by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 58 U.S. colleges awarded 596 degrees and certificates in Other Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 59% of graduates. College Factual ranks 12 schools in its 2027 Best Other 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.
Studying Other Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries involves the study of Pastoral Counseling And Specialized Ministries, Other. Any Instructional Program In Pastoral Counseling And Specialized Ministries Not Listed Above.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, other pastoral counseling & specialized ministries is a widely-pursued major, with 596 degrees awarded annually. 58 colleges award other pastoral counseling & specialized ministries degrees, an average of 10 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 76.
By level, the 596 awards include 20 associate degrees, 189 bachelor’s degrees, 351 master’s degrees and 16 doctorates.
Women earned 52% of other pastoral counseling & specialized ministries degrees and certificates in the latest year (311 of 596). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (373) and Hispanic or Latino (54), and international students earned 53.
College Factual ranks 12 schools in its 2027 Best Other Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Schools ranking, including 3 for bachelor’s degrees, 9 for master’s degrees and 3 for doctorates. It also ranks other pastoral counseling & specialized ministries schools within 3 states. In all, 58 colleges offer other pastoral counseling & specialized ministries programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Other Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common other pastoral counseling & specialized ministries credential is the master’s degree: 351 of the 596 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to other pastoral counseling & specialized ministries call most for Speaking, Active Listening and Social Perceptiveness, and for knowledge of Philosophy and Theology, Education and Training and Customer and Personal Service, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Written Expression.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long an other pastoral counseling & specialized ministries degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 20 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 189 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 351 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 16 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to other pastoral counseling & specialized ministries, at 53.6%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 53.6% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 21.1% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 14.4% |
| Master’s degree | 9.2% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.9% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.6% |
| Some college courses | 0.3% |
Source: O*NET Online.
4 occupations are related to Other Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries, with an average median salary of $70,170; the strongest outlook belongs to Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other, at 13.1% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Field Worker, Mission Worker, Spiritual Advisor and Gospel Worker.
The occupation related to other pastoral counseling & specialized ministries 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% |
| 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% |
Other 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 other 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 |
| Directors, Religious Activities and Education | $64,599 |
| Religious Workers, All Other | $58,956 |
Other Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries has 6 similar majors in the Theology & Religious Vocations field, which together award 2,400 degrees a year; the largest are Pastoral Studies/Counseling (1,285), Lay Ministry (673) and Youth Ministry (256). Browse all Theology & Religious Vocations majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Pastoral Studies/Counseling | 1,285 |
| Lay Ministry | 673 |
| Youth Ministry | 256 |
| Women’s Ministry | 83 |
| Chaplain/Chaplaincy Studies | 61 |
| Urban Ministry | 42 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
