by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 61 U.S. colleges awarded 256 degrees and certificates in Youth Ministry. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 88% of graduates. College Factual ranks 6 schools in its 2027 Best Youth 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 Youth Ministry explores Youth Ministry. A Program That Prepares The Ordained Clergy And Other Religious Professionals To Provide Spiritual, Counseling, And Leadership Services To Children, Adolescents, And Young Adults. Includes Instruction In Child And Adolescent Psychology, Human Growth And Development, Family Studies, Communication Skills, Religious Education, Youth Counseling, Small Group Leadership, Planning And Organizing Youth Activities, Volunteer Supervision, And Youth Evangelism And Worship. Examples: [Youth And Family Ministries].
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, youth ministry is a widely-pursued major, with 256 degrees awarded annually. 61 colleges award youth ministry degrees, an average of 4 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 24.
By level, the 256 awards include 2 associate degrees, 224 bachelor’s degrees and 30 master’s degrees.
Women earned 47% of youth ministry degrees and certificates in the latest year (120 of 256). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (210) and Hispanic or Latino (12), and international students earned 4.
College Factual ranks 6 schools in its 2027 Best Youth Ministry Schools ranking, including 5 for bachelor’s degrees and 3 for master’s degrees. It also ranks youth ministry schools within 5 states. In all, 61 colleges offer youth ministry programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Youth Ministry Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common youth ministry credential is the bachelor’s degree: 224 of the 256 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to youth 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 Oral Expression, Speech Clarity and Written Expression.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
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How long a youth ministry degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 2 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 224 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 30 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to youth ministry, at 49.3%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 49.3% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 18.5% |
| Master’s degree | 13.9% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 12.6% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 2.3% |
| Some college courses | 2.1% |
| Doctoral degree | 0.6% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.5% |
| First professional degree | 0.2% |
Source: O*NET Online.
2 occupations are related to Youth Ministry, with an average median salary of $57,226. Typical job titles include Youth Pastor, Rector, Children’s Ministries Coordinator and Men’s Ministries Director.
The occupation related to youth ministry with the most projected jobs is Directors, Religious Activities and Education, at 239,121.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Directors, Religious Activities and Education | 239,121 | -2.3% |
| Clergy | 33,072 | -3.3% |
Youth 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 youth ministry, with a median salary of $64,599.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Directors, Religious Activities and Education | $64,599 |
| Clergy | $49,854 |
Youth Ministry has 6 similar majors in the Theology & Religious Vocations field, which together award 2,740 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 |
| Women’s Ministry | 83 |
| Chaplain/Chaplaincy Studies | 61 |
| Urban Ministry | 42 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
