Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries: is this associate's degree worth it?
National picture across 5 reporting college programs.
MODELED SCENARIO · Negative payoff
−$171,986 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting associate's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 2-year duration.
At these assumptions, the estimated earnings premium does not recover the modeled economic investment within ten years.
—Modeled economic break-even
−135%Modeled 10-year ROI
$40,520Observed earnings · year 4
Observed national outcomes
$40,520Median reported earnings · year 4
$35,323Average reported earnings · year 5
$24,060Median federal debt
25thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
5Reporting programs
5With year-4 earnings
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
CURRENT VIEW
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $40,520
- Federal debt
- $24,060
- Reporting programs
- 5
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $44,603
- Federal debt
- $26,750
- Reporting programs
- 31
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $53,123
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 11
Doctoral Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $84,791
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
Median
25th percentile$35,492National median$40,52075th percentile$42,908
5 programs report year‑4 earnings.DECISION CHECK
What to compare before choosing a program
The national result is only the starting point. Price, debt and the college-level earnings spread can materially change the payoff.
See the spread, not just the national number.
1Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion$42,9082Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global$42,9083Valor Christian College$40,5204Grace Christian University$35,4925Universidad Pentecostal Mizpa$18,251Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations
Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.
Directors, Religious Activities and EducationSOC 21-2021 · 7 crosswalk linksReligious Workers, All OtherSOC 21-2099 · 6 crosswalk linksClergySOC 21-2011 · 3 crosswalk linksPhilosophy and Religion Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1126 · 3 crosswalk linksCommunity and Social Service Specialists, All OtherSOC 21-1099 · 2 crosswalk linksCounselors, All OtherSOC 21-1019 · 2 crosswalk links
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. ROI uses each institution’s average net price as a scenario—not an individual aid offer.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 10-year ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Indiana Wesleyan University-MarionAssociate's Degree | Marion, IN | $42,908 | $26,338 | -115% | Negative payoff |
| 2 | Indiana Wesleyan University-National & GlobalAssociate's Degree | Marion, IN | $42,908 | $26,338 | -117% | Negative payoff |
| 3 | Valor Christian CollegeAssociate's Degree | Canal Winchester, OH | $40,520 | $17,635 | -128% | Negative payoff |
| 4 | Grace Christian UniversityAssociate's Degree | Wyoming, MI | $35,492 | $21,782 | -183% | Negative payoff |
| 5 | Universidad Pentecostal MizpaAssociate's Degree | Rio Piedras, PR | $18,251 | Not available | -360% | Negative payoff |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.