/pastoral-counseling-specialized-ministries/lay-ministry/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong lay ministry education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 4 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value lay ministry schools.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Lay Ministry Schools in Indiana
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
Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global tops our 2026 list of the best value lay ministry schools in Indiana. Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global is a large private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Marion. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,648. 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. Set against $26,338 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Grace College And Theological Seminary came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value lay ministry schools. 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. Typical student debt for lay ministry graduates is $25,500. Soon after graduation, lay ministry degree recipients from Grace College And Theological Seminary generally make around $34,513. Set against $25,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Bethel College Mishawaka is a great value for students pursuing a degree in lay ministry, landing the #3 spot this year. Bethel College Mishawaka is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Mishawaka. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,600. Students borrow a median of $23,319 to complete the lay ministry program here. Lay Ministry graduates of Bethel College Mishawaka earn a median of $31,046 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
More Lay Ministry Rankings
View All Lay Ministry Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.