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Master's Degree in Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries

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Master’s Degrees in Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries

1,191 Yearly Graduations
$39,246 Median Salary
53% Women
A master's degree in pastoral counseling is offered at 143 colleges in the United States. In recent years, the majority of the students getting degrees in this area were female, and 34% were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group. Also, 7.6% of pastoral counseling graduates were international students.

Education Levels of Pastoral Counseling Majors

During the 2020-2021 academic year, 1,191 students earned their master's degree in pastoral counseling. This makes it the 101st most popular master's degree program in the country.

The following table shows the number of diplomas awarded in pastoral counseling at each degree level.

Education Level Number of Grads
Master’s Degree 1,191
Bachelor’s Degree 1,115
Doctor’s Degree 254
Associate Degree 221
Graduate Certificate 179
Basic Certificate 104
Undergraduate Certificate 52

Earnings of Pastoral Counseling Majors With Master’s Degrees

The median salary for graduates holding a master's degree in pastoral counseling is $39,246. This number may vary for a lot of reasons. For instance, you may decide to move to a location where people with your degree are rare and make more money. A better approximation of salary is to look at the typical range of salaries. In this case the low is $34,459 and the high is $43,403.

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Student Debt

We do not have the data to calculate the median and range of debt loads for pastoral counseling students who are master's degree holders.

Student Diversity

More women than men pursue their master's degree in pastoral counseling. About 53.2% of graduates with this degree are female.

Gender Number of Grads
Men 557
Women 634
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The racial-ethnic distribution of pastoral counseling master’s degree students is as follows:

Race/Ethnicity Number of Grads
Asian 62
Black or African American 166
Hispanic or Latino 144
White 635
International Students 90
Other Races/Ethnicities 94
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There are 143 colleges that offer a master’s degree in pastoral counseling. Learn more about the most popular 20 below:

#1

Andrews University

Berrien Springs, Michigan
82 Yearly Graduations
18% Women
62% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The most popular school in the United States for pastoral counseling students seekinga master's degree is Andrews University. Roughly 3,100 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $30,552 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $28,656 per year. The pastoral counseling program at Andrews University awarded 82 master's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. Of these students, 18% were women and 62% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.

70 Yearly Graduations
37% Women
4% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The 2nd most popular school in the country for pastoral counseling majors who are seeking their master's degree is New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Each year, around 2,200 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $9,240 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $6,750 per year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 70 people received their master's degree in pastoral counseling from NOBTS. Of these students, 37% were women and 4% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.

61 Yearly Graduations
77% Women
28% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The 3rd most popular school in the country for pastoral counseling majors who are seeking their master's degree is Dallas Theological Seminary. Roughly 2,400 attend the school each year. The pastoral counseling program at Dallas Theological Seminary awarded 61 master's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. Of these students, 77% were women and 28% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.

#4

Westminster Theological Seminary

Glenside, Pennsylvania
58 Yearly Graduations
66% Women
10% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Westminster Theological Seminary is the 4th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in pastoral counseling. Each year, around 800 students seeking various degrees attend the university. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 58 master's degrees were handed out to pastoral counseling majors at Westminster Theological Seminary. Around 10% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 66% were women.

#5

Gordon - Conwell Theological Seminary

South Hamilton, Massachusetts
44 Yearly Graduations
48% Women
43% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The 5th most popular school in the country for pastoral counseling majors who are seeking their master's degree is Gordon - Conwell Theological Seminary. Each year, around 1,400 students seeking various degrees attend the university. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 44 people received their master's degree in pastoral counseling from Gordon - Conwell Seminary. Of these students, 48% were women and 43% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.

#6

The Master's University and Seminary

Santa Clarita, California
42 Yearly Graduations
67% Women
21% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The Master's University and Seminary comes in at #6 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in pastoral counseling. Roughly 2,400 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $27,950 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $8,400 per year. The pastoral counseling program at The Master's University and Seminary awarded 42 master's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. Around 21% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 67% were women.

#7

Dallas Baptist University

Dallas, Texas
41 Yearly Graduations
73% Women
29% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Dallas Baptist University comes in at #7 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in pastoral counseling. Roughly 4,200 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $32,220 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $19,872 per year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 41 people received their master's degree in pastoral counseling from DBU. About 73% of this group were women, and 29% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.

#8

Loyola University Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
38 Yearly Graduations
68% Women
18% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The 8th most popular school in the country for pastoral counseling majors who are seeking their master's degree is Loyola University Chicago. Each year, around 16,800 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $46,410 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $18,990 per year. The pastoral counseling program at Loyola University Chicago awarded 38 master's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. Of these students, 68% were women and 18% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.

#8

University of St. Thomas

Houston, Texas
38 Yearly Graduations
47% Women
66% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

University of St. Thomas comes in at #8 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in pastoral counseling. Each year, around 3,600 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $30,800 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $20,934 per year. The pastoral counseling program at University of St. Thomas awarded 38 master's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. Of these students, 47% were women and 66% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.

#10

Lancaster Bible College

Lancaster, Pennsylvania
36 Yearly Graduations
25% Women
92% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Lancaster Bible College is the 10th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in pastoral counseling. Each year, around 2,000 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $26,690 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $10,500 per year. The pastoral counseling program at Lancaster Bible College awarded 36 master's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. Around 92% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 25% were women.

#11

Bethel University Minnesota

Saint Paul, Minnesota
32 Yearly Graduations
78% Women
38% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The 11th most popular school in the country for pastoral counseling majors who are seeking their master's degree is Bethel University Minnesota. Roughly 3,800 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $39,920 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $11,700 per year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 32 people received their master's degree in pastoral counseling from Bethel University Minnesota. About 78% of this group were women, and 38% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.

#12

Olivet Nazarene University

Bourbonnais, Illinois
29 Yearly Graduations
41% Women
21% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The 12th most popular school in the country for pastoral counseling majors who are seeking their master's degree is Olivet Nazarene University. Roughly 3,700 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $36,450 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $12,190 per year. The pastoral counseling program at Olivet Nazarene University awarded 29 master's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. About 41% of this group were women, and 21% were students from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group.

#13

Luther Rice College & Seminary

Lithonia, Georgia
28 Yearly Graduations
61% Women
39% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Luther Rice College & Seminary comes in at #13 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in pastoral counseling. Roughly 600 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $7,848 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $5,688 per year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 28 people received their master's degree in pastoral counseling from Luther Rice. Around 39% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 61% were women.

26 Yearly Graduations
73% Women
12% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary is the 14th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in pastoral counseling. Each year, around 4,300 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $11,400 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $8,550 per year. The pastoral counseling program at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary awarded 26 master's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. Around 12% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 73% were women.

#15

Fordham University

Bronx, New York
24 Yearly Graduations
46% Women
46% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Fordham University comes in at #15 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in pastoral counseling. Roughly 16,300 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $54,730 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $23,112 per year. The pastoral counseling program at Fordham University awarded 24 master's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. Around 46% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 46% were women.

#16

World Mission University

Los Angeles, California
22 Yearly Graduations
91% Women
45% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

World Mission University is the 16th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in pastoral counseling. Roughly 300 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $6,240 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $5,040 per year. For the 2020-2021 academic year, 22 master's degrees were handed out to pastoral counseling majors at World Mission University. Of these students, 91% were women and 45% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.

21 Yearly Graduations
76% Women
10% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

The 17th most popular school in the country for pastoral counseling majors who are seeking their master's degree is Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest. Roughly 100 attend the school each year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 21 people received their master's degree in pastoral counseling from Seminary of the Southwest. Around 10% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 76% were women.

#18

Grace College and Theological Seminary

Winona Lake, Indiana
19 Yearly Graduations
32% Women
11% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Grace College and Theological Seminary comes in at #18 on our list of the most popular colleges offering master's degrees in pastoral counseling. Roughly 1,900 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $24,144 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $8,054 per year. During the 2020-2021 academic year, 19 people received their master's degree in pastoral counseling from Grace College. Around 11% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 32% were women.

#18

Seattle University

Seattle, Washington
19 Yearly Graduations
84% Women
37% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Seattle University is the 18th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in pastoral counseling. Roughly 7,000 attend the school each year. The average in-state tuition for full-time undergraduates is $48,510 per year, while in-state graduate students, on average, pay $13,770 per year. The pastoral counseling program at Seattle University awarded 19 master's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. Of these students, 84% were women and 37% were members of underrepresented racial-ethnic groups.

#20

Bethel Seminary - San Diego

San Diego, California
18 Yearly Graduations
78% Women
44% Racial-Ethnic Minorities*

Bethel Seminary - San Diego is the 20th most popular school in the nation for students seeking a master's degree in pastoral counseling. Each year, around 0 students seeking various degrees attend the university. The pastoral counseling program at Bethel Seminary - San Diego awarded 18 master's degrees during the 2020-2021 school year. Around 44% of these students were from an underrepresented racial-ethnic group, and 78% were women.

Below are some popular majors that are similar to pastoral counseling that offer master’s degrees.

Major Annual Degrees Awarded
Theological & Ministerial Studies 10,469
Biblical Studies 844
Other Theology & Religion 512
Missionary Studies 294
Sacred Music 124

References

*The racial-ethnic minority student count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity was unknown. This number is then divided by the total number of students at the school to obtain the percentage of racial-ethnic minorities.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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