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Best Schools for Youth 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 youth ministry degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Youth Ministry
Moody Bible Institute tops our 2026 ranking of the best youth ministry schools. Located in the city of Chicago, Moody Bible Institute is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 62%. About 16 youth ministry degrees were awarded at Moody Bible Institute in the most recent year. Students who receive their youth ministry degree from Moody Bible Institute earn around $35,426 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete this degree.
Read more about the youth ministry program at Moody Bible Institute
A rank of #2 makes Indiana Wesleyan University one of the top schools for youth ministry. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Marion. The six-year graduation rate is 66%. There were roughly 10 youth ministry students who graduated with this degree at Indiana Wesleyan University in the most recent data year. Youth Ministry graduates of Indiana Wesleyan University earn a median of $31,281 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,221 to complete this degree.
Read more about the youth ministry program at Indiana Wesleyan University
Cornerstone University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in youth ministry, ranking #3. Set in the city of Grand Rapids, Cornerstone University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. About 10 youth ministry degrees were awarded at Cornerstone University in the most recent year. Students who receive their youth ministry degree from Cornerstone University earn around $44,501 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $29,243 to complete this degree.
Read more about the youth ministry program at Cornerstone University
Narrow Youth Ministry Schools by State
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 24 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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