by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Divinity/Ministry involves the study of Divinity/ministry. A Program That Prepares Individuals For Ordination As Ministers Or Priests In Any Of The Christian Religious Traditions. Includes Instruction In The Theology And Polity Of A Particular Church, Church Law, Liturgy And Ritual, Principles Of Pastoral Ministry, Homiletics, Evangelism, Church/parish Organization And Management, Christian Ethics, Church History, And Related Studies. Examples: [Divinity/ministry (Bd)], [Divinity/ministry (Mdiv)]. Read on to learn the key facts every divinity/ministry student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering divinity/ministry programs.
Nationwide, divinity/ministry is a widely-pursued major, with 6,724 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Divinity/Ministry Schools ranking analyzes these 244 schools to determine the best overall colleges for divinity/ministry students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of divinity/ministry programs later in this article.
Studies in Divinity/Ministry develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations divinity/ministry graduates commonly enter.
The skill set emphasized by a divinity/ministry program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a divinity/ministry major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several divinity/ministry degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 7 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 117 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 604 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 5,299 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 697 |
People currently working in careers related to divinity/ministry tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 71.5% |
| Master’s degree | 14.2% |
| Post-doctoral training | 12.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 0.6% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.6% |
| Some college courses | 0.5% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.4% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in divinity/ministry careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in divinity/ministry opens doors to a variety of career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to divinity/ministry.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to divinity/ministry.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,031,835 | 3.7% |
| Clergy | 33,072 | -3.3% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of divinity/ministry graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $48,647 |
| 4 years | $53,283 |
| 5 years | $59,877 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for divinity/ministry graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers divinity/ministry grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary | $71,584 |
| Clergy | $49,854 |
With 244 different divinity/ministry programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased divinity/ministry school rankings to help you.
Those considering divinity/ministry, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Theology/Theological Studies | 6,345 |
| Theological and Ministerial Studies, Other | 1,726 |
| Pre-Theology/Pre-Ministerial Studies | 192 |
| Rabbinical Studies | 148 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
