2026 Best Value Youth Ministry Schools in the Southwest 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. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 8 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value youth ministry schools.
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2026 Best Value Youth Ministry Schools in the Southwest 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
Southwestern Assemblies Of God University earned the #1 spot for value among youth ministry schools in the Southwest Region. Located in the suburb of Waxahachie, Southwestern Assemblies Of God University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $25,064. Students borrow a median of $26,750 to complete the youth ministry program here. Soon after graduation, youth ministry degree recipients from Southwestern Assemblies Of God University generally make around $30,910. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Lubbock Christian University earned it the #2 place for youth ministry. Lubbock Christian University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lubbock. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $28,540. Typical student debt for youth ministry graduates is $28,337. Early-career youth ministry graduates make about $38,473. That is a strong return on a $28,337 median debt. Lubbock Christian University admits about 73% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Dallas Baptist University earned it the #3 place for youth ministry. Located in the city of Dallas, Dallas Baptist University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $40,190. Typical student debt for youth ministry graduates is $22,819. Youth Ministry graduates of Dallas Baptist University earn a median of $40,502 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,819 median debt. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
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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 · 8 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.
