by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 7 U.S. colleges awarded 83 degrees and certificates in Women’s Ministry. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 42% of graduates. College Factual ranks 3 schools in its 2027 Best Women’s Ministry 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 Women's Ministry covers Women's Ministry. A Program That Prepares Non-Ordained Women To Provide Spiritual, Counseling, And Leadership Services To Other Women In Local Churches, Parachurch Organizations, And Other Settings. Includes Instruction In Foundations Of Women's Ministry, Women's Ministry In The Local Church, Spiritual Formation, Women's Evangelism And Discipleship, Bible Study And Theology, Homiletics, Lay Counseling, Women's Issues, And Leadership Training.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, women’s ministry is a widely-pursued major, with 83 degrees awarded annually. 7 colleges award women’s ministry degrees, an average of 12 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 42.
By level, the 83 awards include 9 bachelor’s degrees, 35 master’s degrees and 2 doctorates.
Women earned 100% of women’s ministry degrees and certificates in the latest year (83 of 83). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (59) and Black or African American (8).
College Factual ranks 3 schools in its 2027 Best Women’s Ministry Schools ranking, including 1 for bachelor’s degrees. It also ranks women’s ministry schools within 1 state. In all, 7 colleges offer women’s ministry programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Women’s Ministry Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common women’s ministry credential is the master’s degree: 35 of the 83 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to women’s ministry 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 Written Expression, Oral Expression and Written Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a women’s ministry degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 9 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 35 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 2 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to women’s ministry, 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.
2 occupations are related to Women’s Ministry, with an average median salary of $61,778. Typical job titles include Shohet, Nun, Monk and Shochet.
The occupation related to women’s ministry 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% |
Women’s 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 highest-paying occupation related to women’s ministry is Directors, Religious Activities and Education, with a median salary of $64,599.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Directors, Religious Activities and Education | $64,599 |
| Religious Workers, All Other | $58,956 |
Women’s Ministry has 6 similar majors in the Theology & Religious Vocations field, which together award 2,913 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 |
| Chaplain/Chaplaincy Studies | 61 |
| Urban Ministry | 42 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
