Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries: is this master's degree worth it?
National picture across 11 reporting college programs.
Personal baseline needed
$53,123 in median year-4 earnings
A credible return for this credential must start with what the student would otherwise earn. The federal data does not provide that personal baseline.
$53,123Median year-4 earnings
$25,148Average institution net-price context
Not availableMedian federal debt
Observed national outcomes
$53,123Median reported earnings · year 4
$49,791Average reported earnings · year 5
Not availableMedian federal debt
6thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
11Reporting programs
11With 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.
OPEN PROFILE
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$46,406National median$53,12375th percentile$59,226
11 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.
1Andrews University$71,8572Dallas Theological Seminary$62,0643Loyola University Maryland$60,3244Loyola University Chicago$59,2265Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion$53,1236Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global$53,1237Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary$52,4718Christian Theological Seminary$49,9799Dallas Baptist University$46,40610Bethel University$38,749Observed 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. Automated ROI is withheld when an exact program price or personal earnings baseline is required.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | ROI status | Cost context |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Andrews UniversityMaster's Degree | Berrien Springs, MI | $71,857 | Not available | Baseline needed | $12,547 |
| 2 | Dallas Theological SeminaryMaster's Degree | Dallas, TX | $62,064 | Not available | Baseline needed | Not available |
| 3 | Loyola University MarylandMaster's Degree | Baltimore, MD | $60,324 | Not available | Baseline needed | $30,574 |
| 4 | Loyola University ChicagoMaster's Degree | Chicago, IL | $59,226 | Not available | Baseline needed | $36,079 |
| 5 | Indiana Wesleyan University-MarionMaster's Degree | Marion, IN | $53,123 | Not available | Baseline needed | $22,866 |
| 6 | Indiana Wesleyan University-National & GlobalMaster's Degree | Marion, IN | $53,123 | Not available | Baseline needed | $16,898 |
| 7 | Gordon-Conwell Theological SeminaryMaster's Degree | South Hamilton, MA | $52,471 | Not available | Baseline needed | Not available |
| 8 | Christian Theological SeminaryMaster's Degree | Indianapolis, IN | $49,979 | Not available | Baseline needed | Not available |
| 9 | Dallas Baptist UniversityMaster's Degree | Dallas, TX | $46,406 | Not available | Baseline needed | $28,516 |
| 10 | Bethel UniversityMaster's Degree | Saint Paul, MN | $38,749 | Not available | Baseline needed | $28,556 |
| 11 | Bethel Seminary-San DiegoMaster's Degree | , | $38,749 | Not available | Baseline needed | Not available |
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.