Best institutions to study Theological and Ministerial Studies
Compare 411 U.S. colleges offering Theological and Ministerial Studies by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 44 states.
Theological and Ministerial Studies programs report a median of $32,202 one year after graduation (College Scorecard, 2024), and map to CIP 39.06 and the Clergy occupation (BLS SOC).
About Theological and Ministerial Studies programs
The Theological and Ministerial Studies program focuses on the study of theology and religious vocations, preparing students for various roles within religious communities. It is ideal for individuals seeking to deepen their understanding of spiritual matters and engage in ministerial work or religious leadership. Students can explore specializations such as Divinity, Rabbinical Studies, and Pre-Ministerial Studies.
Students in this program develop essential skills such as speaking, active listening, and critical thinking. Coursework typically covers philosophy, theology, and administration, equipping graduates with the knowledge needed to lead religious services, prepare sermons, and provide spiritual guidance.
Top 25 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 | William Jessup University Rocklin, CA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $47,102 | 21 | 56% | $24,242 | $21,566 |
| 2 | University of Notre Dame Notre Dame, IN Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $45,874 | 119 | 95% | $19,452 | $19,000 |
| 3 | The Master's University and Seminary Santa Clarita, CA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $43,677 | 121 | 68% | $30,641 | $23,774 |
| 4 | Northwest University Kirkland, WA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $41,139 | 23 | 71% | $21,433 | $26,453 |
| 5 | Northwest University - Center for Online and Extended Education Kirkland, WA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $41,139 | 41 | 50% | $26,831 | $26,453 |
| 6 | Cornerstone University Grand Rapids, MI Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $40,873 | 17 | 62% | $21,132 | $43,009 |
| 7 | Nazarene Bible College Colorado Springs, CO Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $40,357 | 29 | — | — | $40,332 |
| 8 | Baptist University of Florida Graceville, FL Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $34,350 | 26 | 52% | $9,668 | $24,916 |
| 9 | Johnson University Knoxville, TN Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $33,627 | 31 | 57% | $19,333 | $23,250 |
| 10 | Moody Bible Institute Chicago, IL Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $33,488 | 200 | 62% | $24,848 | $14,000 |
| 11 | University of Northwestern - St Paul Saint Paul, MN Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $32,815 | 17 | 68% | $23,114 | $22,000 |
| 12 | Seattle Pacific University Seattle, WA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $32,220 | 18 | 62% | $24,653 | — |
| 13 | Benedictine College Atchison, KS Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $32,202 | 39 | 62% | $24,826 | $23,250 |
| 14 | Southeastern University Lakeland, FL Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $29,809 | 386 | 43% | $29,915 | $23,218 |
| 15 | Franciscan University of Steubenville Steubenville, OH Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $29,656 | 213 | 75% | $21,122 | $25,000 |
| 16 | The King's University Southlake, TX Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $29,593 | 60 | 47% | $23,878 | $48,998 |
| 17 | Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach, FL Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $28,383 | 27 | 55% | $32,031 | $25,750 |
| 18 | Bob Jones University Greenville, SC Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $28,325 | 25 | 65% | $18,053 | — |
| 19 | Mid - America Christian University Oklahoma City, OK Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $27,391 | 23 | 44% | $17,088 | $41,422 |
| 20 | Oral Roberts University Tulsa, OK Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $27,088 | 144 | 57% | $23,543 | $30,750 |
| 21 | Ave Maria University Ave Maria, FL Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $26,924 | 45 | 54% | $22,235 | $21,102 |
| 22 | University of Valley Forge Phoenixville, PA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $25,051 | 19 | 49% | $27,182 | $28,000 |
| 23 | Universidad Adventista de las Antillas Mayaguez, PR Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $23,365 | 6 | 36% | $9,579 | $31,000 |
| 24 | Concordia University - Nebraska Seward, NE Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $19,316 | 3 | 65% | $22,390 | $27,750 |
| 25 | Martin Luther College New Ulm, MN Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $15,327 | 34 | 72% | $17,946 | $18,949 |
Offered across 44 states & territories
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 21-2011, Clergy, and its national outlook.
Graduates of Theological and Ministerial Studies can pursue careers in various religious settings, with an outlook showing little or no change in job opportunities. There are approximately 23,000 annual openings, a median wage of $60,820, and a typical education requirement of a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Theological and Ministerial Studies
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 39.06.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 39.06 (Theological and Ministerial Studies) 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 |
|---|---|
| 21-2011 | Clergyprimary |
| 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 Theological and Ministerial Studies 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
- 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.
Concentrations within Theological and Ministerial Studies
Specializations under this field (NCES CIP 2020).
- Theology/Theological StudiesCIP 39.0601
A program that focuses on the beliefs and doctrine of a particular religious faith from the intramural point of view of that faith
- Divinity/MinistryCIP 39.0602
A program that prepares individuals for ordination as ministers or priests in any of the Christian religious traditions
- Pre-Theology/Pre-Ministerial StudiesCIP 39.0604
A program that prepares individuals to enter a seminary or other program leading to religious ordination, or a related religious vocation.
- Rabbinical StudiesCIP 39.0605
A program that prepares individuals for ordination as Rabbis
- Talmudic StudiesCIP 39.0606
Moved from 39.0606 to 38.0207
- Theological and Ministerial Studies, OtherCIP 39.0699
Any instructional program in theological and ministerial studies not listed above, including preparation for religious vocations in faiths other than Christianity and Judaism.
Common questions
What is the focus of Theological and Ministerial Studies?+
The program focuses on theology and religious vocations, preparing students for roles in religious leadership.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
Students will develop skills in speaking, active listening, critical thinking, and more.
What are the career prospects after graduation?+
Graduates can expect around 23,000 annual job openings with a median wage of $60,820.
What level of education is typically required?+
A Bachelor's degree is typically required for careers in this field.
How much do Theological and Ministerial Studies graduates earn?+
Theological and Ministerial Studies graduates report median earnings of $32,202 one year after graduation, per College Scorecard (2024); the Clergy occupation pays about $66,860 on average nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What is the CIP code for Theological and Ministerial Studies?+
Theological and Ministerial Studies maps to CIP 39.06 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