Compare 28 Lay Ministry. programs ranked by graduate earnings. Average earnings: $38,506. Top programs: $52,477+.
With top graduates earning $52,477, Lay Ministry stands out as a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs exceeds $13,000—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige. Across 28 ranked programs, outcomes track program quality, not school reputation.
Life Pacific University leads with Lay Ministry graduates earning $52,477—well above the $38,506 field average. Gordon College follows closely at $52,173, and Regent University rounds out the top three at $49,799. None of these schools dominate broader rankings, yet all three significantly outperform programs at institutions with stronger general reputations.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. Life Pacific University graduates borrow $22,395 and face just a 10.3% payment burden, landing in the 'Good' affordability tier. That means loan payments take a manageable bite out of post-grad income. Moody Bible Institute also earns a 'Good' rating at 11.3%, showing that strong debt outcomes aren't limited to a single program.
Highest program earnings: $52,477
Strong outcomes ($52,477) with 95.8% acceptance
10.3% payment burden | Good - payment 8-12% of discretionary
19.4% family burden | Challenging - payment 18-25% of discretionary
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Life Pacific UniversityPrivate | $52,477 | 33 | $22,395 | Good | $17,305 | Challenging |
| #2 | Gordon CollegePrivate | $52,173 | 13 | $26,250 | Manageable | $43,838 | High |
| #3 | Regent UniversityPrivate | $49,799 | 34 | $24,534 | Manageable | $15,513 | Challenging |
| #4 | Cairn University-LanghornePrivate | $47,805 | 6 | $26,926 | Manageable | $20,393 | High |
| #5 | Liberty UniversityPrivate | $46,531 | 73 | $24,500 | Manageable | $16,398 | Challenging |
| #6 | Lee UniversityPrivate | $45,844 | 69 | $25,750 | Manageable | $24,000 | High |
| #7 | $45,693 | 49 | $24,250 | Manageable | $12,987 | Challenging | |
| #8 | Grace Christian UniversityPrivate | $45,288 | 24 | $24,375 | Manageable | $14,303 | Challenging |
| #9 | $44,733 | 17 | $19,500 | Manageable | $31,412 | High | |
| #10 | Moody Bible InstitutePrivate | $44,522 | 58 | $18,149 | Good | $13,226 | Challenging |
| #11 | North Central UniversityPrivate | $41,979 | 33 | $23,200 | Manageable | $17,452 | High |
| #12 | University Of Valley ForgePrivate | $40,407 | 5 | $27,000 | Challenging | $25,868 | High |
| #13 | Nelson UniversityPrivate | $39,707 | 61 | $24,725 | Challenging | $20,475 | High |
| #14 | Lancaster Bible CollegePrivate | $38,779 | 29 | $20,500 | Manageable | $23,000 | High |
| #15 | Lubbock Christian UniversityPrivate | $38,473 | 7 | $20,948 | Challenging | $14,664 | High |
| #16 | Cornerstone UniversityPrivate | $38,298 | 6 | $25,000 | Challenging | $18,141 | High |
| #17 | Bethel UniversityPrivate | $37,149 | 19 | $25,000 | Challenging | $15,256 | High |
| #18 | Maranatha Baptist UniversityPrivate | $36,728 | 7 | $14,143 | Manageable | $17,000 | High |
| #19 | Oral Roberts UniversityPrivate | $36,493 | 12 | $27,000 | High | $28,450 | High |
| #20 | Crown CollegePrivate | $32,718 | 11 | $22,500 | High | $17,533 | High |
| #21 | Bethel UniversityPrivate | $31,133 | 10 | $21,500 | High | $24,157 | High |
| #22 | Southeastern UniversityPrivate | $30,430 | 12 | $21,500 | High | $22,632 | High |
| #23 | Eastern UniversityPrivate | $29,685 | 6 | $25,000 | High | $17,070 | High |
| #24 | Geneva CollegePrivate | $29,685 | 9 | $25,198 | High | $25,183 | High |
| #25 | $28,598 | 8 | $21,325 | High | $28,694 | 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 May 2026 refresh for 2026 rankings, based on Department of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
