Theological and Ministerial Studies
What graduates really earn, where the degree pays off most, and whether the numbers add up for you.
Earnings Range (4 Years After Graduation)
Best Schools for Theological and Ministerial Studies by Earnings
School-by-school analysis: Theological and Ministerial Studies
Editorial breakdowns of how theological and ministerial studies graduates fare at the top-earning programs in our dataset.
Theological and Ministerial Studies (7 graduates) shows $19,316 year-one and $58,162 four-year earnings with $27,750 median debt and a 1.437 debt-to-earnings ratio (ROI grade F). The F-grade reflects a ministry career path where near-term earnings are low - not necessarily that the program lacks quality. Ministry students and their families should understand this gap and plan debt levels accordingly, ideally targeting net costs well below the average.
Theological and Ministerial Studies enrolls 15 graduates with $29,593 first-year earnings against a $48,998 debt load - a catastrophic 1.656 debt-to-earnings ratio (F grade). Graduates owe more than $1.65 for every dollar of annual income. Pastoral and ministry roles structurally pay below where this debt service can clear; students entering this program need either church-sponsored aid, family financial support, or a clear plan for income-driven loan forgiveness via PSLF after years in nonprofit ministry.
Theological and Ministerial Studies (10 graduates) earns $41,139 at year one and $52,385 at year four, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.643 (ROI grade C). Ministry compensation in the Pacific Northwest reflects both the region's higher cost of living and the structural reality that church staff salaries are modest relative to the cost of living in Seattle-area communities. Students in this program should investigate Public Service Loan Forgiveness eligibility, given nonprofit religious employer status, and model income-driven repayment from enrollment.
Theological and Ministerial Studies is the largest reporting program at 48 graduates: $41,139 first-year earnings, $52,385 by year four, $26,453 median debt, and a 0.643 debt-to-earnings ratio for a C grade. Earnings reflect ministry, chaplaincy, and church-leadership roles. The program's mission alignment is real; ROI math is workable for students entering with clear ministry callings.
Is Theological and Ministerial Studies Worth It?
Proceed With a Plan
Be honest with yourself about the money on Theological and Ministerial Studies. At an average $35,434 four years out, the payback can be long, especially at a pricey school. That doesn't make the field a mistake - it means the cost side has to be managed tightly, so lean toward low debt.
This is a more specialized field, offered at 31 schools in our data. Fewer options means less room to optimize on cost, so weigh each aid offer closely.
The top earner here is Colorado Christian University, where graduates pull $58,775 four years out. But an average hides a wide spread - where you go, and what you do with the degree, matter as much as the major itself.
Earnings data represents median earnings 4 years after graduation for graduates of bachelor's programs, as reported by the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Individual outcomes vary significantly based on career path, location, and other factors.