Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries
Offered at 322 college programs that reported results. Here is what graduates earn and owe at each credential level, and which programs pay best.
By credential level
| Credential | Programs | Typical earnings, 1 yr | Typical earnings, 5 yrs | Typical debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate | 17 | — | — | — |
| Associate | 18 | $34,124 | $43,871 | $24,284 |
| Bachelor's | 123 | $33,735 | $42,886 | $24,177 |
| Master's | 107 | $47,029 | $56,443 | — |
| Doctoral | 25 | — | — | — |
| Professional | 7 | — | — | — |
| Graduate certificate | 25 | — | — | — |
"Typical" is the median across programs of each program's median, counting only programs with unsuppressed data (at least three). It describes a typical program, not a national median for all graduates. Certificate figures include certificates earned at four-year colleges, often alongside a bachelor's; see degrees vs. certificates for a cleaner comparison. Source: College Scorecard field of study data.
One year after finishing, a typical associate program in this field reports median earnings of $34,124, versus $33,735 for a typical bachelor's program.
Highest-earning associate programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion | IN | $34,124 | $48,599 | $26,090 |
| 2 | Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global | IN | $34,124 | $48,599 | $26,090 |
| 3 | Valor Christian College | OH | $30,305 | $43,871 | $24,284 |
| 4 | Grace Christian University | MI | $37,323 | $41,028 | $24,002 |
| 5 | Universidad Pentecostal Mizpa | PR | — | $25,233 | — |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Highest-earning bachelor's programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dallas Baptist University | TX | — | $53,627 | — |
| 2 | Life Pacific University | CA | $38,841 | $53,420 | $25,000 |
| 3 | Gordon College | MA | $36,127 | $53,213 | — |
| 4 | Moody Bible Institute | IL | $39,557 | $52,943 | $23,499 |
| 5 | Liberty University | VA | $33,373 | $49,696 | $20,500 |
| 6 | Crown College | MN | — | $49,294 | — |
| 7 | Nazarene Bible College | CO | — | $48,922 | — |
| 8 | Regent University | VA | $46,270 | $47,070 | $34,500 |
| 9 | Oral Roberts University | OK | $26,347 | $44,881 | $34,790 |
| 10 | Lee University | TN | $38,222 | $44,683 | $28,375 |
| 11 | Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion | IN | $33,735 | $43,093 | $23,475 |
| 12 | Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global | IN | $33,735 | $43,093 | $23,475 |
| 13 | Grace Christian University | MI | $45,616 | $43,027 | $39,786 |
| 14 | Boise Bible College | ID | — | $42,886 | — |
| 15 | North Central University | MN | $34,202 | $42,354 | $23,093 |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Highest-earning master's programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary | MA | $59,370 | $62,836 | — |
| 2 | Olivet Nazarene University | IL | $41,201 | $62,687 | — |
| 3 | Dallas Baptist University | TX | $47,029 | $59,401 | — |
| 4 | Dallas Theological Seminary | TX | $36,744 | $58,296 | — |
| 5 | Loyola University Maryland | MD | — | $58,213 | — |
| 6 | University of St Thomas | TX | $57,016 | — | — |
| 7 | Bethel University | MN | $41,471 | $54,674 | — |
| 8 | Loyola University Chicago | IL | — | $54,533 | — |
| 9 | Oral Roberts University | OK | — | $53,685 | — |
| 10 | Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion | IN | $44,219 | $50,562 | — |
| 11 | Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest | TX | $48,665 | — | — |
| 12 | Grace College and Theological Seminary | IN | $47,411 | — | — |
| 13 | Luther Rice College & Seminary | GA | $64,044 | $40,470 | — |
| 14 | Southeastern University | FL | $34,842 | — | — |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Highest-earning doctoral programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | George Fox University | OR | $79,483 | $82,382 | — |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Highest-earning graduate certificate programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Liberty University | VA | — | $57,281 | — |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Related fields
Quick answers
- How much do pastoral counseling and specialized ministries graduates earn?
- One year after finishing, a typical bachelor's program in pastoral counseling and specialized ministries reports median earnings of $33,735. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field of study data.
