by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Other Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries involves the study of Pastoral Counseling And Specialized Ministries, Other. Any Instructional Program In Pastoral Counseling And Specialized Ministries Not Listed Above. Read on to learn the essential details every other pastoral counseling & specialized ministries major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering other pastoral counseling & specialized ministries programs.
Nationwide, other pastoral counseling & specialized ministries is a widely-pursued major, with 678 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Other Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Schools ranking analyzes these 61 schools to determine the best overall colleges for other pastoral counseling & specialized ministries students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of other pastoral counseling & specialized ministries programs later in this article.
Programs in Other Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations other pastoral counseling & specialized ministries graduates commonly enter.
The skill set developed in a other pastoral counseling & specialized ministries program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a other pastoral counseling & specialized ministries major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several other pastoral counseling & specialized ministries 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 | 41 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 176 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 412 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 19 |
People currently working in careers related to other pastoral counseling & specialized ministries tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 53.6% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 21.1% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 14.4% |
| Master’s degree | 9.2% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.9% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.6% |
| Some college courses | 0.3% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in other pastoral counseling & specialized ministries careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying other pastoral counseling & specialized ministries can lead to a variety of career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to other pastoral counseling & specialized ministries.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to other pastoral counseling & specialized ministries.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Religious Workers, All Other | 258,483 | -1.4% |
| Directors, Religious Activities and Education | 239,121 | -2.3% |
| Counselors, All Other | 229,390 | 4.5% |
| Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other | 38,623 | 13.1% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of other pastoral counseling & specialized ministries graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $37,962 |
| 4 years | $41,537 |
| 5 years | $44,763 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for other pastoral counseling & specialized ministries graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers other pastoral counseling & specialized ministries grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Counselors, All Other | $81,766 |
| Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other | $75,358 |
| Directors, Religious Activities and Education | $64,599 |
| Religious Workers, All Other | $58,956 |
With 61 different other pastoral counseling & specialized ministries programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased other pastoral counseling & specialized ministries school rankings to help you.
Those considering other pastoral counseling & specialized ministries, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Pastoral Studies/Counseling | 1,323 |
| Lay Ministry | 732 |
| Youth Ministry | 327 |
| Women’s Ministry | 75 |
| Urban Ministry | 65 |
| Chaplain/Chaplaincy Studies | 30 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
