Best colleges for Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology
Ranked by graduate earnings
Compare 85 U.S. colleges offering Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 32 states.
Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology programs report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $28,103 (College Scorecard, 2019), and map to CIP 39.03 and the Directors, Religious Activities and Education occupation (BLS SOC).
About Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology programs
The Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology program focuses on the academic study of Christian mission history and methodology. Developed as a discipline in the 19th century, this program is designed for individuals interested in understanding and engaging in mission work both domestically and internationally.
Learn more about Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology →
Students will gain core skills in speaking, active listening, critical thinking, and writing, along with knowledge in philosophy, theology, and psychology. Coursework may include topics such as church planting and various aspects of missionary studies.
Top 7 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, predominant credential. 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.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary Kansas City, MO Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $39,368 | 23 | 48% | $26,572 | $7,733 |
| 2 | Moody Bible Institute Chicago, IL Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $26,236 | 49 | 62% | $24,848 | $15,000 |
| 3 | Southeastern University Lakeland, FL Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $33,096 | 16 | 43% | $29,915 | $24,125 |
| 4 | North Greenville University Tigerville, SC Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $32,569 | 7 | 55% | $20,327 | $23,209 |
| 5 | Johnson University Knoxville, TN Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $28,103 | 8 | 57% | $19,333 | $23,876 |
| 6 | Bethany Global University Bloomington, MN Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Online | $23,272 | 35 | 56% | $20,841 | $19,635 |
| 7 | Ozark Christian College Joplin, MO Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $21,498 | 5 | 64% | $17,334 | — |
Top certificate or associate program
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Word of Life Bible Institute Pottersville, NY Private not-for-profit · Certificate | $20,638 | 462 | 80% | $12,373 | $12,000 |
Specializations within Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology
2 of the 3 6-digit CIP codes under CIP 39.03 have U.S. graduates (NCES CIP 2020, IPEDS 2024–25). Each links to its own page, ranked by graduates.
- Missions/CIP 39.0301
Missionary Studies 1,212 graduates / yr84 institutions32 states - Church PlantingCIP 39.0302New in CIP 2020partial data15 graduates / yr3 institutions3 states
Show all 3 codes (1 with no U.S. programs reported)+
- Missions/
Missionary Studies and Missiology39.0399
No institution reported completions for these codes in the latest IPEDS year, so they have no page.
Offered across 32 states & territories
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
| State | Institutions | Median earnings | Top institution by earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Missouri | 5 | $39,368 | Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary |
| Florida | 4 | $33,096 | Southeastern University |
| South Carolina | 4 | $32,569 | North Greenville University |
| Tennessee | 5 | $28,103 | Johnson University |
| Illinois | 5 | $26,236 | Moody Bible Institute |
| Minnesota | 5 | $23,272 | Bethany Global University |
| New Yorklimited | 1 | $20,638 | Word of Life Bible Institute |
| Alabamalimited | 1 | — | — |
| Arkansaslimited | 1 | — | — |
| California | 7 | — | — |
| Coloradolimited | 1 | — | — |
| Connecticutlimited | 1 | — | — |
| Georgialimited | 2 | — | — |
| Idaholimited | 1 | — | — |
| Indiana | 5 | — | — |
| Iowalimited | 2 | — | — |
| Kentucky | 4 | — | — |
| Louisianalimited | 1 | — | — |
| Michiganlimited | 2 | — | — |
| Montanalimited | 1 | — | — |
| North Carolina | 3 | — | — |
| North Dakotalimited | 1 | — | — |
| Ohiolimited | 2 | — | — |
| Oklahoma | 3 | — | — |
| Oregon | 3 | — | — |
| Pennsylvanialimited | 2 | — | — |
| Texas | 6 | — | — |
| Virginialimited | 2 | — | — |
| Washingtonlimited | 1 | — | — |
| Wisconsinlimited | 1 | — | — |
| Puerto Ricolimited | 2 | — | — |
| Arizonalimited | 1 | — | — |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 21-2021, Directors, Religious Activities and Education, and its national outlook.
Graduates of this program can pursue careers in religious education, mission work, and community outreach. The job outlook is about as fast as average, with an expected growth rate of 2.1% and approximately 13,800 annual openings. A typical educational requirement is a bachelor's degree, with a median wage of $54,840.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 39.03.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 39.03 (Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology) maps to 3 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupations, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.
| SOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 21-2021 | Directors, Religious Activities and Educationprimary |
| 21-2099 | Religious Workers, All Other |
| 25-1126 | Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
Skills & knowledge in Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this program most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
What graduates do on the job
- Develop or direct study courses or religious education programs within congregations.
- Identify and recruit potential volunteer workers.
- Select appropriate curricula or class structures for educational programs.
- Schedule special events, such as camps, conferences, meetings, seminars, or retreats.
- Counsel individuals regarding interpersonal, health, financial, or religious problems.
- Collaborate with other ministry members to establish goals and objectives for religious education programs or to develop ways to encourage program participation.
Common questions
What is Missiology?+
Missiology is the academic study of Christian mission history and methodology.
What skills will I learn in this program?+
You will develop skills in speaking, active listening, critical thinking, and writing.
What careers can I pursue with this degree?+
You can pursue careers in religious education, mission work, and community outreach.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with a growth rate of 2.1% and 13,800 annual openings.
How much do Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology graduates earn?+
Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology graduates report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $28,103, College Scorecard (2019); the Directors, Religious Activities and Education occupation pays about $62,100 on average nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What is the CIP code for Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology?+
Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology maps to CIP 39.03 in the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP), the U.S. Department of Education taxonomy used for College Scorecard Field of Study earnings and IPEDS completions.
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.
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