by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Urban Ministry explores Urban Ministry. A Program That Prepares The Ordained Clergy And Other Religious Professionals To Provide Spiritual, Counseling, And Leadership Services To Individuals And Groups In Urban Communities. Includes Instruction In Bible Study And Theology, Pastoral Leadership And Care, Urban Structure And Context, Inner City Ministry, Counseling Ministries, Family Studies, Homiletics, Social Ethics, And Community Organizing. Continue reading for the essential details every urban ministry student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering urban ministry programs.
Nationwide, urban ministry draws strong interest, with 65 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Urban Ministry Schools ranking analyzes these 10 schools to determine the best overall colleges for urban ministry students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of urban ministry programs later in this article.
Coursework for Urban Ministry build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations urban ministry graduates commonly enter.
The skill set emphasized by a urban ministry program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a urban ministry major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several urban ministry 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 | 8 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 11 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 18 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 10 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 18 |
People currently working in careers related to urban ministry tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 59.3% |
| Master’s degree | 12.3% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 10.6% |
| Post-doctoral training | 10.0% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 4.2% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.8% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.5% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.2% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.1% |
| Some college courses | 0.1% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in urban ministry careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in urban ministry opens doors to a variety of career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to urban ministry.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to urban ministry.
| 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% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of urban ministry 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 urban ministry graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers urban ministry grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary | $71,584 |
| Directors, Religious Activities and Education | $64,599 |
| Religious Workers, All Other | $58,956 |
With 10 different urban ministry programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased urban ministry school rankings to help you.
Students interested in urban ministry, 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 |
| Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries, Other | 678 |
| Youth Ministry | 327 |
| Women’s Ministry | 75 |
| Chaplain/Chaplaincy Studies | 30 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
