by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 3 U.S. colleges awarded 15 degrees and certificates in Church Planting. Graduates earn a median $31,015 one year after completing, rising to $44,362 after four years.
A degree in Church Planting covers A Program Of Study That Prepares Individuals To Establish Congregations Of Christians In New Locations. Includes Instruction In Models Of Church Planting, Church Multiplication Strategies, Church Leadership, Evangelism, Missiology, Christian Ethics, And Mission-Oriented Theology.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, church planting is a widely-pursued major, with 15 degrees awarded annually. 3 colleges award church planting degrees, an average of 5 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 6.
All 15 of the awards are master’s degrees, the only level colleges reported.
Women earned 13% of church planting degrees and certificates in the latest year (2 of 15). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (12) and Hispanic or Latino (1).
How long a church planting degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 15 |
1 occupations are related to Church Planting, with an average median salary of $58,956. Typical job titles include Mother Superior, Church Official, Sunday School Missionary and Postulant.
The occupation related to church planting with the most projected jobs is Religious Workers, All Other, at 258,483.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Religious Workers, All Other | 258,483 | -1.4% |
Church Planting graduates earn a median $31,015 one year after completing their program, $44,362 after four years and $31,974 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $31,015 |
| 4 years | $44,362 |
| 5 years | $31,974 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to church planting, with a median salary of $58,956.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Religious Workers, All Other | $58,956 |
Church Planting has 1 similar major in the Theology & Religious Vocations field; the largest is Missions/Missionary Studies (1,251). Browse all Theology & Religious Vocations majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Missions/Missionary Studies | 1,251 |
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