Colorado · Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries

Best colleges for Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries in Colorado

Ranked by graduates a year

Colorado Christian University and Naropa University award the most Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries degrees and certificates in Colorado: 26 and 5 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 5 Colorado colleges offer Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries and award 41 degrees and certificates a year in all.

The Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries program focuses on equipping students with the skills and knowledge necessary for effective ministry and counseling within various religious contexts. This program is ideal for individuals…

Institutions
5
offering CIP 39.07
States offered
37
with a program page
Degrees / yr
41
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
—
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
0
College Scorecard
Median net price
$30,558
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
50%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Clergy
$66,160
BLS OEWS May 2025

5 institutions offering Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries in Colorado

Graduate earnings are not yet reported for these institutions; ordered by graduates a year.

Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionStarting salary (1 yr)Graduates / yrGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1Colorado Christian University
Lakewood Private not-for-profit
—2664%$23,447—
2Naropa University
Boulder Private not-for-profit
—537%$30,558—
3Nazarene Bible College
Colorado Springs Private not-for-profit Online
—5———
4Denver Seminary
Littleton Private not-for-profit Graduate only
—3———
5Iliff School of Theology
Denver Private not-for-profit Graduate only
—2———

Colleges awarding the most Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries degrees in Colorado

Top 2 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.

Graduates / yr: degrees and certificates awarded in a year, IPEDS completions. Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionGraduates / yrStarting salary (1 yr)
1Colorado Christian University
Lakewood Private not-for-profit
26Not reported
2Naropa University
Boulder Private not-for-profit
5Not reported
Show the other 3 Colorado colleges offering Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries
InstitutionCityControlGraduates / yr
Nazarene Bible College (Online)Colorado SpringsPrivate not-for-profit5
Denver Seminary (Graduate only)LittletonPrivate not-for-profit3
Iliff School of Theology (Graduate only)DenverPrivate not-for-profit2

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Clergy (SOC 21-2011).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+1.0%
Little or no change
Openings / yr (US)
~23,000
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$60,820
typically Bachelor's degree

Top skills

SpeakingActive ListeningWritingReading ComprehensionActive LearningCritical Thinking

What Clergy earn in Colorado

Jobs in Colorado
440
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$66,160
median $63,700
Best-paying metro
$70,760
Fort Collins-Loveland, CO

Related careers

Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other
$59,980 avg · 6,540 jobs
Clergy
$66,160 avg · 440 jobs
Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary
$76,880 avg · 390 jobs
Counselors, All Other
$68,110 avg · 370 jobs
Religious Workers, All Other
$59,580 avg · 250 jobs
Directors, Religious Activities and Education
$77,380 avg · 100 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries programs in Colorado.

Which Colorado colleges award the most Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries degrees?+

Colorado Christian University (26 graduates a year) and Naropa University (5 graduates a year) award the most Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries degrees and certificates in Colorado, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 5 Colorado colleges offer Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries.

How much do Clergy earn in Colorado?+

The average annual wage for Clergy in Colorado is $66,160 (median $63,700), across about 440 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.

What is the focus of the Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries program?+

The Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries program focuses on equipping students with the skills and knowledge necessary for effective ministry and counseling within various religious contexts. This program is ideal for individuals…

What skills will I develop in this program?+

You will develop speaking, active listening, writing, reading comprehension, and related professional skills.

What is the job outlook for Clergy?+

The national job outlook is about +1.0% growth with around 23,000 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).

What is the typical education requirement?+

A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).

Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries in other statesMissouriTexasCaliforniaIllinoisPennsylvaniaFloridaTennesseeVirginia

About the data on this page

Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
PSEO graduate earnings2019–21 graduation cohorts (release V4.13.0)
Earnings and employment outcomes of graduates by institution, degree level, and field of study, measured from state wage records.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.

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