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2026 Best Value Lay Ministry Schools in Virginia

[Lay Ministry](/majors/theology-and-religious-vocations/pastoral-counseling-specialized-ministries/lay-ministry/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong lay ministry education at a price that pays off.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 2 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for lay ministry students.

What’s on this page:

• Best Value Lay Ministry Schools in Virginia

2026 Best Value Lay Ministry Schools in Virginia

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in lay ministry, balancing cost against outcomes.

Best Value Lay Ministry Schools

1

Regent University
Virginia Beach, VA

$21,650 In-State Tuition & Fees

$35,500 Avg Student Debt

$44,498 Median Earnings (10yr)

Our analysis ranked Regent University the best value for a degree in lay ministry in Virginia. Located in the city of Virginia Beach, Regent University is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,650. Typical student debt for lay ministry graduates is $35,500. Early-career lay ministry graduates make about $33,407. Set against $35,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 38%.

2

Liberty University
Lynchburg, VA

$16,173 In-State Tuition & Fees

$23,750 Avg Student Debt

$44,813 Median Earnings (10yr)

Students looking for strong value in lay ministry will find it at Liberty University, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Lynchburg, Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $16,173. Lay Ministry graduates carry a median of $23,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, lay ministry degree recipients from Liberty University generally make around $34,083. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Liberty University admits about 99% of applicants.

View All Lay Ministry Rankings >

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 · 2 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.