[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.
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Colorado Christian University tops our 2026 list of the best value lay ministry schools in the Rocky Mountains Region. Colorado Christian University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Lakewood. In-state tuition and fees average $28,846. Students borrow a median of $36,092 to complete the lay ministry program here. Lay 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.