Theology and Ministry
Theology & Religious Vocations · federal classification: Theological and Ministerial Studies
Median earnings by degree level
| Degree | Median earnings | Typical range | Schools | Clear the bar |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's Degree | $45,360 | $39,520 to $50,602 | 31 | 90% |
| Master's Degree | $59,546 | $52,810 to $66,129 | 106 | 99% |
| Doctoral Degree | $74,934 | $62,060 to $84,024 | 16 | 100% |
| First Professional Degree | $64,631 | $52,924 to $68,724 | 12 | 100% |
"Clear the bar" is the share of programs whose graduates out-earn a typical high-school graduate (the federal earnings-premium test). Typical range is the 25th to 75th percentile of program medians.
Job outlook
Projected employment growth +2% (2025 to 2035), about 33,100 openings a year across the occupations this field commonly leads to.
| Occupation | Median pay | Growth | Openings/yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clergy | $60,810 | +2.4% | 19,200 |
| Religious Workers, All Other | $45,280 | +1.5% | 12,100 |
| Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary | $80,260 | +2% | 1,800 |
Occupation pay and outlook: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS wages, Employment Projections). A field maps to several occupations, and the same occupations serve many majors, so these are the jobs this major commonly leads to, not positions reserved for its graduates; the openings should not be added up across majors.
Where this is studied
The 8 colleges where the most students complete a theology and ministry program, of 424 that report one. Ordered by number of completions only: this is where people study it, not a judgement about where to.
- Liberty University
- The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
- Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
- Southeastern University
- Dallas Theological Seminary
- Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
- Fuller Theological Seminary
- New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary
Earnings source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (release 2026-06-10), median earnings of graduates measured up to four years after completing. Figures describe past graduates and are never a promise. Method: methodology. Report an error.