Theological & Ministerial Studies

Types of Degrees Theological & Ministerial Studies Majors Are Getting

The following table lists how many theological and ministerial studies graduations there were in 2020-2021 for each degree level.

Education Level	Number of Grads
Master’s Degree	10,469
Doctor’s Degree	1,586
Graduate Certificate	479

What Theological & Ministerial Studies Majors Need to Know

In an O*NET survey, theology majors were asked to rate what knowledge areas, skills, and abilities were important in their occupations. These answers were weighted on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the most important.

Knowledge Areas for Theology Majors

According to O*NET survey takers, a major in theology should prepare you for careers in which you will need to be knowledgeable in the following areas:

• Philosophy and Theology - Knowledge of different philosophical systems and religions. This includes their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and their impact on human culture.
• English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
• History and Archeology - Knowledge of historical events and their causes, indicators, and effects on civilizations and cultures.
• Sociology and Anthropology - Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.

Skills for Theology Majors

The following list of skills has been highlighted as some of the most essential for careers related to theology:

• Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
• Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
• Instructing - Teaching others how to do something.
• Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Abilities for Theology Majors

As you progress with your theology degree, there are several abilities you should pick up that will help you in whatever related career you choose. These abilities include:

• Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
• Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
• Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
• Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
• Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

What Can You Do With a Theological & Ministerial Studies Major?

People with a theology degree often go into the following careers:

Job Title	Job Growth Rate	Median Salary
Clergy	8.2%	$48,990
Philosophy and Religion Professors	12.3%	$71,890
Religious Workers	7.7%	$29,820

Who Is Getting a Master’s Degree in Theological & Ministerial Studies?

Theological and Ministerial Studies runs middle of the road when it comes to popularity, ranking #21 out of all the graduate majors we track. In 2021, about 10,463 graduates completed their master’s degree in this field. This major tends to be male dominated. About 66% of recent graduates are men.

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the countrywide level, the racial-ethnic distribution of theology majors is as follows:

Race/Ethnicity	Number of Grads
Asian	516
Black or African American	1,436
Hispanic or Latino	682
White	5,902
International Students	809
Other Races/Ethnicities	1,124

Geographic Diversity

Americans aren’t the only ones with an interest in Theology. About 7.7% of those with this major are international students. The most popular countries for students from outside the country are:

• South Korea
• Canada
• China
• India
• Vietnam

How Much Do Theological & Ministerial Studies Majors Make?

Master’s Degree Starting Salary

According to 2019-2020 data from the U.S. Department of Education, students who graduated with a master’s degree in theology have a median salary of $44,174 during the early years of their career. During this timeframe, most salaries fell between $38,840 (25th percentile) and $48,913 (75th percentile).

One thing to note here is that not all of these people may be working in careers related to theology.

Salaries According to BLS

Average salaries range from $35,860 to $82,420 (25th to 75th percentile) for careers related to theology. This range includes all degree levels, so the salary for a person with just a bachelor’s degree may be a little less and the one for a person with an advanced degree may be a little more.

To put that into context, according to BLS data from the first quarter of 2020, the typical high school graduate makes between $30,000 and $57,900 a year (25th through 75th percentile). The average person with a bachelor’s degree (any field) makes between $45,600 and $99,000. Advanced degree holders make the most with salaries between $55,600 and $125,400.

Amount of Education Required for Careers Related to Theological & Ministerial Studies

Some degrees associated with theology may require an advanced degree, while others may not even require a bachelor’s in the field. Whatever the case may be, pursuing more education usually means that more career options will be available to you.

How much schooling do you really need to compete in today’s job market? People currently working in careers related to theology have obtained the following education levels.

Education Level	Percentage of Workers
Less than a High School Diploma	0.5%
High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)	0.1%
Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree)	0.1%
Bachelor’s Degree	12.0%
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Baccalaureate degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees carrying the title of Master.	4.0%
Master’s Degree	40.5%
Post-Master’s Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Master’s degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees at the doctoral level.	0.4%
Doctoral Degree	36.8%
Post-Doctoral Training	6.2%

Online Theological & Ministerial Studies Programs

In 2020-2021, 482 schools offered a theology program of some type. The following table lists the number of programs by degree level, along with how many schools offered online courses in the field.

Degree Level	Colleges Offering Programs	Colleges Offering Online Classes
Certificate (Less Than 1 Year)	0	0
Certificate (1-2 years)	30	6
Certificate (2-4 Years)	7	4
Associate’s Degree	59	27
Bachelor’s Degree	100	23
Post-Baccalaureate	0	0
Master’s Degree	566	133
Post-Master’s	34	0
Doctor’s Degree (Research)	87	13
Doctor’s Degree (Professional Practice)	59	7
Doctor’s Degree (Other)	41	8

Is a Degree in Theological & Ministerial Studies Worth It?

The median salary for a theology grad is $53,290 per year. This is based on the weighted average of the most common careers associated with the major.

This is 34% more than the average salary for an individual holding a high school degree. This adds up to a gain of about $267,800 after 20 years!

Majors Related to Theological & Ministerial Studies

You may also be interested in one of the following majors related to theology.

Major	Number of Grads
Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries	1,624
Biblical Studies	1,052
Theology & Religious Vocations (Other)	777
Religious Education	687
Missionary Studies	423
Sacred Music	167
Religious Institution Administration and Law	23

References

*The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity was unknown. This number is then divided by the total number of students at the school to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• College Scorecard
• National Center for Education Statistics
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• Usual Weekly Earnings of Wage and Salary Workers First Quarter 2020
• Image Credit: By Jonund under License

More about our data sources and methodologies.