Best Schools for Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries

Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries graduates earn a median of $26,075 within two years of graduation, ranking #263 out of 292 tracked majors — 27% below the median across all fields. There are 34 colleges nationwide with tracked earnings for this major, producing 614 recent graduates.

Where you study matters: Nazarene Bible College graduates earn $35,060 while Charleston Southern University graduates earn $15,552 — a $19,508 difference. Factors like location, employer networks, co-op programs, and curriculum focus drive this gap.

Early career salary growth is modest: Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries graduates see an average 4% increase between year 1 and year 2 post-graduation, reflecting career advancement and skill development in the first years after college.

34
Schools
$26,075
Avg. 2yr Earnings
#263
of 292 Majors
614
Graduates

Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries by State

Top Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries Schools by Graduate Earnings

#1
N

Nazarene Bible College

Colorado Springs, CO ·

$35,060
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: N/A
#2
R

Regent University

Virginia Beach, VA · Private

$33,993
2yr Earnings
1yr: $26,506
Grads: 30
Acceptance: 41.2%
#3
C

Crown College

Saint Bonifacius, MN · Private

$33,382
2yr Earnings
1yr: $32,524
Grads: 18
Acceptance: 62.8%
#4
N

North Central University

Minneapolis, MN · Private

$32,284
2yr Earnings
1yr: $27,543
Grads: 38
Acceptance: 90.8%
#5
U

University of Valley Forge

Phoenixville, PA · Private

$30,771
2yr Earnings
1yr: $30,735
Grads: 22
Acceptance: 78.2%
#6
V

Vanguard University of Southern California

Costa Mesa, CA · Private

$29,685
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 64.7%
#7
K

Kuyper College

Grand Rapids, MI · Private

$29,685
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 33.9%
#8
E

Eastern University

Saint Davids, PA · Private

$29,685
2yr Earnings
1yr: $29,279
Grads: 18
Acceptance: 93.6%
#9
G

Geneva College

Beaver Falls, PA · Private

$29,685
2yr Earnings
1yr: $21,255
Grads: 22
Acceptance: N/A
#10
U

University of Northwestern-St Paul

Saint Paul, MN · Private

$28,598
2yr Earnings
1yr: $30,460
Grads: 18
Acceptance: 91.9%
#11
L

Lee University

Cleveland, TN · Private

$28,288
2yr Earnings
1yr: $26,666
Grads: 95
Acceptance: 72.2%
#12
L

Liberty University

Lynchburg, VA · Private

$28,019
2yr Earnings
1yr: $27,163
Grads: 36
Acceptance: 99.3%
#13
L

Life Pacific University

San Dimas, CA · Private

$27,488
2yr Earnings
1yr: $25,871
Grads: 47
Acceptance: 94.0%
#14
G

George Fox University

Newberg, OR · Private

$27,476
2yr Earnings
1yr: $21,892
Grads: 19
Acceptance: 96.4%
#15
W

William Jessup University

Rocklin, CA · Private

$26,739
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 76.8%
#16
C

Calvary University

Kansas City, MO · Private

$26,121
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 70.9%
#17
A

Alliance University

New York, NY · Private

$25,967
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: N/A
#18
N

Nelson University

Waxahachie, TX · Private

$25,967
2yr Earnings
1yr: $25,842
Grads: 118
Acceptance: 84.2%
#19
T

Trinity College of Florida

Trinity, FL · Private

$25,194
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 96.3%
#20
E

Emmanuel University

Franklin Springs, GA · Private

$25,194
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 53.4%
#21
I

Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion

Marion, IN · Private

$25,194
2yr Earnings
1yr: $23,379
Grads: 45
Acceptance: 82.2%
#22
O

Oak Hills Christian College

Bemidji, MN · Private

$24,615
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: N/A
#23
L

Lancaster Bible College

Lancaster, PA · Private

$24,615
2yr Earnings
1yr: $27,628
Grads: 28
Acceptance: 95.2%
#24
D

Dallas Christian College

Dallas, TX · Private

$24,035
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 84.0%
#25
G

Gordon College

Wenham, MA · Private

$23,649
2yr Earnings
1yr: $30,712
Grads: 20
Acceptance: 58.8%
#26
J

Johnson University Florida

Kissimmee, FL · Private

$23,579
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 23.3%
#27
J

Johnson University

Knoxville, TN · Private

$23,579
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 53.8%
#28
C

Columbia International University

Columbia, SC · Private

$23,351
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 97.6%
#29
T

Trinity Baptist College

Jacksonville, FL · Private

$22,806
2yr Earnings
1yr: $25,314
Grads: 20
Acceptance: 62.5%
#30
C

Central Christian College of the Bible

Moberly, MO · Private

$21,703
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: N/A
#31
B

Boise Bible College

Boise, ID · Private

$19,045
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 96.4%
#32
G

Grace College and Theological Seminary

Winona Lake, IN · Private

$18,771
2yr Earnings
1yr: $26,348
Grads: 20
Acceptance: 80.8%
#33
D

Dallas Baptist University

Dallas, TX · Private

$16,786
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 91.1%
#34
C

Charleston Southern University

Charleston, SC · Private

$15,552
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 76.1%

Majors with Similar Earnings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries?
Nazarene Bible College ranks #1 for Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries with median graduate earnings of $35,060 within two years. There are 34 schools nationwide offering this major with tracked earnings data.
How much do Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries graduates earn?
Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries graduates earn an average of $26,075 within two years of graduation. This is 27% below the median across all majors. Earnings range from $15,552 to $35,060 depending on the school.
How hard is it to get into a top Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries program?
The average acceptance rate across Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries programs is 75.9%. The most selective program is at Johnson University Florida with a 23.3% acceptance rate. Competitive programs value strong math/analytical skills and relevant coursework.

Data updated June 2026. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are median 2 years after graduation for bachelor's degree holders.

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