by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 8 U.S. colleges awarded 42 degrees and certificates in Urban Ministry. Doctorates are the most popular award, at 48% of graduates. Graduates earn a median $37,962 one year after completing, rising to $45,950 after four years.
Studying Urban Ministry explores Urban Ministry. A Program That Prepares The Ordained Clergy And Other Religious Professionals To Provide Spiritual, Counseling, And Leadership Services To Individuals And Groups In Urban Communities. Includes Instruction In Bible Study And Theology, Pastoral Leadership And Care, Urban Structure And Context, Inner City Ministry, Counseling Ministries, Family Studies, Homiletics, Social Ethics, And Community Organizing.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, urban ministry draws strong interest, with 42 degrees awarded annually. 8 colleges award urban ministry degrees, an average of 5 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 27.
By level, the 42 awards include 5 associate degrees, 7 bachelor’s degrees, 10 master’s degrees and 20 doctorates.
Women earned 31% of urban ministry degrees and certificates in the latest year (13 of 42). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are Black or African American (15) and White (7), and international students earned 10.
The most common urban ministry credential is the doctorate: 20 of the 42 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to urban ministry call most for Reading Comprehension, Speaking 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.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long an urban ministry degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 5 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 7 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 10 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 20 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to urban ministry, at 59.3%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 59.3% |
| Master’s degree | 12.3% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 10.6% |
| Post-doctoral training | 10.0% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 4.2% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.8% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.5% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.2% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.1% |
| Some college courses | 0.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
3 occupations are related to Urban Ministry, with an average median salary of $65,046; the strongest outlook belongs to Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary, at 3.7% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Religious Educator, Theology Teacher, Church History Teacher and Associate Professor.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to urban ministry, 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% |
Urban Ministry 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 same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to urban ministry, with a median salary of $71,584.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary | $71,584 |
| Directors, Religious Activities and Education | $64,599 |
| Religious Workers, All Other | $58,956 |
Urban Ministry has 6 similar majors in the Theology & Religious Vocations field, which together award 2,954 degrees a year; the largest are Pastoral Studies/Counseling (1,285), Lay Ministry (673) and Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries, Other (596). 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 |
| Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries, Other | 596 |
| Youth Ministry | 256 |
| Women’s Ministry | 83 |
| Chaplain/Chaplaincy Studies | 61 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.