by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Clinical Pastoral Counseling/Patient Counseling covers Clinical Pastoral Counseling/patient Counseling. A Program That Prepares Individuals, Including But Not Limited To, Ordained Clergy And Other Counseling Professionals To Respond To The Emotional And/or Spiritual Needs Of Patients And Families In Health Care Emergencies And Other Situations, And To Consult With And Counsel Other Health Care Professionals. Includes Instruction In Advanced Interpersonal Communication; Individual And Small Group Counseling; Interdisciplinary Teamwork; Crisis Management; Extended Care Relationships; Self-Analysis; Medical Ethics; Pastoral Care Art; Spiritual Dimensions Of Human Growth And Health; Counseling Psychology And Therapy; And Applications To Grief, Death, Emotional Collapse, Injury, Individual/family Adjustment, And Chronic Illness Situations. Read on to learn the important information every clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling programs.
Across the country, clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling is a popular field of study, with 187 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Clinical Pastoral Counseling/Patient Counseling Schools ranking analyzes these 18 schools to determine the best overall colleges for clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling programs later in this article.
Coursework for Clinical Pastoral Counseling/Patient Counseling develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling graduates commonly enter.
The skill set built by a clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 187 |
People currently working in careers related to clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 58.3% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 18.1% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 6.8% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 5.3% |
| First professional degree | 4.3% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 3.1% |
| Doctoral degree | 1.8% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.8% |
| Some college courses | 0.8% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.5% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.2% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling can lead to many career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Mental Health Counselors | 246,978 | 2.8% |
| Directors, Religious Activities and Education | 239,121 | -2.3% |
| Counselors, All Other | 229,390 | 4.5% |
| Marriage and Family Therapists | 229,049 | -3.8% |
| Clergy | 33,072 | -3.3% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $46,066 |
| 4 years | $46,824 |
| 5 years | $52,641 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Counselors, All Other | $81,766 |
| Marriage and Family Therapists | $74,325 |
| Mental Health Counselors | $72,983 |
| Directors, Religious Activities and Education | $64,599 |
| Clergy | $49,854 |
With 18 different clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling school rankings to help you.
Students interested in clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Mental Health Counseling/Counselor | 10,855 |
| Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling | 6,135 |
| Marriage and Family Therapy/Counseling | 4,476 |
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions, Other | 3,545 |
| Clinical/Medical Social Work | 3,296 |
| Psychiatric/Mental Health Services Technician | 2,601 |
| Community Health Services/Liaison/Counseling | 2,298 |
| Genetic Counseling/Counselor | 378 |
| Trauma Counseling | 161 |
| Medical Family Therapy/Therapist | 6 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
