Majors
Best Colleges for Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries, by Earnings
81 of the colleges we track award a bachelor's degree in Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries, about 884 degrees a year. Across the 21 that report earnings, graduates make a median of $41,979 four years after finishing.
| Rank | College | State | Median earnings, 4 years out | Degrees a year | Acceptance rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gordon College | MA | $52,173 | 7 | 69.2% |
| 2 | Regent University | VA | $49,799 | 44 | 38.1% |
| 3 | Cairn University-Langhorne | PA | $47,805 | 8 | 88.2% |
| 4 | Liberty University | VA | $46,531 | 68 | 99% |
| 5 | Lee University | TN | $45,844 | 60 | 70.5% |
| 6 | Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion | IN | $45,693 | 21 | 88.9% |
| 7 | Grace Christian University | MI | $45,288 | 34 | 99.2% |
| 8 | Grace College and Theological Seminary | IN | $44,733 | 20 | 82.2% |
| 9 | George Fox University | OR | $44,603 | 1 | 93.5% |
| 10 | Moody Bible Institute | IL | $44,522 | 63 | 82.7% |
| 11 | North Central University | MN | $41,979 | 34 | 99% |
| 12 | Nelson University | TX | $39,707 | 57 | 89% |
| 13 | Lancaster Bible College | PA | $38,779 | 21 | 55.9% |
| 14 | Cornerstone University | MI | $38,298 | 12 | 77.8% |
| 15 | Bethel University | IN | $37,149 | 9 | 97.7% |
| 16 | Spring Arbor University | MI | $36,814 | 6 | 51.5% |
| 17 | Maranatha Baptist University | WI | $36,728 | 8 | 71.9% |
| 18 | Oral Roberts University | OK | $36,493 | 17 | 98.9% |
| 19 | John Brown University | AR | $35,601 | 7 | 76.1% |
| 20 | Crown College | MN | $32,718 | 10 | 22.8% |
| 21 | Southeastern University | FL | $30,430 | 8 | 53% |
60 more colleges award this degree but have no earnings figure, usually because the program is small.
Keep this list
Frequently asked questions
Which college has the highest-paid Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries graduates?
Gordon College ($52,173), Regent University ($49,799), Cairn University-Langhorne ($47,805), Liberty University ($46,531), Lee University ($45,844) report the highest median earnings four years after graduation.
How much do Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries majors make?
The median across 21 colleges is $41,979 four years after graduation. By college it runs from $30,430 to $52,173.
Which colleges have the biggest Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries programs?
By bachelor's degrees awarded in a year: Liberty University (68), Ozark Christian College (66), Moody Bible Institute (63), Lee University (60), Nelson University (57).
Does a higher-earning program mean a better program?
Not on its own. Earnings reflect where graduates live, what jobs they take, and who enrolled in the first place, as well as the teaching. The figures cover only graduates who received federal financial aid, and small programs are left out, so a college missing from this list may still have a strong department.
Source: College Scorecard, Most Recent Data by Field of Study (U.S. Department of Education), 2026-06-10 release, federal program category "Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries". Earnings are medians for graduates who received federal financial aid, working and not enrolled, four years after a bachelor's degree.
