Best institutions to study Chaplain/Chaplaincy Studies
A program that prepares individuals to provide caregiver, pastoral, and spiritual support in an institutional, hospice, military, or sports setting.
12 U.S. institutions graduated 61 Chaplain/Chaplaincy Studies students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 39.0706, a specialization of Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries (CIP 39.07), and leads most directly to the Clergy occupation (BLS SOC 21-2011).
About Chaplain/Chaplaincy Studies programs
A program that prepares individuals to provide caregiver, pastoral, and spiritual support in an institutional, hospice, military, or sports setting. Includes instruction in global, healthcare, prison, and sports chaplaincy; addiction, crisis, disaster, family, marriage, grief, and loss counseling; ethics; leadership; multi-cultural, multi-faith contexts; and worship.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Chaplain/Chaplaincy Studies program prepares individuals to provide caregiver, pastoral, and spiritual support in various settings, including healthcare, military, and sports. This program is ideal for those seeking to serve as spiritual leaders and counselors in diverse environments, addressing the needs of individuals facing crises, grief, and other life challenges.
Students in this program will develop essential skills in speaking, active listening, and critical thinking, while gaining knowledge in philosophy, theology, and counseling. Coursework includes instruction in multi-faith contexts, ethics, and leadership, equipping graduates to navigate complex spiritual and emotional landscapes.
Credentials awarded
What Chaplain/Chaplaincy Studies graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Master's degree54 graduates / yr · 10 institutions89%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year5 graduates / yr · 1 institution8.2%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate2 graduates / yr · 1 institution3.3%
Graduates over time
Chaplain/Chaplaincy Studies completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 28 |
| 2021 | 18 |
| 2022 | 17 |
| 2023 | 29 |
| 2024 | 30 |
| 2025 | 61 |
CIP 39.0706 was introduced in CIP 2020, so the series starts when institutions began reporting under the new code.
Top 12 institutions for Chaplain/Chaplaincy Studies, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Liberty University Lynchburg, VAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 16 | 65% | $28,911 | $34,083 |
| 2 | Hartford International University for Religion and Peace Hartford, CTPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 10 | — | — | — |
| 3 | AdventHealth University Orlando, FLPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 9 | 39% | $31,894 | — |
| 4 | Brigham Young University Provo, UTPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 6 | 81% | $13,712 | — |
| 5 | Garrett - Evangelical Theological Seminary Evanston, ILPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 5 | — | — | — |
| 6 | George Fox University Newberg, ORPrivate not-for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 5 | 72% | $26,564 | — |
| 7 | University of the West Rosemead, CAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 4 | 38% | $14,162 | — |
| 8 | Northeastern Seminary Rochester, NYPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert. | 2 | — | — | — |
| 9 | Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach, FLPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 1 | 55% | $32,031 | — |
| 10 | Campbellsville University Campbellsville, KYPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 1 | 42% | $18,824 | — |
| 11 | Moravian University Bethlehem, PAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 1 | 72% | $28,454 | — |
| 12 | Grace School of Theology The Woodlands, TXPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 1 | 100% | — | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries field (CIP 39.07) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 11 states
Where Chaplain/Chaplaincy Studies graduates come from. Each state links to all Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia | 1 | 16 | Liberty University16 / yr |
| Florida | 2 | 10 | AdventHealth University9 / yr |
| Connecticut | 1 | 10 | Hartford International University for Religion and Peace10 / yr |
| Utah | 1 | 6 | Brigham Young University6 / yr |
| Illinois | 1 | 5 | Garrett - Evangelical Theological Seminary5 / yr |
| Oregon | 1 | 5 | George Fox University5 / yr |
| California | 1 | 4 | University of the West4 / yr |
| New York | 1 | 2 | Northeastern Seminary2 / yr |
| Kentucky | 1 | 1 | Campbellsville University1 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | 1 | Moravian University1 / yr |
| Texas | 1 | 1 | Grace School of Theology1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 21-2011, Clergy, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Chaplain/Chaplaincy Studies program can pursue careers as clergy, directors of religious activities, and other religious workers. The job outlook shows little to no change, with an estimated 23,000 annual openings and a median wage of $60,820, typically requiring a bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 39.0706
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Clergyprimary SOC 21-2011 | $60,810 | +1.0% Little or no change | ~23,000 | Bachelor's degree |
Directors, Religious Activities and Education SOC 21-2021 | $52,100 | +2.1% About as fast as average | ~13,800 | Bachelor's degree |
Religious Workers, All Other SOC 21-2099 | $45,280 | +0.6% Little or no change | ~11,100 | Bachelor's degree |
Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1126 | $80,260 | +0.7% Little or no change | ~2,000 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
- Experience
- Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
- Training
- Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Chaplain/Chaplaincy Studies programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Pray and promote spirituality.
- Prepare and deliver sermons or other talks.
- Read from sacred texts, such as the Bible, Torah, or Koran.
- Organize and lead regular religious services.
- Instruct people who seek conversion to a particular faith.
- Share information about religious issues by writing articles, giving speeches, or teaching.
Tools and technology used
Other Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries specializations
The 6 other 6-digit CIP codes under Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries (CIP 39.07).
- Pastoral Studies/CIP 39.0701
Counseling 1,283 graduates / yr105 institutions - Lay MinistryCIP 39.0705672 graduates / yr50 institutions
- Pastoral Counseling and Specialized MinistriesCIP 39.0799594 graduates / yr57 institutions
- Youth MinistryCIP 39.0702253 graduates / yr60 institutions
- Women's MinistryCIP 39.0704partial data83 graduates / yr7 institutions
- Urban MinistryCIP 39.0703partial data42 graduates / yr8 institutions
See all Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries programs →
Common questions
What degree do I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Master's degree, a postbaccalaureate certificate, or an award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in speaking, active listening, writing, and critical thinking.
What types of careers can I pursue?+
You can pursue careers such as clergy, directors of religious activities, and other religious workers.
What is the job outlook for chaplains?+
The job outlook shows little or no change, with an estimated 23,000 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Chaplain/Chaplaincy Studies?+
Chaplain/Chaplaincy Studies is CIP 39.0706 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries (CIP 39.07). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares individuals to provide caregiver, pastoral, and spiritual support in an institutional, hospice, military, or sports setting. Includes instruction in global, healthcare, prison, and sports chaplaincy; addiction, crisis, disaster, family, marriage, grief, and loss counseling; ethics; leadership; multi-cultural, multi-faith contexts; and worship.
How many institutions offer Chaplain/Chaplaincy Studies programs?+
12 U.S. institutions reported Chaplain/Chaplaincy Studies graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 11 states, awarding 61 credentials in the year. That is 2.0% of all Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries graduates.
How much do Chaplain/Chaplaincy Studies graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Clergy occupation, which Chaplain/Chaplaincy Studies most directly leads to, pays a median of $60,810 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries field report median earnings of $34,083 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
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.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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