Best institutions to study Urban Ministry
A program that prepares the ordained clergy and other religious professionals to provide spiritual, counseling, and leadership services to individuals and groups in urban communities.
8 U.S. institutions graduated 42 Urban Ministry students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 39.0703, a specialization of Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries (CIP 39.07), and leads most directly to the Directors, Religious Activities and Education occupation (BLS SOC 21-2021).
About Urban Ministry programs
A program that prepares the ordained clergy and other religious professionals to provide spiritual, counseling, and leadership services to individuals and groups in urban communities. Includes instruction in bible study and theology, pastoral leadership and care, urban structure and context, inner city ministry, counseling ministries, family studies, homiletics, social ethics, and community organizing.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Urban Ministry program, part of the Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries, prepares individuals for roles in spiritual leadership and counseling within urban communities. This program is ideal for those seeking to serve as ordained clergy or religious professionals, focusing on the unique challenges and opportunities present in urban environments.
Students in the Urban Ministry program gain essential skills in speaking, active listening, and critical thinking. Coursework covers topics such as bible study, pastoral leadership, urban structure, counseling ministries, and community organizing, equipping graduates to address various spiritual and social issues.
Credentials awarded
What Urban Ministry graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship20 graduates / yr · 1 institution48%
- Master's degree9 graduates / yr · 3 institutions21%
- Bachelor's degree7 graduates / yr · 4 institutions17%
- Associate's degree5 graduates / yr · 2 institutions12%
- Doctor's degree - other1 graduates / yr · 1 institution2.4%
Graduates over time
Urban Ministry completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 115 |
| 2013 | 100 |
| 2014 | 65 |
| 2015 | 100 |
| 2016 | 79 |
| 2017 | 87 |
| 2018 | 92 |
| 2019 | 66 |
| 2020 | 58 |
| 2021 | 65 |
| 2022 | 71 |
| 2023 | 58 |
| 2024 | 65 |
| 2025 | 42 |
Top 8 institutions for Urban Ministry, 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 | Bakke Graduate University Dallas, TXPrivate not-for-profitDoctoralMaster's | 27 | — | — | — |
| 2 | Union University Jackson, TNPrivate not-for-profitAssociate'sBachelor's | 8 | 66% | $25,882 | — |
| 3 | Geneva College Beaver Falls, PAPrivate not-for-profitAssociate'sBachelor's | 2 | 61% | $19,540 | — |
| 4 | Oakwood University Huntsville, ALPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 1 | 45% | $23,870 | — |
| 5 | North Park University Chicago, ILPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral | 1 | 58% | $18,494 | — |
| 6 | North Central University Minneapolis, MNPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 66% | $23,452 | $27,370 |
| 7 | Drury University Springfield, MOPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 62% | $20,482 | — |
| 8 | Eden Theological Seminary Webster Groves, MOPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 1 | — | — | — |
* 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 7 states
Where Urban Ministry graduates come from. Each state links to all Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 1 | 27 | Bakke Graduate University27 / yr |
| Tennessee | 1 | 8 | Union University8 / yr |
| Missouri | 2 | 2 | Drury University1 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | 2 | Geneva College2 / yr |
| Alabama | 1 | 1 | Oakwood University1 / yr |
| Illinois | 1 | 1 | North Park University1 / yr |
| Minnesota | 1 | 1 | North Central University1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 21-2021, Directors, Religious Activities and Education, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Urban Ministry program can pursue careers such as Directors of Religious Activities and Education, with an annual job growth rate of 2.1% and approximately 13,800 annual openings. The median wage for these roles is $54,840, typically requiring at least a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 39.0703
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Directors, Religious Activities and Educationprimary 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 Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Urban Ministry 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
- 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.
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
- Chaplain/CIP 39.0706
Chaplaincy Studies 61 graduates / yr12 institutions
See all Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries programs →
Common questions
What is the focus of the Urban Ministry program?+
The program focuses on preparing individuals for spiritual leadership and counseling in urban communities.
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Doctor's degree, Master's degree, Bachelor's degree, or Associate's degree.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in speaking, active listening, critical thinking, and counseling.
What career opportunities are available after graduation?+
Career opportunities include roles such as Directors of Religious Activities and Education, with a median wage of $54,840.
What is the CIP code for Urban Ministry?+
Urban Ministry is CIP 39.0703 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 the ordained clergy and other religious professionals to provide spiritual, counseling, and leadership services to individuals and groups in urban communities. Includes instruction in bible study and theology, pastoral leadership and care, urban structure and context, inner city ministry, counseling ministries, family studies, homiletics, social ethics, and community organizing.
How many institutions offer Urban Ministry programs?+
8 U.S. institutions reported Urban Ministry graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 7 states, awarding 42 credentials in the year. That is 1.4% of all Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries graduates.
How much do Urban Ministry graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Directors, Religious Activities and Education occupation, which Urban Ministry most directly leads to, pays a median of $52,100 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries field report median earnings of $27,370 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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