Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries: is it worth it?
A 0–100 score blending this major’s national earnings, ROI and typical debt. How it’s scored.
National picture across 38 college programs, at a typical net price.
On these figures the cost and debt outweigh the earnings premium.
What Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries pays
Career outlook for Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries graduates
The job market for the occupations Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries graduates typically enter, projected through 2034 — from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. This is the demand side, complementing the IRS-verified graduate earnings above.
Top jobs for this major
| Occupation | U.S. jobs | Growth to 2034 | Median pay | Typical entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clergy | 262,000 | +1.0% | $60,820 | Bachelor's degree |
| Directors, religious activities and education | 138,900 | +2.1% | $54,840 | Bachelor's degree |
| Community and social service specialists, all other | 119,200 | +4.6% | $54,940 | Bachelor's degree |
| Religious workers, all other | 88,400 | +0.6% | $45,120 | Bachelor's degree |
| Counselors, all other | 69,100 | +12.6% | $49,830 | Master's degree |
| Philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary | 27,300 | +0.7% | $78,050 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections (2024–34) & the NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk. Occupation pay is the national median wage for the role — not the same as graduate earnings, which we draw from IRS records.
Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries vs similar majors
How Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries stacks up against the closest fields in Theology & Religious Vocations on pay, debt, ROI and the DR Rating. The best figure in each row is highlighted.
| Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries Theology & Religious Vocations · this major | Theological and Ministerial Studies | Theology and Religious Vocations, Other | Religious Education | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DR Rating | 21 F | 35 D | 29 F | 21 F |
| ROI verdict | Poor return | Strong return | Break-even | Poor return |
| Median earnings (5 yr) | $45,219 | $60,227 | $56,863 | $47,024 |
| Median earnings (1 yr) | $36,143 | $48,242 | $46,800 | $35,838 |
| ROI vs cost | -97% | +75% | +38% | -75% |
| Typical debt | $26,378 | $41,317 | $38,724 | $28,193 |
| Colleges offering it | 38 | 132 | 14 | 17 |
Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries earnings over time
National median earnings one year after graduating, by cohort year — the consistent measure available across the federal data’s history.
Best colleges for Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries
Ranked by the ROI of this major at each college — its graduate earnings against the cost.
| # | College | Credential | Earnings (5 yr) | Median debt | 10-yr ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | George Fox University Newberg, OR | Master's | $93,548 | $30,750 | +551% | Strong return |
| 2 | Dallas Christian College Dallas, TX | Associate's | $51,166 | — | +34% | Break-even |
| 3 | Eastern University Saint Davids, PA | Associate's | $51,838 | — | +28% | Break-even |
| 4 | Grace College and Theological Seminary Winona Lake, IN | Associate's | $50,451 | $23,375 | +13% | Break-even |
| 5 | Liberty University Lynchburg, VA | Associate's | $50,386 | $22,827 | -20% | Poor return |
| 6 | Vanguard University of Southern California Costa Mesa, CA | Associate's | $47,152 | — | -49% | Poor return |
| 7 | Bethel University Saint Paul, MN | Certificate | $50,731 | $44,884 | -56% | Poor return |
| 8 | Liberty University Lynchburg, VA | Professional | $49,857 | — | -59% | Poor return |
| 9 | Ohio Christian University Circleville, OH | Certificate | $47,409 | — | -71% | Poor return |
| 10 | Dallas Baptist University Dallas, TX | Certificate | $48,006 | $51,250 | -77% | Poor return |
| 11 | Oral Roberts University Tulsa, OK | Certificate | $44,893 | — | -101% | Poor return |
| 12 | North Central University Minneapolis, MN | Associate's | $44,697 | $26,250 | -105% | Poor return |
| 13 | Bethel University Saint Paul, MN | Associate's | $44,268 | — | -113% | Poor return |
| 14 | Moody Bible Institute Chicago, IL | Associate's | $43,388 | $12,180 | -133% | Poor return |
| 15 | Crown College Saint Bonifacius, MN | Associate's | $42,816 | $24,750 | -135% | Poor return |
| 16 | Lee University Cleveland, TN | Associate's | $43,323 | $25,875 | -136% | Poor return |
| 17 | Life Pacific University San Dimas, CA | Associate's | $40,556 | $21,012 | -190% | Poor return |
| 18 | Evangel University Springfield, MO | Associate's | $39,859 | $25,000 | -211% | Poor return |
| 19 | Nelson University Waxahachie, TX | Associate's | $38,540 | $24,750 | -223% | Poor return |
| 20 | Geneva College Beaver Falls, PA | Associate's | $38,032 | — | -235% | Poor return |
| 21 | University of Northwestern-St Paul Saint Paul, MN | Associate's | $37,525 | — | -235% | Poor return |
| 22 | Gordon College Wenham, MA | Associate's | $37,771 | — | -245% | Poor return |
| 23 | University of Valley Forge Phoenixville, PA | Associate's | $35,468 | — | -248% | Poor return |
| 24 | Lancaster Bible College Lancaster, PA | Associate's | $34,930 | $22,250 | -271% | Poor return |
| 25 | Dallas Baptist University Dallas, TX | Associate's | $34,770 | — | -279% | Poor return |
Related majors
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard. ROI is computed by Degree Return — see how. Read the methodology. Data as of 2024.