by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Pastoral Studies/Counseling involves the study of Pastoral Studies/counseling. A Program That Focuses On The Theory And Principles Of Pastoral Care And Prepares Ordained Clergy To Provide Non-Clinical Pastoral Counseling To Individuals And Groups. Includes Instruction In Pastoral Leadership, Counseling Psychology; Crisis Intervention; Individual And Group Procedures; Theological And Spiritual Counseling; Pastoral Care; And Applications To Specific Types Of Ministry. Examples: [Christian Counseling]. Continue reading for the key facts every pastoral studies/counseling major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering pastoral studies/counseling programs.
Nationwide, pastoral studies/counseling draws strong interest, with 1,323 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Pastoral Studies/Counseling Schools ranking analyzes these 109 schools to determine the best overall colleges for pastoral studies/counseling students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of pastoral studies/counseling programs later in this article.
Coursework for Pastoral Studies/Counseling develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations pastoral studies/counseling graduates commonly enter.
Skills built by a pastoral studies/counseling program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a pastoral studies/counseling major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several pastoral studies/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 |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 22 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 47 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 353 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 811 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 90 |
People currently working in careers related to pastoral studies/counseling tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 57.8% |
| Master’s degree | 13.3% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 10.8% |
| Post-doctoral training | 9.8% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 4.1% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.8% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.5% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.5% |
| Some college courses | 0.5% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.1% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in pastoral studies/counseling careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in pastoral studies/counseling opens doors to numerous career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to pastoral studies/counseling.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to pastoral studies/counseling.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,031,835 | 3.7% |
| 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% |
| Clergy | 33,072 | -3.3% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of pastoral studies/counseling graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb 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 pastoral studies/counseling graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers pastoral studies/counseling grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Counselors, All Other | $81,766 |
| Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other | $75,358 |
| Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary | $71,584 |
| Directors, Religious Activities and Education | $64,599 |
| Religious Workers, All Other | $58,956 |
| Clergy | $49,854 |
With 109 different pastoral studies/counseling programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased pastoral studies/counseling school rankings to help you.
Students interested in pastoral studies/counseling, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Lay Ministry | 732 |
| Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries, Other | 678 |
| Youth Ministry | 327 |
| Women’s Ministry | 75 |
| Urban Ministry | 65 |
| Chaplain/Chaplaincy Studies | 30 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
