by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Church Planting covers A Program Of Study That Prepares Individuals To Establish Congregations Of Christians In New Locations. Includes Instruction In Models Of Church Planting, Church Multiplication Strategies, Church Leadership, Evangelism, Missiology, Christian Ethics, And Mission-Oriented Theology. Continue reading for the essential details every church planting student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering church planting programs.
Nationwide, church planting is a widely-pursued major, with 10 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Church Planting Schools ranking analyzes these 4 schools to determine the best overall colleges for church planting students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of church planting programs later in this article.
There are several church planting 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 1 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 9 |
A degree in church planting prepares you for numerous career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to church planting.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to church planting.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Religious Workers, All Other | 258,483 | -1.4% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of church planting graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $31,015 |
| 4 years | $29,516 |
| 5 years | $31,974 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for church planting graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers church planting grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Religious Workers, All Other | $58,956 |
With 4 different church planting programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased church planting school rankings to help you.
Students interested in church planting, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Missions/Missionary Studies | 1,235 |
| Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology, Other | 4 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
