2027 Best Value Lay Ministry Schools
[Lay Ministry](/majors/theology-and-religious-vocations/pastoral-counseling-specialized-ministries/lay-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.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 21 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for lay ministry students.
What’s on this page:
Finding the Best Value Lay Ministry School for You
The lay ministry program you select can have a big impact on your finances and your future. To help, we created our Best Value Lay 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
Customizing Your List
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value Lay Ministry Schools list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the 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.
See how we build our rankings
2027 Best Value Lay Ministry Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the lay ministry degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Lay Ministry Schools
Leading the list is Andrews University, our #1 best value for lay ministry in the United States. 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. Students borrow a median of $26,314 to complete the lay ministry program here. Early-career lay ministry graduates make about $57,865. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Andrews University admits about 82% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in lay ministry will find it at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, which ranked #2. 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. Early-career lay ministry graduates make about $54,863. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global earned it the #3 place for lay ministry. Set in the rural area of Marion, Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,648. Typical student debt for lay ministry graduates is $26,338. Lay Ministry graduates of Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global earn a median of $37,004 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,338 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Bethel College Mishawaka earned it the #4 place for lay ministry. Set in the city of Mishawaka, Bethel College Mishawaka is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $34,600 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,319 to complete the lay ministry program here. Soon after graduation, lay ministry degree recipients from Bethel College Mishawaka generally make around $31,046. Set against $23,319 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 98%.
A rank of #5 makes Grace College And Theological Seminary one of the best values for lay ministry. Set in the town of Winona Lake, Grace College And Theological Seminary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $29,645 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for lay ministry graduates is $25,500. Early-career lay ministry graduates make about $34,513. Set against $25,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Regent University earned the #6 position for value in lay ministry this year. Set in the city of Virginia Beach, Regent University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,650. Lay Ministry graduates carry a median of $35,500 in student loans. Lay Ministry graduates of Regent University earn a median of $33,407 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $35,500 median debt. Regent University admits about 38% of applicants.
Malone University placed #7 among the best values for lay ministry. Set in the city of Canton, Malone University is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,160. Typical student debt for lay ministry graduates is $27,956. Soon after graduation, lay ministry degree recipients from Malone University generally make around $48,359. Set against $27,956 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Malone University admits about 76% of applicants.
Southwestern Assemblies Of God University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value lay ministry schools. 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. Students borrow a median of $26,750 to complete the lay ministry program here. Early-career lay ministry graduates make about $30,910. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Grace Bible College landed the #9 spot for lay ministry value this year. Set in the city of Wyoming, Grace Bible College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,190. Students borrow a median of $30,118 to complete the lay ministry program here. Lay Ministry graduates of Grace Bible College earn a median of $41,219 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 99%.
Calvin College earned the #10 position for value in lay ministry this year. Located in the city of Grand Rapids, Calvin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $39,350 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for lay ministry graduates is $22,707. Early-career lay ministry graduates make about $44,220. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 71%.
Gordon College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value lay ministry schools. Set in the rural area of Wenham, Gordon College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $30,700. Lay Ministry graduates carry a median of $26,372 in student loans. Lay 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%.
Universidad Teologica Del Caribe came in at #12 for value in lay ministry this year. Universidad Teologica Del Caribe is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Trujillo Alto. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,660. Graduates go on to earn a median of $23,536 ten years after entry.
North Central University earned the #13 position for value in lay ministry this year. North Central University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Minneapolis. In-state tuition and fees average $32,220. Lay Ministry graduates carry a median of $26,750 in student loans. Lay Ministry graduates of North Central University earn a median of $27,370 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,750 median debt. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
South Florida Bible College And Theological Seminary earned the #14 position for value in lay ministry this year. Set in the city of Deerfield Beach, South Florida Bible College And Theological Seminary is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,740. Graduates go on to earn a median of $45,354 ten years after entry.
Bethel University Minnesota earned the #15 position for value in lay ministry this year. Located in the suburb of Saint Paul, Bethel University Minnesota is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $44,226. Lay Ministry graduates carry a median of $25,639 in student loans. Early-career lay ministry graduates make about $45,641. That is a strong return on a $25,639 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Dallas Baptist University earned the #16 position for value in lay ministry this year. Dallas Baptist University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Dallas. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,190. Lay Ministry graduates carry a median of $22,819 in student loans. Lay Ministry graduates of Dallas Baptist University earn a median of $48,822 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,819 median debt. Dallas Baptist University admits about 89% of applicants.
University Of St Thomas Minnesota came in at #17 for value in lay ministry this year. Set in the city of Saint Paul, University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $54,398. Students borrow a median of $23,923 to complete the lay ministry program here. Soon after graduation, lay ministry degree recipients from University Of St Thomas Minnesota generally make around $65,183. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Liberty University came in at #18 for value in lay ministry this year. Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lynchburg. In-state tuition and fees average $16,173. Students borrow a median of $23,750 to complete the lay ministry program here. Lay Ministry graduates of Liberty University earn a median of $34,083 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,750 median debt. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
Colorado Christian University earned the #19 position for value in lay ministry this year. Set in the suburb of Lakewood, Colorado Christian University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $28,846. Typical student debt for lay ministry graduates is $36,092. Soon after graduation, lay ministry degree recipients from Colorado Christian University generally make around $47,333. That is a strong return on a $36,092 median debt.
The Masters College And Seminary came in at #20 for value in lay ministry this year. Set in the suburb of Santa Clarita, The Masters College And Seminary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $39,020. Typical student debt for lay ministry graduates is $22,089. Early-career lay ministry graduates make about $46,541. That is a strong return on a $22,089 median debt. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Fordham University placed #21 among the best values for lay ministry. Set in the city of Bronx, Fordham University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $64,470. Typical student debt for lay ministry graduates is $25,643. Early-career lay ministry graduates make about $59,403. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Fordham University admits about 59% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 21 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 21 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.
