by our College Data Analytics Team
[Youth Ministry](/majors/theology-and-religious-vocations/pastoral-counseling-specialized-ministries/youth-ministry/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 20 schools to find the best return on investment for youth ministry students.
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The right youth ministry school can pay off for years to come. That is why we developed our Best Value Youth 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.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value Youth 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.
Learn more about our methodology
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in youth ministry, balancing cost against outcomes.
Andrews University earned the #1 spot for value among youth ministry schools in the United States. Andrews University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Berrien Springs. In-state tuition and fees average $35,056. Students borrow a median of $26,314 to complete the youth ministry program here. Early-career youth ministry graduates make about $62,634. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Students looking for strong value in youth ministry will find it at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, which ranked #2. Located in the city of New Orleans, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,368.
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value youth ministry schools. Set in the suburb of Wake Forest, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,318. Youth Ministry graduates of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary earn a median of $54,863 early in their careers. Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary admits about 75% of applicants.
Grace College And Theological Seminary came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value youth ministry schools. 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. Students borrow a median of $25,500 to complete the youth ministry program here. Early-career youth ministry graduates make about $34,513. That is a strong return on a $25,500 median debt. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Lee University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in youth ministry, landing the #5 spot this year. Lee University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cleveland. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $23,790. Typical student debt for youth ministry graduates is $28,750. Youth Ministry graduates of Lee University earn a median of $35,189 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Lee University admits about 70% of applicants.
Olivet Nazarene University earned the #6 position for value in youth ministry this year. Olivet Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Bourbonnais. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $38,900. Youth Ministry graduates carry a median of $26,797 in student loans. Soon after graduation, youth ministry degree recipients from Olivet Nazarene University generally make around $48,505. Set against $26,797 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Olivet Nazarene University admits about 56% of applicants.
Ozark Christian College came in at #7 for value in youth ministry this year. Set in the city of Joplin, Ozark Christian College is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $16,000. Youth Ministry graduates carry a median of $23,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, youth ministry degree recipients from Ozark Christian College generally make around $26,422. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Vanguard University Of Southern California came in at #8 for value in youth ministry this year. Located in the city of Costa Mesa, Vanguard University Of Southern California is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $41,700. Students borrow a median of $21,111 to complete the youth ministry program here. Youth Ministry graduates of Vanguard University Of Southern California earn a median of $80,727 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 62% of applicants are accepted.
Southwestern Assemblies Of God University earned the #9 position for value in youth ministry this year. Located in the suburb of Waxahachie, Southwestern Assemblies Of God University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $25,064. Students borrow a median of $26,750 to complete the youth ministry program here. Soon after graduation, youth ministry degree recipients from Southwestern Assemblies Of God University generally make around $37,774. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Southwestern Assemblies Of God University admits about 89% of applicants.
Moody Bible Institute placed #10 among the best values for youth ministry. Located in the city of Chicago, Moody Bible Institute is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,786. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete the youth ministry program here. Youth Ministry graduates of Moody Bible Institute earn a median of $35,426 early in their careers. Set against $12,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 83%.
Indiana Wesleyan University ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value youth ministry schools. Indiana Wesleyan University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Marion. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $32,352. Youth Ministry graduates carry a median of $24,221 in student loans. Youth Ministry graduates of Indiana Wesleyan University earn a median of $31,281 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,221 median debt. Indiana Wesleyan University admits about 89% of applicants.
Taylor University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value youth ministry schools. Set in the rural area of Upland, Taylor University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $40,490 in tuition and fees. Youth Ministry graduates carry a median of $21,832 in student loans. Soon after graduation, youth ministry degree recipients from Taylor University generally make around $37,035. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Taylor University admits about 74% of applicants.
Gordon College landed the #13 spot for youth ministry value this year. Gordon College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Wenham. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $30,700. Youth Ministry graduates carry a median of $26,372 in student loans. Soon after graduation, youth ministry degree recipients from Gordon College generally make around $37,097. Set against $26,372 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Gordon College admits about 69% of applicants.
Lancaster Bible College placed #14 among the best values for youth ministry. Lancaster Bible College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Lancaster. In-state tuition and fees average $29,990. Typical student debt for youth ministry graduates is $22,584. Soon after graduation, youth ministry degree recipients from Lancaster Bible College generally make around $35,286. That is a strong return on a $22,584 median debt. Roughly 56% of applicants are accepted.
Crown College landed the #15 spot for youth ministry value this year. Set in the rural area of Saint Bonifacius, Crown College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $31,410. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the youth ministry program here. Soon after graduation, youth ministry degree recipients from Crown College generally make around $26,538. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Crown College admits about 23% of applicants.
Dallas Baptist University came in at #16 for value in youth ministry this year. Dallas Baptist University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Dallas. In-state tuition and fees average $40,190. Students borrow a median of $22,819 to complete the youth ministry program here. Soon after graduation, youth ministry degree recipients from Dallas Baptist University generally make around $40,502. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Liberty University placed #17 among the best values for youth ministry. 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. Youth Ministry graduates carry a median of $23,750 in student loans. Early-career youth ministry graduates make about $34,083. That is a strong return on a $23,750 median debt. The acceptance rate is 99%.
Colorado Christian University ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value youth ministry schools. 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 youth ministry graduates is $36,092. Soon after graduation, youth ministry degree recipients from Colorado Christian University generally make around $47,333. That is a strong return on a $36,092 median debt.
Southeastern University placed #19 among the best values for youth ministry. Set in the city of Lakeland, Southeastern University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $32,950 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the youth ministry program here. Soon after graduation, youth ministry degree recipients from Southeastern University generally make around $35,209. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 53%.
Valor Christian College placed #20 among the best values for youth ministry. Valor Christian College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Canal Winchester. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,612. Typical student debt for youth ministry graduates is $17,635. Early-career youth ministry graduates make about $29,571.
Explore other best-value rankings in majors related to Youth Ministry. See all related rankings.
This list is compiled 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 · 20 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 20 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.