Lay Ministry degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
College Factual analyzed 14 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best lay ministry schools.
Where you study lay ministry matters for your future. That is why we developed our collection of Best Schools for Lay Ministry rankings. Our overall ranking combines our degree-level rankings, weighted by degrees awarded at each level.
To find the best fit, you can narrow this list to a specific degree level below.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we have developed a number of rankings, including this Best Lay Ministry Schools list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
University Of St Thomas Minnesota tops our 2027 ranking of the best lay ministry schools. University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. About 77% of students finish within six years. About 15 lay ministry degrees were awarded at University Of St Thomas Minnesota in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, lay ministry degree recipients from University Of St Thomas Minnesota generally make around $65,183. University Of St Thomas Minnesota graduates carry a median of $23,923 in student loans.
See the full lay ministry program report for University Of St Thomas Minnesota
Fordham University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in lay ministry, landing the #2 spot this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Bronx. Fordham University graduates 82% of students within six years. About 27 lay ministry degrees were awarded at Fordham University in the most recent year. Lay Ministry graduates of Fordham University earn a median of $59,403 early in their careers. Fordham University graduates carry a median of $25,643 in student loans.
Read more about the lay ministry program at Fordham University
The Masters College And Seminary is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in lay ministry, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Santa Clarita, The Masters College And Seminary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 67% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 24 lay ministry students who graduated with this degree at The Masters College And Seminary in the most recent data year. Students who receive their lay ministry degree from The Masters College And Seminary earn around $46,541 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,089 to complete this degree.
Get the full lay ministry details for The Masters College And Seminary
Students looking for a strong lay ministry program will find one at Calvin College, which ranked #4. Calvin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Grand Rapids. About 74% of students finish within six years. About 20 lay ministry degrees were awarded at Calvin College in the most recent year. Lay Ministry graduates of Calvin College earn a median of $44,220 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,707.
See the full lay ministry program report for Calvin College
Liberty University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in lay ministry, ranking #5. Located in the city of Lynchburg, Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 67% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 22 lay ministry students who graduated with this degree at Liberty University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, lay ministry degree recipients from Liberty University generally make around $34,083. Typical student debt for the program is $23,750.
See the full lay ministry program report for Liberty University
Bethel University Minnesota earned the #6 position for lay ministry this year. Set in the suburb of Saint Paul, Bethel University Minnesota is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 71%. Bethel University Minnesota awarded about 15 lay ministry degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the lay ministry program make about $45,641 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,639 to complete this degree.
Get the full lay ministry details for Bethel University Minnesota
Malone University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best lay ministry schools. Malone University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Canton. About 45% of students finish within six years. About 11 lay ministry degrees were awarded at Malone University in the most recent year. Students who receive their lay ministry degree from Malone University earn around $48,359 in the first couple years of their career. Malone University graduates carry a median of $27,956 in student loans.
See the full lay ministry program report for Malone University
Grace College And Theological Seminary earned the #8 position for lay ministry this year. Grace College And Theological Seminary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Winona Lake. About 69% of students finish within six years. Grace College And Theological Seminary awarded about 17 lay ministry degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their lay ministry degree from Grace College And Theological Seminary earn around $34,513 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,500 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in lay ministry from Grace College And Theological Seminary
Bethel College Mishawaka came in at #9 for lay ministry this year. Located in the city of Mishawaka, Bethel College Mishawaka is a small private not-for-profit university. Bethel College Mishawaka graduates 52% of students within six years. About 16 lay ministry degrees were awarded at Bethel College Mishawaka in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, lay ministry degree recipients from Bethel College Mishawaka generally make around $31,046. Bethel College Mishawaka graduates carry a median of $23,319 in student loans.
Get the full lay ministry details for Bethel College Mishawaka
Colorado Christian University earned the #10 position for lay ministry this year. Colorado Christian University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Lakewood. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 24 lay ministry degrees were awarded at Colorado Christian University in the most recent year. Graduates of the lay ministry program make about $47,333 in their early career. Colorado Christian University graduates carry a median of $36,092 in student loans.
Read more about the lay ministry program at Colorado Christian University
Regent University placed #11 among the best lay ministry schools. Regent University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Virginia Beach. Regent University graduates 58% of students within six years. There were roughly 35 lay ministry students who graduated with this degree at Regent University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the lay ministry program make about $33,407 in their early career. Regent University graduates carry a median of $35,500 in student loans.
Read more about the lay ministry program at Regent University
Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best lay ministry schools. Set in the suburb of South Hamilton, Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary is a small private not-for-profit institution. Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary awarded about 118 lay ministry degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their lay ministry degree from Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary earn around $41,332 in the first couple years of their career.
See the full lay ministry program report for Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary
Grace Bible College placed #13 among the best lay ministry schools. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Wyoming. Roughly 51% of students complete a degree within six years here. Grace Bible College awarded about 51 lay ministry degrees in the most recent data year. Lay Ministry graduates of Grace Bible College earn a median of $41,219 early in their careers. Grace Bible College graduates carry a median of $30,118 in student loans.
Get the full lay ministry details for Grace Bible College
South Florida Bible College And Theological Seminary came in at #14 for lay ministry this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Deerfield Beach. The six-year graduation rate is 17%. South Florida Bible College And Theological Seminary awarded about 13 lay ministry degrees in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in lay ministry from South Florida Bible College And Theological Seminary
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 14 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).
