U.S. median for this major: $44,562.
College Scorecard field of study; 16 graduates with earnings reported. A small group, so treat this figure with caution
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 63% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $26,000.
College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)
Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $43,885. College Scorecard.
Bethel University Pastoral Counseling / Ministry: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Median earnings 4 years after graduating; state and U.S. figures are the median of each covered college's graduates in this major. College Scorecard; calculated by EducationGuide.
Pastoral Counseling / Ministry nationally: jobs, pay at ages 25-34, every state →
Cost to finish and years to pay back, by income
Uses Bethel University's school-wide net price (no college reports it by major) and this major's graduate earnings.
| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0–30k | $17,580 | $72,078 | more than 20 years |
| $30–48k | $12,572 | $51,545 | more than 20 years |
| $48–75k | $12,673 | $51,959 | more than 20 years |
| $75–110k | $18,645 | $76,445 | more than 20 years |
| $110k+ | $25,871 | $106,071 | more than 20 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.1 years, the average time graduates took (51% finished in 4 years; students who entered fall 2017, IPEDS). Years to pay back = cost to finish ÷ the earnings gain: median earnings of Pastoral Counseling / Ministry graduates 4 years after graduating ($37,149) minus $35,534 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in IN (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $1,615 a year. Before taxes, loan interest and earnings given up while in school. Method
College Scorecard; IPEDS Graduation Rates; U.S. Census Bureau ACS. Calculated by EducationGuide.
Pastoral Counseling / Ministry at Indiana colleges
Every Indiana college we cover that reports Pastoral Counseling / Ministry graduate earnings, highest first. Net price is the school-wide average after grants.
| Rank | College | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion | $45,693 | $22,104 | $22,866 | 67% |
| 2 | Grace College and Theological Seminary | $44,733 | $25,500 | $19,932 | 69% |
| 3 | Bethel University | $37,149 | $23,319 | $18,610 | 53% |
6 more Indiana colleges offer Pastoral Counseling / Ministry but have too few graduates to report earnings.
Careers for Pastoral Counseling / Ministry graduates
Clergy
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +2.4% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Directors, Religious Activities and Education
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +3.3% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35. Careers from the federal major-to-occupation crosswalk.
What families pay at Bethel University, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About Bethel University
- Acceptance rate: 98% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 53% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $48,860
- Full cost breakdown · all 43 majors · overview
Related majors at Bethel University
- Theology / Ministry—
- Missions / Missionary Studies and Missiology—
- Bible Studies—
Bethel University Pastoral Counseling / Ministry questions
How much do Bethel University Pastoral Counseling / Ministry graduates earn?
Pastoral Counseling / Ministry graduates of Bethel University earn a median $37,149 four years after graduating and $31,046 one year after. The U.S. median for Pastoral Counseling / Ministry graduates across 28 colleges is $44,562.
How much debt do Bethel University Pastoral Counseling / Ministry graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Pastoral Counseling / Ministry graduates of Bethel University is $23,319, about 63% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $26,000.
Is Bethel University a good school for Pastoral Counseling / Ministry in Indiana?
On pay, Pastoral Counseling / Ministry graduates of Bethel University earn $37,149 four years out, $7,584 below the median for the same major across 3 Indiana colleges ($44,733) and $7,413 below the U.S. median ($44,562). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does Bethel University rank for Pastoral Counseling / Ministry in Indiana?
Of 3 Indiana colleges reporting Pastoral Counseling / Ministry graduate earnings, Bethel University ranks 3rd. The highest is Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion at $45,693.
What jobs do Pastoral Counseling / Ministry graduates get?
A common career is clergy, with a median wage of $54,350 in the South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI area and $60,810 nationally. Others include directors, religious activities and education.
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (field of study: median earnings and federal loan debt of graduates who received federal aid); BLS. How we score
Data: JSON · Markdown · all datasets
Cite this: “Bethel University Pastoral Counseling / Ministry: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/bethel-university-in/majors/pastoral-counseling-ministry (College Scorecard and BLS data).