Best institutions to study Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology
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 a median of $28,103 one year after graduation (College Scorecard, 2024), 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 8 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard, predominant credential).
| # | Institution | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Completions | 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 | Southeastern University Lakeland, FL Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $33,096 | 16 | 43% | $29,915 | $24,125 |
| 3 | North Greenville University Tigerville, SC Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $32,569 | 7 | 55% | $20,327 | $23,209 |
| 4 | Johnson University Knoxville, TN Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $28,103 | 8 | 57% | $19,333 | $23,876 |
| 5 | Moody Bible Institute Chicago, IL Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $26,236 | 49 | 62% | $24,848 | $15,000 |
| 6 | Bethany Global University Bloomington, MN Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $23,272 | 35 | 56% | $20,841 | $19,635 |
| 7 | Ozark Christian College Joplin, MO Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $21,498 | 5 | 64% | $17,334 | — |
| 8 | Word of Life Bible Institute Pottersville, NY Private not-for-profit · Certificate degree | $20,638 | 462 | 80% | $12,373 | $12,000 |
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.
Concentrations within Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology
Specializations under this field (NCES CIP 2020).
- Missions/Missionary StudiesCIP 39.0301
A program that focuses on the theory and practice of religious outreach, social service and proselytization, and that prepares individuals for mission vocations
- Church PlantingCIP 39.0302
A program of study that prepares individuals to establish congregations of Christians in new locations
- Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology, OtherCIP 39.0399
Any instructional program in missions, missionary studies, and missiology not listed above.
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 of $28,103 one year after graduation, per College Scorecard (2024); 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.
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