Theological and Ministerial Studies: is this first professional degree worth it?
National picture across 11 reporting college programs.
Personal baseline needed
$63,549 in median year-4 earnings
A credible return for this credential must start with what the student would otherwise earn. The federal data does not provide that personal baseline.
$63,549Median year-4 earnings
$20,714Average institution net-price context
Not availableMedian federal debt
Four useful answers about Theological and Ministerial Studies
How much do Theological and Ministerial Studies first professional degree graduates earn?
The national median is $63,549 four years after completion across reportable first professional degree programs in this federal field.
How much federal debt do graduates have?
A national median federal-debt figure is not reportable for this degree in the current release.
Does the college matter for Theological and Ministerial Studies?
Yes. The middle half of reporting programs ranges from $51,836 to $65,938 in observed year-4 earnings.
What careers are related to Theological and Ministerial Studies?
DegreeVerdict links this field to 3 displayed occupations using the official federal CIP–SOC crosswalk. Occupational wages are career context, not graduate salary promises.
Observed national outcomes
$63,549Median reported earnings · year 4
$60,881Average reported earnings · year 5
Not availableMedian federal debt
14thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
Not availableIPEDS 2023–24 first-major awards across matched colleges
11With year-4 earnings
The award total covers 0 matched college records and is not extrapolated to colleges without a match.
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.
OPEN PROFILE
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
- Year-4 earnings
- $29,038
- Federal debt
- $18,054
- Reporting programs
- 2
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $45,166
- Federal debt
- $18,938
- Reporting programs
- 3
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $47,518
- Federal debt
- $25,838
- Reporting programs
- 38
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $60,457
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 100
Doctoral Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $73,457
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 14
First Professional Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $63,549
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 11
Graduate/Professional Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $55,739
- 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.
Median
25th percentile$51,836National median$63,54975th percentile$65,938
11 programs report year‑4 earnings.DECISION CHECK
What to compare before choosing a program
The national result is only the starting point. Price, debt and the college-level earnings spread can materially change the payoff.
PRICE × EARNINGS MAP
Where colleges sit for this exact degree
Move left for a lower annual college-wide net price and up for higher observed year-4 earnings.
$67,739Observed year-4 earnings$46,690
Emory University$22,585 price · $97,227 earningsAndrews University$12,547 price · $67,739 earningsBoston University$24,402 price · $65,938 earningsHarvard University$19,066 price · $63,549 earningsOral Roberts University$25,365 price · $58,196 earningsVirginia Union University$13,235 price · $51,836 earningsColumbia International University$26,036 price · $48,301 earningsGrand Canyon University$22,472 price · $46,690 earnings
$12,547Annual college-wide average net price$25,365
Put the same degree side by side.
Start with the leading reportable programs, then change the selection to match your shortlist.
Compare 3 programs →Choose colleges offering this exact degree
Narrow one field and credential by location, sector and debt, then compare two to four programs side by side.
11 matchesSelect up to four · showing 25 currently operating colleges
Open the full program search →
See the spread, not just the national number.
1Emory University$97,2272United Lutheran Seminary$84,4013Andrews University$67,7394Boston University$65,9385Pittsburgh Theological Seminary$65,7136Harvard University$63,5497Oral Roberts University$58,1968Pentecostal Theological Seminary$53,2869Virginia Union University$51,83610Columbia International University$48,301Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations, wages and demand
Official CIP–SOC links show where this field can lead. They do not imply that every graduate enters the same occupation.
Pay and projected demand
Related careers do not share one outlook
Bubble size = annual openings2025–35 national projection
Higher median wage ↑
-7%Projected employment growth →12%
Occupation wages describe workers in these jobs, not graduates of this degree. BLS projections are national estimates and do not guarantee hiring.
Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary$80,260 median wage20,460 U.S. jobs · SOC 25-1126+2.0% projected employment, 2025–35 · 1.8k annual openingsTypical entry education: Doctoral or professional degree$49,140–$139,580 10th–90th percentileClergy$60,810 median wage57,200 U.S. jobs · SOC 21-2011+2.4% projected employment, 2025–35 · 19.2k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$37,860–$98,890 10th–90th percentileReligious Workers, All Other$45,280 median wage15,760 U.S. jobs · SOC 21-2099+1.5% projected employment, 2025–35 · 12.1k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$31,200–$93,900 10th–90th percentile
BLS May 2025 wages and 2025–35 employment projections. Career context is separate from graduate outcomes.
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. Automated ROI is withheld when an exact program price or personal earnings baseline is required.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | ROI status | Cost context |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emory UniversityFirst Professional Degree | Atlanta, GA | $97,227 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $22,585 |
| 2 | United Lutheran SeminaryFirst Professional Degree | Gettysburg, PA | $84,401 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | Not available |
| 3 | Andrews UniversityFirst Professional Degree | Berrien Springs, MI | $67,739 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $12,547 |
| 4 | Boston UniversityFirst Professional Degree | Boston, MA | $65,938 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $24,402 |
| 5 | Pittsburgh Theological SeminaryFirst Professional Degree | Pittsburgh, PA | $65,713 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | Not available |
| 6 | Harvard UniversityFirst Professional Degree | Cambridge, MA | $63,549 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $19,066 |
| 7 | Oral Roberts UniversityFirst Professional Degree | Tulsa, OK | $58,196 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $25,365 |
| 8 | Pentecostal Theological SeminaryFirst Professional Degree | Cleveland, TN | $53,286 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | Not available |
| 9 | Virginia Union UniversityFirst Professional Degree | Richmond, VA | $51,836 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $13,235 |
| 10 | Columbia International UniversityFirst Professional Degree | Columbia, SC | $48,301 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $26,036 |
| 11 | Grand Canyon UniversityFirst Professional Degree | Phoenix, AZ | $46,690 | Not available | WithheldBaseline needed | $22,472 |
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.