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Best Schools for Lay Ministry in the Great Lakes Region
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the lay ministry degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Lay Ministry
Calvin College is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in lay ministry. Calvin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Grand Rapids. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. There were roughly 56 lay ministry students who graduated with this degree at Calvin College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their lay ministry degree from Calvin College earn around $44,220 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,707.
See the full lay ministry program report for Calvin College
Grace College And Theological Seminary is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in lay ministry, ranking #2. Set in the town of Winona Lake, Grace College And Theological Seminary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 15 lay ministry students who graduated with this degree at Grace College And Theological Seminary in the most recent data year. Graduates of the lay ministry program make about $34,513 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,500 to complete this degree.
See the full lay ministry program report for Grace College And Theological Seminary
Students looking for a strong lay ministry program will find one at Bethel College Mishawaka, which ranked #3. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Mishawaka. Bethel College Mishawaka graduates 52% of students within six years. There were roughly 23 lay ministry students who graduated with this degree at Bethel College Mishawaka in the most recent data year. Graduates of the lay ministry program make about $31,046 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,319 to complete this degree.
See the full lay ministry program report for Bethel College Mishawaka
Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in lay ministry, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the rural area of Marion, Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global is a large private not-for-profit university. About 11 lay ministry degrees were awarded at Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global in the most recent year. Students who receive their lay ministry degree from Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global earn around $37,004 in the first couple years of their career. Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global graduates carry a median of $26,338 in student loans.
More information about a degree in lay ministry from Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global
Grace Bible College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best lay ministry schools. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Wyoming. The six-year graduation rate is 51%. There were roughly 46 lay ministry students who graduated with this degree at Grace Bible College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, lay ministry degree recipients from Grace Bible College generally make around $41,219. Typical student debt for the program is $30,118.
More information about a degree in lay ministry from Grace Bible College
Narrow Lay Ministry Schools by State
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 20 schools evaluated.
- 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.
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