by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 18 U.S. colleges awarded 217 degrees and certificates in Clinical Pastoral Counseling/Patient Counseling. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 99% of graduates. College Factual ranks 7 schools in its 2027 Best Clinical Pastoral Counseling/Patient Counseling Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $45,762 one year after completing, rising to $55,481 after four years.
A degree in Clinical Pastoral Counseling/Patient Counseling covers Clinical Pastoral Counseling/patient Counseling. A Program That Prepares Individuals, Including But Not Limited To, Ordained Clergy And Other Counseling Professionals To Respond To The Emotional And/or Spiritual Needs Of Patients And Families In Health Care Emergencies And Other Situations, And To Consult With And Counsel Other Health Care Professionals. Includes Instruction In Advanced Interpersonal Communication; Individual And Small Group Counseling; Interdisciplinary Teamwork; Crisis Management; Extended Care Relationships; Self-Analysis; Medical Ethics; Pastoral Care Art; Spiritual Dimensions Of Human Growth And Health; Counseling Psychology And Therapy; And Applications To Grief, Death, Emotional Collapse, Injury, Individual/family Adjustment, And Chronic Illness Situations.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling is a popular field of study, with 217 degrees awarded annually. 18 colleges award clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling degrees, an average of 12 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 50.
By level, the 217 awards include 3 bachelor’s degrees and 214 master’s degrees.
Women earned 70% of clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling degrees and certificates in the latest year (152 of 217). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (106) and Black or African American (41), and international students earned 15.
College Factual ranks 7 schools in its 2027 Best Clinical Pastoral Counseling/Patient Counseling Schools ranking, including 6 for master’s degrees. It also ranks clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling schools within 1 state. In all, 18 colleges offer clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Clinical Pastoral Counseling/Patient Counseling Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling credential is the master’s degree: 214 of the 217 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling call most for Active Listening, Social Perceptiveness and Speaking, and for knowledge of Therapy and Counseling, Psychology and Customer and Personal Service, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Comprehension, Oral Expression and Speech Clarity.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
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How long a clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 3 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 214 |
Master’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling, at 58.3%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 58.3% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 18.1% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 6.8% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 5.3% |
| First professional degree | 4.3% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 3.1% |
| Doctoral degree | 1.8% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.8% |
| Some college courses | 0.8% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.5% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.2% |
Source: O*NET Online.
5 occupations are related to Clinical Pastoral Counseling/Patient Counseling, with an average median salary of $68,705; the strongest outlook belongs to Counselors, All Other, at 4.5% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Group Counselor, Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Therapist and Behavioral Health Clinician.
The occupation related to clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling with the most projected jobs is Mental Health Counselors, at 246,978.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Mental Health Counselors | 246,978 | 2.8% |
| Directors, Religious Activities and Education | 239,121 | -2.3% |
| Counselors, All Other | 229,390 | 4.5% |
| Marriage and Family Therapists | 229,049 | -3.8% |
| Clergy | 33,072 | -3.3% |
Clinical Pastoral Counseling/Patient Counseling graduates earn a median $45,762 one year after completing their program, $55,481 after four years and $50,915 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $45,762 |
| 4 years | $55,481 |
| 5 years | $50,915 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling, with a median salary of $81,766.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Counselors, All Other | $81,766 |
| Marriage and Family Therapists | $74,325 |
| Mental Health Counselors | $72,983 |
| Directors, Religious Activities and Education | $64,599 |
| Clergy | $49,854 |
Clinical Pastoral Counseling/Patient Counseling has 12 similar majors in the Health Professions field, which together award 35,899 degrees a year; the largest are Mental Health Counseling/Counselor (12,039), Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling (6,362) and Marriage and Family Therapy/Counseling (4,547). Browse all Health Professions majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Mental Health Counseling/Counselor | 12,039 |
| Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling | 6,362 |
| Marriage and Family Therapy/Counseling | 4,547 |
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions, Other | 3,934 |
| Clinical/Medical Social Work | 3,399 |
| Psychiatric/Mental Health Services Technician | 2,777 |
| Community Health Services/Liaison/Counseling | 2,203 |
| Genetic Counseling/Counselor | 402 |
| Trauma Counseling | 214 |
| Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy | 10 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
