Missouri · Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries

Best colleges for Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries in Missouri

Ranked by graduate earnings

Ozark Christian College, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and Mission University award the most Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries degrees and certificates in Missouri: 98, 52 and 14 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 10 Missouri colleges offer Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries and award 198 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
10
offering CIP 39.07
States offered
37
with a program page
Degrees / yr
198
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$23,330
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
2
College Scorecard
Median net price
$17,881
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
51%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Clergy
$60,750
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 2 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings

Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.

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
1Evangel University
Springfield Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program
$41,357565%$17,881$27,000
2Calvary University
Kansas City Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program
$23,330752%$13,552—

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

Top 6 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)
1Ozark Christian College
Joplin Private not-for-profit
98Not reported
2Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
Kansas City Private not-for-profit
52Not reported
3Mission University
Springfield Private not-for-profit
14Not reported
4Calvary University
Kansas City Private not-for-profit
7$23,330
5Evangel University
Springfield Private not-for-profit
5$41,357
6Drury University
Springfield Private not-for-profit
1Not reported
Show the other 4 Missouri colleges offering Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries
InstitutionCityControlGraduates / yr
Urshan Graduate School of Theology (Graduate only)WentzvillePrivate not-for-profit7
Central Christian College of the BibleMoberlyPrivate not-for-profit6
Covenant Theological Seminary (Graduate only)Saint LouisPrivate not-for-profit6
Eden Theological Seminary (Graduate only)Webster GrovesPrivate 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 Missouri

Jobs in Missouri
920
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$60,750
median $58,740
Best-paying metro
$63,380
Columbia, MO

Related careers

Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other
$53,780 avg · 930 jobs
Clergy
$60,750 avg · 920 jobs
Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary
$80,470 avg · 320 jobs
Counselors, All Other
$55,240 avg · 130 jobs
Religious Workers, All Other
$46,390 avg · 80 jobs
Directors, Religious Activities and Education
$65,190 avg · 60 jobs

Common questions

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

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

Ozark Christian College (98 graduates a year), Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (52 graduates a year) and Mission University (14 graduates a year) award the most Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries degrees and certificates in Missouri, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 10 Missouri colleges offer Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries.

How much do Clergy earn in Missouri?+

The average annual wage for Clergy in Missouri is $60,750 (median $58,740), across about 920 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 statesTexasCaliforniaIllinoisPennsylvaniaFloridaTennesseeVirginiaMichigan

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.

Explore every U.S. college in one conversation

Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.

Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card