Best Director programs in California, ranked by enrollment
Coordinate or design programs and conduct outreach to promote the religious education or activities of a denominational group.
28 schools in California run programs that feed this job, graduating 589 people a year. The job pays a median of $61,570 in California across about 3,200 jobs (BLS OEWS May 2025).
Fields of study in California that lead to this job
Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level. Numbers are graduates per year in this state.
13 programs in California that lead to this job
Ranked by graduates per year in California (IPEDS completions). Graduate earnings and debt are national College Scorecard figures reported at the 4-digit CIP level, so specializations within one field share a figure. Each program also links to its own California page.
| # | Program | Graduates / yr | Share of pipeline | Schools | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bible/Biblical Studiesmain feeder CIP 39.0201In California → | 191 | 32.4% | 18 | $33,182 | $25,000 |
| 2 | CIP 39.0701In California → | 134 | 22.8% | 12 | $32,226 | $26,000 |
| 3 | Missions/Missionary Studiesmain feeder CIP 39.0301In California → | 91 | 15.4% | 7 | $28,103 | $17,318 |
| 4 | CIP 39.0799In California → | 50 | 8.5% | 3 | $32,226 | $26,000 |
| 5 | Religious Educationmain feeder CIP 39.0401In California → | 41 | 7.0% | 4 | $32,351 | $25,937 |
| 6 | CIP 39.0502In California → | 26 | 4.4% | 3 | $30,092 | $27,000 |
| 7 | CIP 39.0705In California → | 24 | 4.1% | 1 | $32,226 | $26,000 |
| 8 | CIP 51.3201In California → | 12 | 2.0% | 1 | $99,851 | $21,475 |
| 9 | CIP 39.0704In California → | 7 | 1.2% | 1 | $32,226 | $26,000 |
| 10 | CIP 39.0702In California → | 5 | 0.8% | 3 | $32,226 | $26,000 |
| 11 | CIP 39.0706In California → | 4 | 0.7% | 1 | $32,226 | $26,000 |
| 12 | CIP 51.1506In California → | 3 | 0.5% | 1 | $37,335 | $22,861 |
| 13 | CIP 30.2502In California → | 1 | 0.2% | 1 | $41,362 | $17,750 |
Top 25 schools in California
Ranked by graduates per year into this job. Graduate earnings are reported for 3 of the 28 schools in this state.
| # | School | Graduates / yr | Top feeder program | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Grad rate | Net price | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Master's University and Seminary Santa Clarita, CA Private not-for-profit · 6 feeder programs | 108 | Pastoral Studies/Counseling | — | 68% | $30,641 | 84% |
| 2 | Fuller Theological Seminary Pasadena, CA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 71 | Missions/Missionary Studies | — | — | — | — |
| 3 | Biola University La Mirada, CA Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 52 | Bible/Biblical Studies | $37,518 | 68% | $26,727 | 74% |
| 4 | California Baptist University Riverside, CA Private not-for-profit · 4 feeder programs | 49 | Worship Ministry | — | 62% | $26,940 | 85% |
| 5 | Azusa Pacific University Azusa, CA Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 46 | Bible/Biblical Studies | — | 62% | $20,686 | 88% |
| 6 | World Mission University Los Angeles, CA Private not-for-profit · 4 feeder programs | 45 | Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries, Other | — | 100% | $16,598 | — |
| 7 | William Jessup University Rocklin, CA Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 35 | Bible/Biblical Studies | — | 56% | $24,242 | 93% |
| 8 | Life Pacific University San Dimas, CA Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 33 | Pastoral Studies/Counseling | $37,436 | 40% | $23,832 | 96% |
| 9 | Southern California Seminary El Cajon, CA Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 27 | Bible/Biblical Studies | — | 50% | — | — |
| 10 | Vanguard University of Southern California Costa Mesa, CA Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 23 | Pastoral Studies/Counseling | — | 57% | $18,716 | 62% |
| 11 | Loma Linda University Loma Linda, CA Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 15 | Bioethics/Medical Ethics | — | — | — | — |
| 12 | California Prestige University Santa Fe Springs, CA Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 13 | Missions/Missionary Studies | — | — | — | — |
| 13 | Grace Mission University Fullerton, CA Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 13 | Religious Education | — | 100% | — | — |
| 14 | Loyola Marymount University Los Angeles, CA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 10 | Pastoral Studies/Counseling | — | 79% | $36,488 | 45% |
| 15 | Epic Bible College & Graduate School Sacramento, CA Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 8 | Bible/Biblical Studies | — | 0% | — | — |
| 16 | Westminster Theological Seminary in California Escondido, CA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 7 | Bible/Biblical Studies | — | — | — | — |
| 17 | Bethesda University Anaheim, CA Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 6 | Bible/Biblical Studies | — | 11% | $9,232 | — |
| 18 | Latin American Bible Institute La Puente, CA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 6 | Bible/Biblical Studies | — | 33% | $8,939 | 55% |
| 19 | SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary El Dorado Hills, CA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 4 | Bible/Biblical Studies | $26,407 | 85% | $21,043 | 41% |
| 20 | University of the West Rosemead, CA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 4 | Chaplain/Chaplaincy Studies | — | 38% | $14,162 | 100% |
| 21 | Shasta Bible College and Graduate School Redding, CA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 3 | Bible/Biblical Studies | — | 100% | — | 100% |
| 22 | Academy for Jewish Religion California Los Angeles, CA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 2 | Pastoral Studies/Counseling | — | — | — | — |
| 23 | America Evangelical University Gardena, CA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 2 | Pastoral Studies/Counseling | — | 33% | $23,897 | — |
| 24 | Fresno Pacific University Fresno, CA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 2 | Bible/Biblical Studies | — | 50% | $14,298 | 64% |
| 25 | Simpson University Redding, CA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 2 | Bible/Biblical Studies | — | 49% | $27,545 | 86% |
All 28 schools in California
Every school in California with a program that feeds this job, ordered by graduates per year. Earnings are shown for the ranked schools above; open a school profile for the rest.
| School | City | Control | Graduates / yr | Feeder programs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Master's University and Seminary | Santa Clarita | Private not-for-profit | 108 | 6 |
| Fuller Theological Seminary | Pasadena | Private not-for-profit | 71 | 1 |
| Biola University | La Mirada | Private not-for-profit | 52 | 3 |
| California Baptist University | Riverside | Private not-for-profit | 49 | 4 |
| Azusa Pacific University | Azusa | Private not-for-profit | 46 | 3 |
| World Mission University | Los Angeles | Private not-for-profit | 45 | 4 |
| William Jessup University | Rocklin | Private not-for-profit | 35 | 2 |
| Life Pacific University | San Dimas | Private not-for-profit | 33 | 2 |
| Southern California Seminary | El Cajon | Private not-for-profit | 27 | 3 |
| Vanguard University of Southern California | Costa Mesa | Private not-for-profit | 23 | 3 |
| Loma Linda University | Loma Linda | Private not-for-profit | 15 | 2 |
| California Prestige University | Santa Fe Springs | Private not-for-profit | 13 | 3 |
| Grace Mission University | Fullerton | Private not-for-profit | 13 | 3 |
| Loyola Marymount University | Los Angeles | Private not-for-profit | 10 | 1 |
| Epic Bible College & Graduate School | Sacramento | Private not-for-profit | 8 | 2 |
What directors, religious activities and education earn in California
What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.
U.S. median $52,100. California pays above the national figure.
Concentrated here: California employs more of this job per worker than the U.S. average.
Metro areas in California
Job outlook
Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2024 to 2034.
Growth and openings are national. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not publish employment projections at state level, so these figures describe the occupation across the whole U.S., not this state alone.
How to get in
The full skills, tools, and day-to-day breakdown lives on the national Directors, Religious Activities and Education page.
How to become a Director
Job zone 4 of 5 · SVP 7.0 to < 8.0- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience needed
- Less than 5 years
Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Top skills
The same job in other states
Where else this occupation employs the most people, and what it pays there.
Related careers in California
Every major mapped to this job
The official federal mapping behind the rankings above.
All 16 majors mapped to Directors, Religious Activities and Education16 of them graduated someone in the latest IPEDS year. NCES CIP 2020 → SOC 2018 crosswalk.+
- 30.2502Contemplative Studies/Inquiry
- 30.5301Thanatology
- 39.0201Bible/Biblical Studies
- 39.0301Missions/Missionary Studies
- 39.0401Religious Education
- 39.0502Worship Ministry
- 39.0599Religious Music and Worship, Other
- 39.0701Pastoral Studies/Counseling
- 39.0702Youth Ministry
- 39.0703Urban Ministry
- 39.0704Women's Ministry
- 39.0705Lay Ministry
- 39.0706Chaplain/Chaplaincy Studies
- 39.0799Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries, Other
- 51.1506Clinical Pastoral Counseling/Patient Counseling
- 51.3201Bioethics/Medical Ethics
Common questions
Answers for people weighing directors, religious activities and education programs in California.
What degree do you need to become a Director?+
Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education BLS reports for this occupation. The most common program people actually graduate from is Bible/Biblical Studies, which awarded 191 degrees in California in 2024-25, 32.4% of everyone graduating from a program that feeds this career.
Which college majors lead to becoming a Director?+
The NCES CIP-to-SOC crosswalk maps 13 programs to this occupation. The largest are Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries, Bible/Biblical Studies, Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology, Religious Education, plus 4 more. Together they graduate about 589 people a year in California.
How much do directors, religious activities and education earn in California?+
The median is $61,570 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). That is 18.2% above the U.S. median of $52,100. This is pay for people already working in the occupation, not the same thing as graduate earnings one year after finishing a degree.
Is demand for directors, religious activities and education growing?+
BLS projects a +2.1% change in employment between 2024 and 2034, about as fast as average, with roughly 13,800 openings a year nationally once retirements and job changes are counted.
How many schools offer programs for this career in California?+
28 institutions in California reported graduates from at least one of the 13 programs that feed this occupation in IPEDS 2024-25. Rankings on this page use graduates per year, because the federal data publishes no enrollment count by program.
What other job titles do directors, religious activities and education work under?+
Employers advertise this work under many names. O*NET records Youth Pastor, Christian Education Director, Religious Education Director, Children's Ministries Director among the most commonly reported, all mapping to SOC 21-2021.
About the data on this page
Rankings use IPEDS completions 2024–25, degrees awarded per year. That is the closest federal measure of how many people a program puts into a career, because no federal dataset publishes enrollment by program. Wages and employment come from BLS OEWS May 2025, growth and openings from BLS Employment Projections 2024-34, and which majors lead to which jobs from the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. Occupation descriptions, tasks, skills and tools are O*NET 30.3 (CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor/ETA).
BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics
May 2025Wages, employment counts, location quotients and metro breakdowns.
BLS Employment Projections
2024–34Projected growth, annual openings and typical entry-level education.
IPEDS Completions
2024-25 (provisional)Graduates per year by program and institution — the ranking metric.
College Scorecard, Field of Study
2020-21 cohortsMedian graduate earnings one year after completion, and median debt.
Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes
latest availableGraduate earnings 1/5/10 years out, where the state participates.
NCES CIP 2020 and the CIP-to-SOC 2018 crosswalk
CIP 2020 / SOC 2018Which college programs officially lead to this occupation.
O*NET Database 30.3
30.3Tasks, skills, knowledge, tools, job zone and alternate job titles.
Official source →CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor / ETA
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