Theological and Ministerial Studies: 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 132 college programs, at a typical net price.
Graduate earnings clearly outpace the cost and debt — this degree pays back quickly.
What Theological and Ministerial Studies pays
Career outlook for Theological and Ministerial Studies graduates
The job market for the occupations Theological and Ministerial Studies 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 |
| Religious workers, all other | 88,400 | +0.6% | $45,120 | Bachelor'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.
Theological and Ministerial Studies vs similar majors
How Theological and Ministerial Studies 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.
| Theological and Ministerial Studies Theology & Religious Vocations · this major | Theology and Religious Vocations, Other | Religious Education | Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DR Rating | 35 D | 29 F | 21 F | 21 F |
| ROI verdict | Strong return | Break-even | Poor return | Poor return |
| Median earnings (5 yr) | $60,227 | $56,863 | $47,024 | $45,219 |
| Median earnings (1 yr) | $48,242 | $46,800 | $35,838 | $36,143 |
| ROI vs cost | +75% | +38% | -75% | -97% |
| Typical debt | $41,317 | $38,724 | $28,193 | $26,378 |
| Colleges offering it | 132 | 14 | 17 | 38 |
Theological and Ministerial Studies 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 Theological and Ministerial Studies
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 | Duke University Durham, NC | Master's | $119,629 | $25,583 | +989% | Strong return |
| 2 | Concordia University-Saint Paul Saint Paul, MN | Associate's | $81,096 | — | +878% | Strong return |
| 3 | Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary Wake Forest, NC | Certificate | $81,989 | — | +606% | Strong return |
| 4 | Martin Luther College New Ulm, MN | Associate's | $71,992 | $18,899 | +516% | Strong return |
| 5 | Drew University Madison, NJ | Master's | $73,739 | — | +492% | Strong return |
| 6 | College of Biblical Studies-Houston Houston, TX | Associate's | $49,091 | $21,000 | +355% | Strong return |
| 7 | Capital University Columbus, OH | Certificate | $85,317 | — | +347% | Strong return |
| 8 | Concordia University Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI | Associate's | $69,831 | $25,000 | +232% | Strong return |
| 9 | The Master's University and Seminary Santa Clarita, CA | Certificate | $88,400 | $24,402 | +211% | Strong return |
| 10 | Concordia University-Wisconsin Mequon, WI | Associate's | $69,831 | $25,000 | +205% | Strong return |
| 11 | Northwest University Kirkland, WA | Associate's | $60,290 | $25,000 | +185% | Strong return |
| 12 | University of Chicago Chicago, IL | Certificate | $68,039 | $62,708 | +180% | Strong return |
| 13 | Liberty University Lynchburg, VA | Master's | $69,549 | $86,863 | +172% | Strong return |
| 14 | Harvard University Cambridge, MA | Certificate | $68,181 | $25,632 | +171% | Strong return |
| 15 | University of Northwestern-St Paul Saint Paul, MN | Certificate | $75,899 | $24,443 | +158% | Strong return |
| 16 | University of Dubuque Dubuque, IA | Certificate | $68,590 | — | +152% | Strong return |
| 17 | Andrews University Berrien Springs, MI | Doctoral | $64,153 | $78,154 | +144% | Strong return |
| 18 | Hellenic College-Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology Brookline, MA | Certificate | $71,192 | $23,157 | +140% | Strong return |
| 19 | Yale University New Haven, CT | Certificate | $70,739 | $39,785 | +135% | Strong return |
| 20 | Gardner-Webb University Boiling Springs, NC | Doctoral | $61,089 | — | +128% | Strong return |
| 21 | Ashland University Ashland, OH | Certificate | $67,517 | $53,598 | +110% | Strong return |
| 22 | Boston University Boston, MA | Certificate | $64,531 | — | +100% | Strong return |
| 23 | University of St Thomas Saint Paul, MN | Doctoral | $67,934 | — | +97% | Strong return |
| 24 | Mount St. Mary's University Emmitsburg, MD | Certificate | $62,307 | — | +91% | Strong return |
| 25 | Northwest University-Center for Online and Extended Education Kirkland, WA | Associate's | $60,290 | $25,000 | +90% | Strong 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.