Compare 32 Lay Ministry. programs ranked by graduate earnings. Average earnings: $34,829. Top programs: $48,916+.
With top graduates earning $48,916, Lay Ministry stands out as a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs exceeds $14K—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige.
Grace Christian University's Lay Ministry program leads with graduates earning $48,916, well above the $34,829 average across all 32 programs. Grace College follows at $46,577, demonstrating how specialized Christian institutions dominate this field regardless of broader institutional rankings.
For students, Maranatha Baptist University offers the strongest value with a 10.7% payment burden and 'Good' affordability rating—graduates borrow $14,143 but can manage payments comfortably. Grace Christian University leads family value despite higher total borrowing, thanks to strong $48,916 earnings.
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Grace Christian UniversityPrivate | $48,916 | 32 | $24,375 | Manageable | $14,303 | Challenging |
| #2 | $46,577 | 28 | $19,500 | Good | $31,412 | High | |
| #3 | Lubbock Christian UniversityPrivate | $46,276 | 14 | $20,948 | Manageable | $14,664 | Challenging |
| #4 | University Of Valley ForgePrivate | $42,530 | 9 | $27,000 | Challenging | $25,868 | High |
| #5 | Liberty UniversityPrivate | $41,716 | 63 | $24,500 | Manageable | $16,398 | High |
| #6 | Crown CollegePrivate | $41,595 | 16 | $22,500 | Manageable | $17,533 | High |
| #7 | Bethel UniversityPrivate | $40,760 | 17 | $21,500 | Manageable | $24,157 | High |
| #8 | Maranatha Baptist UniversityPrivate | $40,679 | 10 | $14,143 | Good | $17,000 | High |
| #9 | Dallas Baptist UniversityPrivate | $40,011 | 16 | $21,591 | Manageable | $19,836 | High |
| #10 | $39,380 | 33 | $24,250 | Challenging | $12,987 | High | |
| #11 | North Central UniversityPrivate | $37,883 | 21 | $23,200 | Challenging | $17,452 | High |
| #12 | Lee UniversityPrivate | $37,581 | 84 | $25,750 | Challenging | $24,000 | High |
| #13 | Moody Bible InstitutePrivate | $37,141 | 80 | $18,149 | Manageable | $13,226 | High |
| #14 | Taylor UniversityPrivate | $37,035 | 17 | $20,500 | Challenging | $45,174 | High |
| #15 | $36,756 | 66 | $24,725 | Challenging | $20,475 | High | |
| #16 | Regent UniversityPrivate | $35,365 | 21 | $24,534 | High | $15,513 | High |
| #17 | Southeastern UniversityPrivate | $35,209 | 15 | $21,500 | Challenging | $22,632 | High |
| #18 | Eastern UniversityPrivate | $34,981 | 9 | $25,000 | High | $17,070 | High |
| #19 | Life Pacific UniversityPrivate | $34,572 | 29 | $22,395 | High | $17,305 | High |
| #20 | Bethel UniversityPrivate | $31,046 | 13 | $25,000 | High | $15,256 | High |
| #21 | $30,817 | 6 | $21,325 | High | $28,694 | High | |
| #22 | $30,761 | 15 | $17,500 | High | $9,043 | High | |
| #23 | Lancaster Bible CollegePrivate | $30,595 | 21 | $20,500 | High | $23,000 | High |
| #24 | Gordon CollegePrivate | $30,453 | 10 | $26,250 | High | $43,838 | High |
| #25 | Geneva CollegePrivate | $30,276 | 5 | $25,198 | High | $25,183 | High |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
