Education
Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary
- Median pay
- $80,260
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Doctoral or professional degree
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Instructing
ProgramsTheology and Religious Vocations
Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries
CIP39.07
158 colleges offer Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries. See what it covers, which degree levels are available and what graduates earn and borrow.
Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Colleges offering it
- 158
- at its most common level
- Bachelor's earnings
- $44,603
- median, 4 years after
- Bachelor's debt
- $23,500
- median federal loans
Colleges offering it, by degree level
- Certificate
- 38
- Associate's
- 35
- Bachelor's
- 158
- Master's
- 118
- Post-baccalaureate certificate
- 3
- Doctoral
- 22
- First professional
- 10
- Graduate/professional certificate
- 42
What it covers
About Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries
Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries is part of Theology and Religious Vocations: instructional programs that focus on the intramural study of theology and that prepare individuals for the professional practice of religious vocations.
Definition: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs 2020, code 39.07.
Programs in this field
Colleges report these specific programs under CIP 39.07.
- Pastoral Studies/Counseling
- Youth Ministry
- Urban Ministry
- Women's Ministry
- Lay Ministry
- Chaplain/Chaplaincy Studies
By degree level
Earnings and debt by degree level
Medians across colleges of each college's own program median. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working.
| Degree level | Colleges | Median earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate | 38 | Not reported | Not reported |
| Associate's | 35 | $41,7144 yrs after · 4 colleges | $21,2125 colleges |
| Bachelor's | 158 | $44,6034 yrs after · 29 colleges | $23,50019 colleges |
| Master's | 118 | $56,1744 yrs after · 6 colleges | $29,6614 colleges |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 3 | Not reported | Not reported |
| Doctoral | 22 | $84,7914 yrs after · 1 college | $52,7531 college |
| First professional | 10 | Not reported | Not reported |
| Graduate/professional certificate | 42 | Not reported | Not reported |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Colleges with too few graduates have their earnings and debt suppressed, so the number of colleges reporting is smaller than the number offering the program.
Bachelor's programs
Where Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries graduates earn the most
Median earnings four years after finishing, among programs with at least 10 graduates in the latest year. Earnings are one measure; cost and graduation rate matter too.
- 1
San Dimas, CA · Private nonprofit · 24 graduates
$52,477
debt $25,000
- 2
Wenham, MA · Private nonprofit · 15 graduates
$52,173
debt not reported
- 3
Virginia Beach, VA · Private nonprofit · 24 graduates
$49,799
debt $34,326
- 4
Lynchburg, VA · Private nonprofit · 87 graduates
$46,531
debt $20,500
- 5
Cleveland, TN · Private nonprofit · 67 graduates
$45,844
debt $27,000
- 6
Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion
Marion, IN · Private nonprofit · 23 graduates
$45,693
debt $23,555
- 7
Wyoming, MI · Private nonprofit · 20 graduates
$45,288
debt $29,653
- 8
Grace College and Theological Seminary-Indiana
Winona Lake, IN · Private nonprofit · 18 graduates
$44,733
debt $22,125
- 9
Chicago, IL · Private nonprofit · 52 graduates
$44,522
debt $19,490
- 10
North Central University-Minnesota
Minneapolis, MN · Private nonprofit · 34 graduates
$41,979
debt $22,843
Careers
Careers this program leads to
Occupations linked to Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries by the NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, highest national median pay first. Pay and outlook are BLS figures for each occupation.
Community and social service
Clergy
- Median pay
- $60,810
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Bachelor's degree
- Speaking
- Active Listening
- Social Perceptiveness
- Bright outlook
Community and social service
Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other
- Median pay
- $56,730
- Outlook
- Faster than average
Bachelor's degree
Community and social service
Directors, Religious Activities and Education
- Median pay
- $52,100
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Bachelor's degree
- Speaking
- Active Listening
- Social Perceptiveness
- Bright outlook
Community and social service
Counselors, All Other
- Median pay
- $50,860
- Outlook
- Faster than average
Master's degree
Community and social service
Religious Workers, All Other
- Median pay
- $45,280
- Outlook
- Slower than average
Bachelor's degree
More in Theology and Religious Vocations
Other programs in the same area of study, by how many colleges offer them.
Every program in this area- Theological and Ministerial Studies244 colleges
- Bible/Biblical Studies184 colleges
- Religious Music and Worship134 colleges
- Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology98 colleges
- Religious Education79 colleges
- Theology and Religious Vocations, Other56 colleges
- Religious Institution Administration and Law3 colleges
Questions about Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries
How many colleges offer Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries?
Published colleges on CollegesRef report Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries at these degree levels: certificate (38 colleges), associate's (35 colleges), bachelor's (158 colleges), master's (118 colleges), post-baccalaureate certificate (3 colleges), doctoral (22 colleges), first professional (10 colleges), graduate/professional certificate (42 colleges). Counts are from College Scorecard field-of-study data (2025).
What do Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries graduates earn?
At the median college, bachelor's graduates in Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries earn $44,603 a year four years after finishing, across 29 colleges that report earnings. Figures cover graduates who received federal aid.
Where do Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries graduates earn the most?
Life Pacific University reports the highest median earnings for bachelor's graduates in Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries: $52,477 four years after finishing, among programs with at least 10 graduates.