Compare 9 Lay Ministry. programs in the South. Average earnings: $36,054.
Lay Ministry programs produce graduates earning between $23,579 and $46,276—a $23K spread that demonstrates why program selection matters independently of school prestige. Across 9 ranked programs in the South, outcomes vary based on program quality, not institutional reputation.
Lubbock Christian University's Lay Ministry program leads with graduates earning $46,276, well above the regional average of $36,054. Liberty University follows at $41,716 with a larger cohort of 63 students, while Dallas Baptist University rounds out the top three at $40,011—showing that smaller Christian institutions consistently outperform expectations in ministry preparation.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. Lubbock Christian University graduates borrow $20,948 and face a 12.1% payment burden, landing in the 'Manageable' category. However, when parent loans are included, all top programs show challenging family burdens exceeding 20%, requiring careful financial planning for ministry careers.
Highest program earnings: $46,276
Strong outcomes with 73% acceptance
12.1% payment burden | Manageable
21.9% family burden | Challenging
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Lubbock Christian UniversityPrivate | $46,276 | 14 | $20,948 | Manageable | $14,664 | Challenging |
| #2 | Liberty UniversityPrivate | $41,716 | 63 | $24,500 | Manageable | $16,398 | High |
| #3 | Dallas Baptist UniversityPrivate | $40,011 | 16 | $21,591 | Manageable | $19,836 | High |
| #4 | Lee UniversityPrivate | $37,581 | 84 | $25,750 | Challenging | $24,000 | High |
| #5 | $36,756 | 66 | $24,725 | Challenging | $20,475 | High | |
| #6 | Regent UniversityPrivate | $35,365 | 21 | $24,534 | High | $15,513 | High |
| #7 | Southeastern UniversityPrivate | $35,209 | 15 | $21,500 | Challenging | $22,632 | High |
| #8 | John Brown UniversityPrivate | $27,996 | 12 | $21,250 | High | $18,650 | High |
| #9 | Johnson UniversityPrivate | $23,579 | 12 | $21,500 | High | $26,079 | 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 →
