by our College Data Analytics Team
[Theological Ministerial Studies](/majors/theology-and-religious-vocations/theological-ministerial-studies/) programs reward a close look at where graduates go on to earn the most. The highest-paying schools turn a theological ministerial studies degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 100 schools to find where theological ministerial studies graduates earn the most.
What’s on this page:
The theological ministerial studies program you select can have a big impact on your future earnings. That is why we developed our Highest Paid Theological Ministerial Studies Graduates ranking. It looks at the median early-career salaries graduates earn, so you can find the schools whose theological ministerial studies degrees pay off the most.
We offer a number of rankings, including this Highest Paid Theological Ministerial Studies Graduates list, to help you decide. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Learn more about our methodology
If you want to know which schools send theological ministerial studies graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Concordia University Saint Paul earned the #1 spot for highest-paid theological ministerial studies graduates in the United States. Concordia University Saint Paul is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. Early-career theological ministerial studies graduates from Concordia University Saint Paul make a median of around $81,096 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in theological ministerial studies will find them at Hebrew Union College Jewish Institute Of Religion, which ranked #2. Hebrew Union College Jewish Institute Of Religion is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Early-career theological ministerial studies graduates from Hebrew Union College Jewish Institute Of Religion make a median of around $127,636 per year.
Concordia Seminary came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying theological ministerial studies schools. Located in the suburb of Saint Louis, Concordia Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution. Theological Ministerial Studies graduates of Concordia Seminary earn a median of about $100,159 a year early in their careers.
A rank of #4 makes Lutheran School Of Theology At Chicago one of the highest-paying schools for theological ministerial studies. Located in the city of Chicago, Lutheran School Of Theology At Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, theological ministerial studies degree recipients from Lutheran School Of Theology At Chicago typically earn about $91,221 annually.
Capital University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying theological ministerial studies schools. Set in the suburb of Columbus, Capital University is a private not-for-profit institution. Theological Ministerial Studies graduates of Capital University earn a median of about $85,317 a year early in their careers.
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Episcopal Theological Seminary Of The Southwest placed #6 among the highest-paying schools for theological ministerial studies. Set in the city of Austin, Episcopal Theological Seminary Of The Southwest is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, theological ministerial studies degree recipients from Episcopal Theological Seminary Of The Southwest typically earn about $84,654 annually.
Concordia Theological Seminary placed #7 among the highest-paying schools for theological ministerial studies. Located in the city of Fort Wayne, Concordia Theological Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, theological ministerial studies degree recipients from Concordia Theological Seminary typically earn about $83,000 annually.
Church Divinity School Of The Pacific ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying theological ministerial studies schools. Church Divinity School Of The Pacific is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Berkeley. After graduating, theological ministerial studies degree recipients from Church Divinity School Of The Pacific typically earn about $77,641 annually.
Nashotah House ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying theological ministerial studies schools. Nashotah House is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Nashotah. Early-career theological ministerial studies graduates from Nashotah House make a median of around $76,818 per year.
Concordia University Ann Arbor ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying theological ministerial studies schools. Concordia University Ann Arbor is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Ann Arbor. After graduating, theological ministerial studies degree recipients from Concordia University Ann Arbor typically earn about $69,831 annually.
Concordia University Wisconsin earned the #11 position for theological ministerial studies graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Mequon, Concordia University Wisconsin is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the theological ministerial studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $69,831.
Saint Johns Seminary placed #12 among the highest-paying schools for theological ministerial studies. Located in the city of Brighton, Saint Johns Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, theological ministerial studies degree recipients from Saint Johns Seminary typically earn about $76,360 annually.
Wartburg Theological Seminary came in at #13 for theological ministerial studies graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Dubuque, Wartburg Theological Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, theological ministerial studies degree recipients from Wartburg Theological Seminary typically earn about $81,629 annually.
Hellenic College Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School Of Theology landed the #14 spot for theological ministerial studies salaries this year. Set in the suburb of Brookline, Hellenic College Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School Of Theology is a private not-for-profit institution. Theological Ministerial Studies graduates of Hellenic College Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School Of Theology earn a median of about $71,192 a year early in their careers.
University Of Dallas landed the #15 spot for theological ministerial studies salaries this year. Located in the city of Irving, University Of Dallas is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the theological ministerial studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $50,461.
Lutheran Theological Seminary At Gettysburg placed #16 among the highest-paying schools for theological ministerial studies. Lutheran Theological Seminary At Gettysburg is a private not-for-profit school located in the town of Gettysburg. Students who complete the theological ministerial studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $87,083.
Phillips Theological Seminary ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying theological ministerial studies schools. Phillips Theological Seminary is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Tulsa. Students who complete the theological ministerial studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $69,212.
Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary Overbrook landed the #18 spot for theological ministerial studies salaries this year. Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary Overbrook is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Ambler. Early-career theological ministerial studies graduates from Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary Overbrook make a median of around $68,006 per year.
Luther Seminary came in at #19 for theological ministerial studies graduate earnings this year. Luther Seminary is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. Students who complete the theological ministerial studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $76,004.
Howard University earned the #20 position for theological ministerial studies graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Washington, Howard University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, theological ministerial studies degree recipients from Howard University typically earn about $65,972 annually.
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying theological ministerial studies schools. Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Wake Forest. After graduating, theological ministerial studies degree recipients from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary typically earn about $81,989 annually.
Catholic University Of America placed #22 among the highest-paying schools for theological ministerial studies. Catholic University Of America is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. Early-career theological ministerial studies graduates from Catholic University Of America make a median of around $65,661 per year.
The Masters College And Seminary earned the #23 position for theological ministerial studies graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Santa Clarita, The Masters College And Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution. Theological Ministerial Studies graduates of The Masters College And Seminary earn a median of about $72,253 a year early in their careers.
The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary placed #24 among the highest-paying schools for theological ministerial studies. Set in the city of Louisville, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the theological ministerial studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $76,075.
Methodist Theological School In Ohio earned the #25 position for theological ministerial studies graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Delaware, Methodist Theological School In Ohio is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, theological ministerial studies degree recipients from Methodist Theological School In Ohio typically earn about $63,663 annually.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s highest-paid theological ministerial studies ranking:
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The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries theological ministerial studies graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 100 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
