Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 31 reporting college programs.
−$275,449 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting bachelor's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 4-year duration.
At these assumptions, the estimated earnings premium does not recover the modeled economic investment within ten years.
Observed national outcomes
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $40,520
- Federal debt
- $24,060
- Reporting programs
- 5
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $44,603
- Federal debt
- $26,750
- Reporting programs
- 31
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $53,123
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 11
Doctoral Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $84,791
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
See the spread, not just the national number.
1Boise Bible College$55,3602Life Pacific University$52,4773Gordon College$52,1734Nazarene Bible College$49,8995Regent University$49,7996Dallas Baptist University$49,4087Cairn University-Langhorne$47,8058Trinity College of Jacksonville$46,9339Liberty University$46,53110Lee University$45,844Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations
Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. ROI uses each institution’s average net price as a scenario—not an individual aid offer.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 10-year ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boise Bible CollegeBachelor's Degree | Boise, ID | $55,360 | Not available | -57% | Negative payoff |
| 2 | Life Pacific UniversityBachelor's Degree | San Dimas, CA | $52,477 | $24,083 | -72% | Negative payoff |
| 3 | Gordon CollegeBachelor's Degree | Wenham, MA | $52,173 | Not available | -74% | Negative payoff |
| 4 | Nazarene Bible CollegeBachelor's Degree | Colorado Springs, CO | $49,899 | Not available | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 5 | Regent UniversityBachelor's Degree | Virginia Beach, VA | $49,799 | $35,500 | -82% | Negative payoff |
| 6 | Dallas Baptist UniversityBachelor's Degree | Dallas, TX | $49,408 | Not available | -85% | Negative payoff |
| 7 | Cairn University-LanghorneBachelor's Degree | Langhorne, PA | $47,805 | Not available | -90% | Negative payoff |
| 8 | Trinity College of JacksonvilleBachelor's Degree | Jacksonville, FL | $46,933 | Not available | -93% | Negative payoff |
| 9 | Liberty UniversityBachelor's Degree | Lynchburg, VA | $46,531 | $23,750 | -95% | Negative payoff |
| 10 | Lee UniversityBachelor's Degree | Cleveland, TN | $45,844 | $28,750 | -97% | Negative payoff |
| 11 | Indiana Wesleyan University-MarionBachelor's Degree | Marion, IN | $45,693 | $22,104 | -97% | Negative payoff |
| 12 | Grace Christian UniversityBachelor's Degree | Wyoming, MI | $45,288 | $38,453 | -99% | Negative payoff |
| 13 | Evangel UniversityBachelor's Degree | Springfield, MO | $44,988 | $27,000 | -100% | Negative payoff |
| 14 | Grace College and Theological SeminaryBachelor's Degree | Winona Lake, IN | $44,733 | $25,500 | -101% | Negative payoff |
| 15 | George Fox UniversityBachelor's Degree | Newberg, OR | $44,603 | Not available | -101% | Negative payoff |
| 16 | Moody Bible InstituteBachelor's Degree | Chicago, IL | $44,522 | $12,000 | -102% | Negative payoff |
| 17 | Central Christian College of the BibleBachelor's Degree | Moberly, MO | $42,051 | $26,000 | -112% | Negative payoff |
| 18 | North Central UniversityBachelor's Degree | Minneapolis, MN | $41,979 | $26,750 | -111% | Negative payoff |
| 19 | University of Valley ForgeBachelor's Degree | Phoenixville, PA | $40,407 | Not available | -115% | Negative payoff |
| 20 | Nelson UniversityBachelor's Degree | Waxahachie, TX | $39,707 | $26,750 | -120% | Negative payoff |
| 21 | Lancaster Bible CollegeBachelor's Degree | Lancaster, PA | $38,779 | $22,584 | -122% | Negative payoff |
| 22 | Cornerstone UniversityBachelor's Degree | Grand Rapids, MI | $38,298 | Not available | -126% | Negative payoff |
| 23 | Bethel UniversityBachelor's Degree | Mishawaka, IN | $37,149 | $23,319 | -131% | Negative payoff |
| 24 | Spring Arbor UniversityBachelor's Degree | Spring Arbor, MI | $36,814 | Not available | -132% | Negative payoff |
| 25 | Maranatha Baptist UniversityBachelor's Degree | Watertown, WI | $36,728 | Not available | -129% | Negative payoff |
| 26 | Oral Roberts UniversityBachelor's Degree | Tulsa, OK | $36,493 | $37,000 | -130% | Negative payoff |
| 27 | John Brown UniversityBachelor's Degree | Siloam Springs, AR | $35,601 | Not available | -136% | Negative payoff |
| 28 | Crown CollegeBachelor's Degree | Saint Bonifacius, MN | $32,718 | $27,000 | -143% | Negative payoff |
| 29 | Southeastern UniversityBachelor's Degree | Lakeland, FL | $30,430 | $26,000 | -147% | Negative payoff |
| 30 | Johnson UniversityBachelor's Degree | Knoxville, TN | Not available | $26,750 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $22,063 |
| 31 | Johnson University FloridaBachelor's Degree | , | Not available | $26,750 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.