# Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries

> Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries is a field of study in the Theology and Religious Vocations area.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/programs/pastoral-counseling-and-specialized-ministries
- CIP code: 39.07 (Theology and Religious Vocations)
- Colleges offering it: 158 at its most common degree level

## Outcomes by degree level (College Scorecard, 2025)

| Degree level | Colleges | Median earnings 1 yr | Median earnings 4 yrs | Median federal debt |
| --- | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| Certificate | 38 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Associate's | 35 | $34,124 | $41,714 | $21,212 |
| Bachelor's | 158 | $33,735 | $44,603 | $23,500 |
| Master's | 118 | $45,624 | $56,174 | $29,661 |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 3 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Doctoral | 22 | $79,483 | $84,791 | $52,753 |
| First professional | 10 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Graduate/professional certificate | 42 | not reported | not reported | not reported |

## Colleges whose graduates earn the most (Bachelor's)

Only programs with at least 10 graduates are listed.

| College | Location | Median earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: |
| [Life Pacific University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/life-pacific-university-1482) | San Dimas, CA | $52,477 | $25,000 |
| [Gordon College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/gordon-college-1097) | Wenham, MA | $52,173 | not reported |
| [Regent University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/regent-university-2204) | Virginia Beach, VA | $49,799 | $34,326 |
| [Liberty University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/liberty-university-1481) | Lynchburg, VA | $46,531 | $20,500 |
| [Lee University-Tennessee](https://www.collegesref.com/college/lee-university-tennessee-1467) | Cleveland, TN | $45,844 | $27,000 |
| [Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion](https://www.collegesref.com/college/indiana-wesleyan-university-marion-1284) | Marion, IN | $45,693 | $23,555 |
| [Grace Christian University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/grace-christian-university-1102) | Wyoming, MI | $45,288 | $29,653 |
| [Grace College and Theological Seminary-Indiana](https://www.collegesref.com/college/grace-college-and-theological-seminary-indiana-1103) | Winona Lake, IN | $44,733 | $22,125 |
| [Moody Bible Institute](https://www.collegesref.com/college/moody-bible-institute-1768) | Chicago, IL | $44,522 | $19,490 |
| [North Central University-Minnesota](https://www.collegesref.com/college/north-central-university-minnesota-1893) | Minneapolis, MN | $41,979 | $22,843 |

## Related careers (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk)

- [Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/philosophy-and-religion-teachers-postsecondary): $80,260 median pay
- [Clergy](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/clergy): $60,810 median pay
- [Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/community-and-social-service-specialists-all-other): $56,730 median pay
- [Directors, Religious Activities and Education](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/directors-religious-activities-and-education): $52,100 median pay
- [Counselors, All Other](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/counselors-all-other): $50,860 median pay
- [Religious Workers, All Other](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/religious-workers-all-other): $45,280 median pay

## More in Theology and Religious Vocations

- [Theological and Ministerial Studies](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/theological-and-ministerial-studies): 244 colleges
- [Bible/Biblical Studies](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/bible-biblical-studies): 184 colleges
- [Religious Music and Worship](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/religious-music-and-worship): 134 colleges
- [Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/missions-missionary-studies-and-missiology): 98 colleges
- [Religious Education](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/religious-education): 79 colleges
- [Theology and Religious Vocations, Other](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/theology-and-religious-vocations-other): 56 colleges
- Religious Institution Administration and Law: 3 colleges

## Sources

- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/data/
- NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2020: https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/