by our College Data Analytics Team
[Youth Ministry](/majors/theology-and-religious-vocations/pastoral-counseling-specialized-ministries/youth-ministry/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 97 schools to find the best return on investment for youth ministry students.
What’s on this page:
Where you study youth ministry affects both what you pay and what you earn. That is why we built our Best Value Youth Ministry Schools ranking. It weighs the cost of a degree against the outcomes graduates go on to achieve, so you can find the strongest return on your investment.
Read more about our methodology
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value Youth 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.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the youth ministry degrees they offer, see the list below.
Our analysis ranked Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary the best value for a degree in youth ministry in the United States. Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Wake Forest. Students from in state pay about $11,318 in tuition and fees. Soon after graduation, youth ministry degree recipients from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary generally make around $54,863. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes Andrews University one of the best values for youth ministry. Andrews University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Berrien Springs. Students from in state pay about $35,056 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for youth ministry graduates is $26,314. Early-career youth ministry graduates make about $57,865. That is a strong return on a $26,314 median debt. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes Ozark Christian College one of the best values for youth ministry. Located in the city of Joplin, Ozark Christian College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,000. Typical student debt for youth ministry graduates is $23,500. Early-career youth ministry graduates make about $26,422. Set against $23,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Grace College And Theological Seminary is a great value for students pursuing a degree in youth ministry, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the town of Winona Lake, Grace College And Theological Seminary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $29,645. Typical student debt for youth ministry graduates is $25,500. Youth Ministry graduates of Grace College And Theological Seminary earn a median of $34,513 early in their careers. Set against $25,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Students looking for strong value in youth ministry will find it at Vanguard University Of Southern California, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Costa Mesa, Vanguard University Of Southern California is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $41,700. Students borrow a median of $21,111 to complete the youth ministry program here. Early-career youth ministry graduates make about $80,727. Set against $21,111 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 62% of applicants are accepted.
Southwestern Assemblies Of God University landed the #6 spot for youth ministry value this year. Southwestern Assemblies Of God University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Waxahachie. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $25,064. Typical student debt for youth ministry graduates is $26,750. Early-career youth ministry graduates make about $30,910. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Lee University earned the #7 position for value in youth ministry this year. Lee University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cleveland. In-state tuition and fees average $23,790. Youth Ministry graduates carry a median of $28,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, youth ministry degree recipients from Lee University generally make around $35,189. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
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Milligan College landed the #8 spot for youth ministry value this year. Set in the suburb of Milligan, Milligan College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $40,450. Students borrow a median of $26,150 to complete the youth ministry program here. Youth Ministry graduates of Milligan College earn a median of $64,327 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Lancaster Bible College came in at #9 for value in youth ministry this year. Lancaster Bible College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Lancaster. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $29,990. Students borrow a median of $22,584 to complete the youth ministry program here. Early-career youth ministry graduates make about $35,130. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 56%.
Indiana Wesleyan University landed the #10 spot for youth ministry value this year. Set in the town of Marion, Indiana Wesleyan University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $32,352. Youth Ministry graduates carry a median of $24,221 in student loans. Soon after graduation, youth ministry degree recipients from Indiana Wesleyan University generally make around $31,281. That is a strong return on a $24,221 median debt. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Cornerstone University landed the #11 spot for youth ministry value this year. Located in the city of Grand Rapids, Cornerstone University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $23,000. Students borrow a median of $29,243 to complete the youth ministry program here. Youth Ministry graduates of Cornerstone University earn a median of $44,501 early in their careers. Set against $29,243 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Taylor University came in at #12 for value in youth ministry this year. Located in the rural area of Upland, Taylor University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $40,490 in tuition and fees. Youth Ministry graduates carry a median of $21,832 in student loans. Early-career youth ministry graduates make about $37,035. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Maranatha Baptist Bible College earned the #13 position for value in youth ministry this year. Maranatha Baptist Bible College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Watertown. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,550. Early-career youth ministry graduates make about $56,298. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Moody Bible Institute ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value youth ministry schools. Moody Bible Institute is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. In-state tuition and fees average $15,786. Typical student debt for youth ministry graduates is $12,000. Soon after graduation, youth ministry degree recipients from Moody Bible Institute generally make around $35,426. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 83%.
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Gordon College placed #15 among the best values for youth ministry. Set in the rural area of Wenham, Gordon College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $30,700 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for youth ministry graduates is $26,372. Youth Ministry graduates of Gordon College earn a median of $37,097 early in their careers. Set against $26,372 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 69%.
Colorado Christian University came in at #16 for value in youth ministry this year. Set in the suburb of Lakewood, Colorado Christian University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $28,846 in tuition and fees. Youth Ministry graduates carry a median of $36,092 in student loans. Youth Ministry graduates of Colorado Christian University earn a median of $47,333 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lubbock Christian University placed #17 among the best values for youth ministry. Set in the city of Lubbock, Lubbock Christian University is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $28,540. Students borrow a median of $28,337 to complete the youth ministry program here. Youth Ministry graduates of Lubbock Christian University earn a median of $38,473 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
Crown College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value youth ministry schools. Located in the rural area of Saint Bonifacius, Crown College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $31,410. Youth Ministry graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Youth Ministry graduates of Crown College earn a median of $26,538 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 23%.
Valley Forge Christian College placed #19 among the best values for youth ministry. Located in the suburb of Phoenixville, Valley Forge Christian College is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $25,240 in tuition and fees. Youth Ministry graduates carry a median of $27,634 in student loans. Youth Ministry graduates of Valley Forge Christian College earn a median of $34,612 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 61%.
Valor Christian College came in at #20 for value in youth ministry this year. Valor Christian College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Canal Winchester. Students from in state pay about $10,612 in tuition and fees. Youth Ministry graduates carry a median of $17,635 in student loans. Early-career youth ministry graduates make about $29,571.
Liberty University came in at #21 for value in youth ministry this year. Set in the city of Lynchburg, Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $16,173. Typical student debt for youth ministry graduates is $23,750. Soon after graduation, youth ministry degree recipients from Liberty University generally make around $34,083. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
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Dallas Baptist University came in at #22 for value in youth ministry this year. Located in the city of Dallas, Dallas Baptist University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $40,190. Youth Ministry graduates carry a median of $22,819 in student loans. Youth Ministry graduates of Dallas Baptist University earn a median of $40,502 early in their careers. Set against $22,819 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Southeastern University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best value youth ministry schools. Located in the city of Lakeland, Southeastern University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $32,950 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for youth ministry graduates is $26,000. Early-career youth ministry graduates make about $35,209. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Roughly 53% of applicants are accepted.
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Explore other best-value rankings in majors related to Youth Ministry. Browse the parent area of study.
This list is compiled 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 · 97 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.