Grad school · Theology
Pastoral ministry graduate programs: earnings and debt by school
79 colleges award master's degrees in pastoral ministry. Graduates of the typical program earned $45,624 a year after finishing, and those who borrowed left with a median of $29,661 in federal loans taken at the school.
Master's programs79
Graduates in 2023-24803
Typical median debt$29,661
Typical earnings 1 yr after$45,624
Typical earnings 4 yrs after$53,123
Earnings to debt1.5x
Official field: Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries. Admission figures such as LSAT, MCAT or GRE scores are not part of this federal data, so check each school.
| Degree level | Programs | Typical earnings 1 yr after | Typical median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master's | 79 | $45,624 | $29,661 |
| Doctoral | 13 | $79,483 | $52,753 |
| Professional doctorate | 3 | n/a | n/a |
Is it worth it? Debt vs first-year pay
Each dot is one master's program. Dots above the dashed line have graduates earning more in their first year than the program's median debt.
Master's programs in pastoral ministry
Highest first-year earnings
| College | Graduates (2023-24) | Earnings 1 yr after | Earnings 4 yrs after | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andrews UniversityBerrien Springs, MI | 52 | n/a | $71,857 | n/a |
| Loyola University ChicagoChicago, IL | 56 | n/a | $59,226 | n/a |
| Indiana Wesleyan University-MarionMarion, IN | 9 | $44,219 | $53,123 | n/a |
| Dallas Baptist UniversityDallas, TX | 28 | $47,029 | $46,406 | n/a |
| Bethel UniversitySaint Paul, MN | 17 | $41,471 | $38,749 | $28,572 |
| Luther Rice College & SeminaryLithonia, GA | 23 | $64,044 | n/a | n/a |
| University of St ThomasHouston, TX | 25 | $57,016 | n/a | n/a |
| Grace College and Theological SeminaryWinona Lake, IN | 22 | $47,411 | n/a | n/a |
| Olivet Nazarene UniversityBourbonnais, IL | 5 | $41,201 | n/a | n/a |
| Southeastern UniversityLakeland, FL | 24 | $34,842 | n/a | $23,552 |
| Abilene Christian UniversityAbilene, TX | 26 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| AdventHealth UniversityOrlando, FL | 8 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Amridge UniversityMontgomery, AL | 11 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Arlington Baptist UniversityArlington, TX | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Barry UniversityMiami, FL | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Biola UniversityLa Mirada, CA | 10 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Brigham Young UniversityProvo, UT | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| California Baptist UniversityRiverside, CA | 8 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Calvary UniversityKansas City, MO | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Colorado Christian UniversityLakewood, CO | 9 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Columbia International UniversityColumbia, SC | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Corban UniversitySalem, OR | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Cornerstone UniversityGrand Rapids, MI | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Creighton UniversityOmaha, NE | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Crown CollegeSaint Bonifacius, MN | 7 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Duquesne UniversityPittsburgh, PA | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Emory UniversityAtlanta, GA | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Faulkner UniversityMontgomery, AL | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Fordham UniversityBronx, NY | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Freed-Hardeman UniversityHenderson, TN | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Gardner-Webb UniversityBoiling Springs, NC | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| George Fox UniversityNewberg, OR | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Grace School of TheologyThe Woodlands, TX | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Hardin-Simmons UniversityAbilene, TX | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Holy Apostles College and SeminaryCromwell, CT | 12 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Howard Payne UniversityBrownwood, TX | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Huntington UniversityHuntington, IN | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Judson UniversityElgin, IL | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Kuyper CollegeGrand Rapids, MI | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Lancaster Bible CollegeLancaster, PA | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Lee UniversityCleveland, TN | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Lenoir-Rhyne UniversityHickory, NC | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Liberty UniversityLynchburg, VA | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Loyola Marymount UniversityLos Angeles, CA | 11 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Maranatha Baptist UniversityWatertown, WI | 17 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Merrimack CollegeNorth Andover, MA | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Midwestern Baptist Theological SeminaryKansas City, MO | 28 | n/a | n/a | $30,750 |
| Milligan UniversityMilligan, TN | 10 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Mission UniversitySpringfield, MO | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Moody Bible InstituteChicago, IL | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Moravian UniversityBethlehem, PA | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Naropa UniversityBoulder, CO | 13 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Nelson UniversityWaxahachie, TX | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Neumann UniversityAston, PA | 14 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| New Orleans Baptist Theological SeminaryNew Orleans, LA | 33 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Northwest Nazarene UniversityNampa, ID | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Oakwood UniversityHuntsville, AL | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Regent UniversityVirginia Beach, VA | 10 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Seattle UniversitySeattle, WA | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Seton Hall UniversitySouth Orange, NJ | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Southeastern Baptist Theological SeminaryWake Forest, NC | 12 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Southern Adventist UniversityCollegedale, TN | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| The Master's University and SeminarySanta Clarita, CA | 65 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| The Southern Baptist Theological SeminaryLouisville, KY | 41 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Trinity Bible College and Graduate SchoolEllendale, ND | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Universidad Central de BayamonBayamón, PR | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Universidad Pentecostal MizpaRio Piedras, PR | 13 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Universidad Teologica del CaribeTrujillo Alto, PR | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of DallasIrving, TX | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of DaytonDayton, OH | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of Northwestern-St PaulSaint Paul, MN | 9 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of St ThomasSaint Paul, MN | 15 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of the Incarnate WordSan Antonio, TX | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Ursuline CollegePepper Pike, OH | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Vanguard University of Southern CaliforniaCosta Mesa, CA | 14 | n/a | n/a | $37,707 |
| Warner UniversityLake Wales, FL | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Welch CollegeGallatin, TN | 10 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| William Carey UniversityHattiesburg, MS | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| World Mission UniversityLos Angeles, CA | 24 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Doctoral programs in pastoral ministry
Highest first-year earnings
| College | Graduates (2023-24) | Earnings 1 yr after | Earnings 4 yrs after | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| George Fox UniversityNewberg, OR | 46 | $79,483 | $84,791 | $52,753 |
| Abilene Christian UniversityAbilene, TX | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Amridge UniversityMontgomery, AL | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Drew UniversityMadison, NJ | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological SeminaryAnkeny, IA | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Fordham UniversityBronx, NY | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Gardner-Webb UniversityBoiling Springs, NC | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Loyola University ChicagoChicago, IL | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Neumann UniversityAston, PA | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| New Orleans Baptist Theological SeminaryNew Orleans, LA | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Southeastern Baptist Theological SeminaryWake Forest, NC | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| The Master's University and SeminarySanta Clarita, CA | 22 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| The Southern Baptist Theological SeminaryLouisville, KY | 49 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Professional doctorate programs in pastoral ministry
| College | Graduates (2023-24) | Earnings 1 yr after | Earnings 4 yrs after | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern UniversitySaint Davids, PA | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| La Salle UniversityPhiladelphia, PA | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| North Park UniversityChicago, IL | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Frequently asked questions
How much do pastoral ministry graduates earn?
Graduates of the typical master's program earned a median of $45,624 one year after finishing, in 2024 dollars.
How much debt do pastoral ministry graduate students take on?
The typical program's graduates who borrowed left with a median of $29,661 in federal loans taken at that school. Undergraduate loans are not included.
Undergraduate: Pastoral ministry major
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field of study file, data release of October 15, 2026. Earnings are medians for graduates who received federal aid and were working, not enrolled. One-year figures: graduates of 2020-21 and 2021-22, measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars. Four-year figures: graduates of 2017-18 and 2018-19, measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars. More on the data.