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2026 Best Value Youth Ministry Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region

[Youth Ministry](/majors/theology-and-religious-vocations/pastoral-counseling-specialized-ministries/youth-ministry/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 6 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for youth ministry students.

What’s on this page:

• Best Value Youth Ministry Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region

2026 Best Value Youth Ministry Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region

If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the youth ministry degrees they offer, see the list below.

Best Value Youth Ministry Schools

1

Lancaster Bible College
Lancaster, PA

$29,990 In-State Tuition & Fees

$22,584 Avg Student Debt

$44,096 Median Earnings (10yr)

Leading the list is Lancaster Bible College, our #1 best value for youth ministry in the Middle Atlantic Region. Located in the suburb of Lancaster, Lancaster Bible College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $29,990. Youth Ministry graduates carry a median of $22,584 in student loans. Youth Ministry graduates of Lancaster Bible College earn a median of $35,130 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,584 median debt. Roughly 56% of applicants are accepted.

2

Valley Forge Christian College
Phoenixville, PA

$25,240 In-State Tuition & Fees

$27,634 Avg Student Debt

$39,016 Median Earnings (10yr)

The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Valley Forge Christian College earned it the #2 place for youth ministry. Located in the suburb of Phoenixville, Valley Forge Christian College is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $25,240. Youth Ministry graduates carry a median of $27,634 in student loans. Early-career youth ministry graduates make about $34,612. That is a strong return on a $27,634 median debt. Valley Forge Christian College admits about 61% of applicants.

View All Youth Ministry Rankings >

Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 6 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.