Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries programs
CIP 3907 · Theology & Religious Vocations · ranked by median earnings four years after completion
38 institutions report graduate earnings for Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries programs (College Scorecard, 2024-25). Across them the median is $45,138 four years after completion, with a typical debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.60× and 65% of graduates earning above the federal earnings threshold. Indicatively, 13 of the 44 programs with both earnings and a benchmark fall below the earnings-premium benchmark used by the 2025 federal test (effective July 1, 2026); the rest clear it.
| # | Institution | Earn 4yr | % > threshold | Median debt | Debt/earn | Earnings premium | 2 of 3 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | George Fox UniversityOR · Doctoral | $84,791 n=48 | 93% 5yr | $30,750 | 0.36× | Above +36% | Clears 2/2 |
| 2 | Andrews UniversityMI · Master's | $71,857 n=23 | 74% 1yr | — | — | Above +14% | — |
| 3 | Dallas Theological SeminaryTX · Master's | $62,064 n=30 | 65% 1yr | $37,863 | 0.61× | Below -5% | — |
| 4 | Loyola University MarylandMD · Master's | $60,324 n=51 | 80% 1yr | $68,868 | 1.14× | Below -21% | — |
| 5 | Loyola University ChicagoIL · Master's | $59,226 n=27 | — | $54,917 | 0.93× | Below -14% | Below 2/2 |
| 6 | Boise Bible CollegeID · Bachelor's | $55,360 n=18 | — | $21,475 | 0.39× | Above +56% | Below 1/2 |
| 7 | Indiana Wesleyan University-MarionIN · Master's | $53,123 n=25 | 64% 1yr | — | — | Below -9% | — |
| 8 | Indiana Wesleyan University-National & GlobalIN · Master's | $53,123 n=25 | 64% 1yr | — | — | Below -9% | — |
| 9 | Life Pacific UniversityCA · Bachelor's | $52,477 n=51 | 47% | $21,012 | 0.40× | Above +36% | Below 1/2 |
| 10 | Gordon-Conwell Theological SeminaryMA · Master's | $52,471 n=24 | — | — | — | Below -31% | — |
| 11 | Gordon CollegeMA · Bachelor's | $52,173 n=16 | — | $27,000 | 0.52× | Above +20% | Below 1/2 |
| 12 | Christian Theological SeminaryIN · Master's | $49,979 n=20 | — | $59,453 | 1.19× | Below -14% | Below 2/2 |
| 13 | Nazarene Bible CollegeCO · Bachelor's | $49,899 n=16 | — | $35,327 | 0.71× | Above +20% | — |
| 14 | Regent UniversityVA · Bachelor's | $49,799 n=35 | 50% 1yr | $24,800 | 0.50× | Above +31% | Below 1/2 |
| 15 | Dallas Baptist UniversityTX · Bachelor's | $49,408 n=16 | — | $25,000 | 0.51× | Above +38% | Clears 2/2 |
| 16 | Cairn University-LanghornePA · Bachelor's | $47,805 n=16 | — | $27,000 | 0.56× | Above +27% | — |
| 17 | Trinity Baptist CollegeFL · Bachelor's | $46,933 n=18 | — | — | — | Above +39% | — |
| 18 | Liberty UniversityVA · Bachelor's | $46,531 n=66 | 60% 1yr | $22,827 | 0.49× | Above +22% | Clears 2/2 |
| 19 | Dallas Baptist UniversityTX · Master's | $46,406 n=21 | 81% 5yr | $51,250 | 1.10× | Below -29% | Below 2/2 |
| 20 | Lee UniversityTN · Bachelor's | $45,844 n=111 | 51% | $25,875 | 0.56× | Above +31% | Clears 2/2 |
| 21 | Indiana Wesleyan University-MarionIN · Bachelor's | $45,693 n=51 | 78% 5yr | $21,250 | 0.47× | Above +22% | Clears 2/2 |
| 22 | Grace Christian UniversityMI · Bachelor's | $45,288 n=42 | 77% 1yr | $30,956 | 0.68× | Above +29% | — |
| 23 | Evangel UniversityMO · Bachelor's | $44,988 n=29 | 61% 5yr | $25,000 | 0.56× | Above +26% | Below 1/2 |
| 24 | Grace College and Theological SeminaryIN · Bachelor's | $44,733 n=19 | 84% 5yr | $23,375 | 0.52× | Above +19% | Clears 2/2 |
| 25 | George Fox UniversityOR · Bachelor's | $44,603 n=18 | — | $27,000 | 0.60× | Above +21% | — |
| 26 | Moody Bible InstituteIL · Bachelor's | $44,522 n=102 | 76% 5yr | $12,180 | 0.27× | Above +18% | Below 1/2 |
| 27 | Indiana Wesleyan University-MarionIN · Associate | $42,908 n=38 | 65% 5yr | $24,250 | 0.56× | Above +15% | Below 1/2 |
| 28 | Indiana Wesleyan University-National & GlobalIN · Associate | $42,908 n=38 | 65% 5yr | $24,250 | 0.56× | Above +15% | Below 1/2 |
| 29 | Central Christian College of the BibleMO · Bachelor's | $42,051 n=17 | 61% 5yr | $25,002 | 0.59× | Above +18% | Below 1/2 |
| 30 | North Central UniversityMN · Bachelor's | $41,979 n=37 | 76% | $26,250 | 0.62× | Above +5% | Below 1/2 |
| 31 | University of Valley ForgePA · Bachelor's | $40,407 n=18 | 55% 5yr | $31,000 | 0.77× | Above +7% | Clears 2/2 |
| 32 | Nelson UniversityTX · Bachelor's | $39,707 n=155 | 70% 5yr | $24,750 | 0.62× | Above +11% | Clears 2/2 |
| 33 | Lancaster Bible CollegePA · Bachelor's | $38,779 n=21 | 90% | $22,250 | 0.57× | Above +3% | Below 1/2 |
| 34 | Bethel UniversityMN · Master's | $38,749 n=37 | 72% 5yr | $44,884 | 1.16× | Below -43% | Below 2/2 |
| 35 | Cornerstone UniversityMI · Bachelor's | $38,298 n=18 | — | $23,250 | 0.61× | Above +9% | — |
| 36 | Bethel UniversityIN · Bachelor's | $37,149 n=16 | — | $23,125 | 0.62× | Below -1% | — |
| 37 | Spring Arbor UniversityMI · Bachelor's | $36,814 n=21 | — | $27,000 | 0.73× | Above +5% | — |
| 38 | Maranatha Baptist UniversityWI · Bachelor's | $36,728 n=16 | — | — | — | Below -6% | Below 1/2 |
| 39 | Oral Roberts UniversityOK · Bachelor's | $36,493 n=17 | — | $31,500 | 0.86× | Above +3% | — |
| 40 | John Brown UniversityAR · Bachelor's | $35,601 n=22 | — | $22,250 | 0.62× | Above +4% | — |
| 41 | Grace Christian UniversityMI · Associate | $35,492 n=59 | 58% 1yr | $19,089 | 0.54× | Above +1% | — |
| 42 | Crown CollegeMN · Bachelor's | $32,718 n=26 | — | $24,750 | 0.76× | Below -18% | Below 1/2 |
| 43 | Southeastern UniversityFL · Bachelor's | $30,430 n=17 | — | $25,000 | 0.82× | Below -10% | — |
| 44 | Universidad Pentecostal MizpaPR · Associate | $18,251 n=22 | — | — | — | Above +11% | — |
% > threshold is ED's own share of graduates earning above the federal earnings threshold, taken from the best available measurement window (4-, 5- or 1-year) pooled across all nine College Scorecard Field-of-Study releases; a chip marks any figure not on the 4-year window. Earnings premium compares median earnings four years out to the U.S. Census ACS median for a high-school graduate (undergraduate credentials) or bachelor's-degree holder (graduate credentials) in the institution's state. 2 of 3 yrs flags programs below that benchmark in two of the latest three reported cohort-years — the statutory trigger under the 2025 federal earnings-premium test (effective July 1, 2026). Indicative estimates; the Department of Education's official determination may differ. Figures lag the current year by 2–3 years.
| State | Median earn 4yr | Programs |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | $47,907 | 4 |
| Indiana | $45,213 | 8 |
| Pennsylvania | $40,407 | 3 |
| Minnesota | $38,749 | 3 |
| Michigan | $38,298 | 5 |
States with at least 3 reporting Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries programs, by median graduate earnings.
Which colleges have the highest-paying Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries programs?
By median earnings four years after completion, the highest-paying Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries programs in this dataset are George Fox University ($84,791), Andrews University ($71,857), Dallas Theological Seminary ($62,064). Earnings reflect College Scorecard field-of-study data (2024-25) and vary by credential level and location.
Are Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries programs at risk under the federal earnings-premium test?
Indicatively, 13 of the 44 Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries programs with both earnings and a state/national benchmark have median graduate earnings below the earnings-premium benchmark used by the 2025 federal test (effective July 1, 2026), under which a program can lose Title IV eligibility if its graduates earn less than a typical worker without the credential for 2 of 3 years. This estimate uses College Scorecard earnings vs U.S. Census ACS medians; the Department of Education's official determination uses its own cohort definition and may differ.
Track Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries programs across your peer set
We build tailored dashboards — the fields, institutions and risk signals your enrollment or program-review team cares about, kept current. Tell us what you'd want to watch.
Source: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard Field of Study, 2014–15 through 2022–23 cohorts plus the most-recent snapshot (2024-25); threshold pass-rates pooled across all nine releases. Earnings-premium benchmarks from the U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS). Compiled by Ibex Insights. See the methodology.