by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 209 U.S. colleges awarded 2,996 degrees and certificates in Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 55% of graduates. College Factual ranks 53 schools in its 2027 Best Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $37,962 one year after completing, rising to $45,950 after four years.
A major in Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries prepares you to provide spiritual guidance and other services to members of your congregation. Along with spiritual counseling, this degree will teach students to provide crisis management, theological counseling and education, and religious instruction to others. Classes in theology, ministry, world religions, history, literature, counseling psychology, and biblical studies will prepare students to counsel others or lead specialized religious organizations as a minister.
Along with the option to major in general Pastoral Studies and Counseling, students have the option to specialize in areas like Youth Ministry, Urban Ministry, Women's Ministry, Lay Ministry. These specialized areas allow students to focus on a unique group of people and ensure everyone is welcome into religious organization and has a safe place to practice their faith.
Studying Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries covers Pastoral Counseling And Specialized Ministries.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, pastoral counseling & specialized ministries is a popular field of study, with 2,996 degrees awarded annually. 209 colleges award pastoral counseling & specialized ministries degrees, an average of 14 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 163.
By level, the 2,996 awards include 75 certificates, 180 associate degrees, 931 bachelor’s degrees, 1,634 master’s degrees and 119 doctorates.
Women earned 47% of pastoral counseling & specialized ministries degrees and certificates in the latest year (1,408 of 2,996). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (1,720) and Black or African American (394), and international students earned 140.
College Factual ranks 53 schools in its 2027 Best Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Schools ranking, including 5 for associate degrees, 24 for bachelor’s degrees, 30 for master’s degrees and 3 for doctorates. It also ranks pastoral counseling & specialized ministries schools within 15 states. In all, 209 colleges offer pastoral counseling & specialized ministries programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common pastoral counseling & specialized ministries credential is the master’s degree: 1,634 of the 2,996 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to pastoral counseling & specialized ministries call most for Speaking, Reading Comprehension and Active Listening, and for knowledge of Philosophy and Theology, English Language and Education and Training, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Speech Clarity.
Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries students are likely to pursue careers where they will be working closely with others. Strong interpersonal and communication skills along with compassion and understanding are important when helping counsel others through difficult times or when leading services. Students who excel in this field have a passion for their religion and enjoy helping others understand their religion and their relationship to it.
A degree in Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries will often lead to a full time job as a member of a religious organization. Some graduates will provide non-clinical counseling services to congregation members while others will decide to become ministers and preach. These careers can lead to atypical work hours both on the weekends and in the evenings during the week.
Students who are interested in pursuing a degree in Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries should find a summer job or internship with their congregation. This will allow them to work closely with a professional and gain hands-on experience in the field. The experience will also help students decide what they would like to do with their degree after graduation.
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How long a pastoral counseling & specialized ministries degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 75 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 180 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 931 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,634 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 119 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to pastoral counseling & specialized ministries, at 46.0%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 46.0% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 19.5% |
| Master’s degree | 12.4% |
| Post-doctoral training | 7.8% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 7.5% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 5.1% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.6% |
| Some college courses | 0.4% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.4% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.2% |
Source: O*NET Online.
6 occupations are related to Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries, with an average median salary of $67,020; the strongest outlook belongs to Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other, at 13.1% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Religious Educator, College Professor, Adjunct Instructor and Philosophy Lecturer.
Graduates with a degree in Pastoral Counseling or Specialized Ministries pursue careers that are affiliated with a church or religious organization. They find work as spiritual counselors or religious leaders, and have gone on to be ordained as ministers. This degree prepares students to work closely with other members of religious organization and help them understand the word of God and their relationship to religion. This field is growing at an average rate. However, graduates who are willing to relocate will have a better chance at finding a job after graduation.
The occupation related to pastoral counseling & specialized ministries with the most projected jobs is Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary, at 1,031,835.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,031,835 | 3.7% |
| Religious Workers, All Other | 258,483 | -1.4% |
| Directors, Religious Activities and Education | 239,121 | -2.3% |
| Counselors, All Other | 229,390 | 4.5% |
| Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other | 38,623 | 13.1% |
| Clergy | 33,072 | -3.3% |
Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries graduates earn a median $37,962 one year after completing their program, $45,950 after four years and $44,763 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $37,962 |
| 4 years | $45,950 |
| 5 years | $44,763 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to pastoral counseling & specialized ministries is Counselors, All Other, with a median salary of $81,766.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Counselors, All Other | $81,766 |
| Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other | $75,358 |
| Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary | $71,584 |
| Directors, Religious Activities and Education | $64,599 |
| Religious Workers, All Other | $58,956 |
| Clergy | $49,854 |
Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries includes 7 concentrations that together award 2,996 degrees a year; by graduates, the largest are Pastoral Studies/Counseling (1,285), Lay Ministry (673) and Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries, Other (596). It has 7 similar majors in the Theology & Religious Vocations field, which together award 22,984 degrees a year; the largest are Theological and Ministerial Studies (14,884), Bible/Biblical Studies (3,775) and Religious Education (1,274). Browse all Theology & Religious Vocations majors or the full list of college majors.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Pastoral Studies/Counseling | 1,285 |
| Lay Ministry | 673 |
| Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries, Other | 596 |
| Youth Ministry | 256 |
| Women’s Ministry | 83 |
| Chaplain/Chaplaincy Studies | 61 |
| Urban Ministry | 42 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Theological and Ministerial Studies | 14,884 |
| Bible/Biblical Studies | 3,775 |
| Religious Education | 1,274 |
| Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology | 1,266 |
| Theology and Religious Vocations, Other | 1,247 |
| Religious Music and Worship | 477 |
| Religious Institution Administration and Law | 61 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
