Theological and Ministerial Studies: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 38 reporting college programs.
MODELED SCENARIO · Negative payoff
−$254,450 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting bachelor's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 4-year duration.
At these assumptions, the estimated earnings premium does not recover the modeled economic investment within ten years.
111.1 yrsModeled economic break-even
−91%Modeled 10-year ROI
$47,518Observed earnings · year 4
Observed national outcomes
$47,518Median reported earnings · year 4
$51,549Average reported earnings · year 5
$25,838Median federal debt
15thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
38Reporting programs
26With 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
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
- Year-4 earnings
- $29,038
- Federal debt
- $18,054
- Reporting programs
- 2
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $45,166
- Federal debt
- $18,938
- Reporting programs
- 3
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $47,518
- Federal debt
- $25,838
- Reporting programs
- 38
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $60,457
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 100
Doctoral Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $73,457
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 14
First Professional Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $63,549
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 11
Graduate/Professional Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $55,739
- 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$42,322National median$47,51875th percentile$52,385
26 programs report year‑4 earnings.See the spread, not just the national number.
1Colorado Christian University$58,7752Concordia University-Nebraska$58,1623Nazarene Bible College$56,8554University of Notre Dame$54,7585The King's University$54,6186Palm Beach Atlantic University$53,3987Northwest University$52,3858Northwest University-Center for Online and Extended Education$52,3859Hope International University$50,64710Seattle Pacific University$50,557Observed 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.
ClergySOC 21-2011 · 5 crosswalk linksPhilosophy and Religion Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1126 · 5 crosswalk linksReligious Workers, All OtherSOC 21-2099 · 1 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 | Colorado Christian UniversityBachelor's Degree | Lakewood, CO | $58,775 | Not available | -54% | Negative payoff |
| 2 | Concordia University-NebraskaBachelor's Degree | Seward, NE | $58,162 | $27,750 | -52% | Negative payoff |
| 3 | Nazarene Bible CollegeBachelor's Degree | Colorado Springs, CO | $56,855 | $40,332 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 4 | University of Notre DameBachelor's Degree | Notre Dame, IN | $54,758 | $19,000 | -66% | Negative payoff |
| 5 | The King's UniversityBachelor's Degree | Southlake, TX | $54,618 | $48,998 | -59% | Negative payoff |
| 6 | Palm Beach Atlantic UniversityBachelor's Degree | West Palm Beach, FL | $53,398 | $25,750 | -71% | Negative payoff |
| 7 | Northwest UniversityBachelor's Degree | Kirkland, WA | $52,385 | $26,453 | -73% | Negative payoff |
| 8 | Northwest University-Center for Online and Extended EducationBachelor's Degree | Kirkland, WA | $52,385 | $26,453 | -77% | Negative payoff |
| 9 | Hope International UniversityBachelor's Degree | Fullerton, CA | $50,647 | Not available | -81% | Negative payoff |
| 10 | Seattle Pacific UniversityBachelor's Degree | Seattle, WA | $50,557 | Not available | -80% | Negative payoff |
| 11 | University of DallasBachelor's Degree | Irving, TX | $49,564 | Not available | -83% | Negative payoff |
| 12 | University of Northwestern-St PaulBachelor's Degree | Saint Paul, MN | $47,802 | $22,000 | -90% | Negative payoff |
| 13 | The Master's University and SeminaryBachelor's Degree | Santa Clarita, CA | $47,403 | $23,774 | -92% | Negative payoff |
| 14 | University of Valley ForgeBachelor's Degree | Phoenixville, PA | $46,072 | $28,000 | -97% | Negative payoff |
| 15 | Oral Roberts UniversityBachelor's Degree | Tulsa, OK | $45,360 | $30,750 | -99% | Negative payoff |
| 16 | Southeastern UniversityBachelor's Degree | Lakeland, FL | $44,106 | $23,218 | -103% | Negative payoff |
| 17 | Corban UniversityBachelor's Degree | Salem, OR | $43,303 | Not available | -106% | Negative payoff |
| 18 | Ave Maria UniversityBachelor's Degree | Ave Maria, FL | $42,457 | $21,102 | -109% | Negative payoff |
| 19 | Baptist University of FloridaBachelor's Degree | Graceville, FL | $42,322 | $24,916 | -112% | Negative payoff |
| 20 | Lee UniversityBachelor's Degree | Cleveland, TN | $40,791 | Not available | -116% | Negative payoff |
| 21 | Martin Luther CollegeBachelor's Degree | New Ulm, MN | $39,949 | $18,949 | -120% | Negative payoff |
| 22 | Franciscan University of SteubenvilleBachelor's Degree | Steubenville, OH | $39,091 | $25,000 | -122% | Negative payoff |
| 23 | Moody Bible InstituteBachelor's Degree | Chicago, IL | $38,907 | $14,000 | -123% | Negative payoff |
| 24 | Carolina UniversityBachelor's Degree | Winston-Salem, NC | $38,859 | $35,382 | -123% | Negative payoff |
| 25 | Benedictine CollegeBachelor's Degree | Atchison, KS | $36,829 | $23,250 | -128% | Negative payoff |
| 26 | William Jessup UniversityBachelor's Degree | Rocklin, CA | Not available | $21,566 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $28,062 |
| 27 | Point UniversityBachelor's Degree | West Point, GA | Not available | $44,023 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $25,335 |
| 28 | Concordia University Ann ArborBachelor's Degree | Ann Arbor, MI | Not available | $25,926 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $32,811 |
| 29 | Cornerstone UniversityBachelor's Degree | Grand Rapids, MI | Not available | $43,009 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $20,301 |
| 30 | Oklahoma Wesleyan UniversityBachelor's Degree | Bartlesville, OK | Not available | $29,168 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $28,358 |
| 31 | Johnson UniversityBachelor's Degree | Knoxville, TN | Not available | $23,250 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $22,063 |
| 32 | Concordia University-WisconsinBachelor's Degree | Mequon, WI | Not available | $25,926 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $36,201 |
| 33 | Universidad Adventista de las AntillasBachelor's Degree | Mayaguez, PR | Not available | $31,000 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $9,919 |
| 34 | Mid-America Christian UniversityBachelor's Degree | Oklahoma City, OK | Not available | $41,422 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $16,692 |
| 35 | College of Biblical Studies-HoustonBachelor's Degree | Houston, TX | Not available | $22,673 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $672 |
| 36 | Lincoln Christian UniversityBachelor's Degree | , | $47,632 | $23,250 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 37 | Johnson University FloridaBachelor's Degree | , | Not available | $23,250 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 38 | Alliance UniversityBachelor's Degree | , | Not available | $31,749 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | 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.