Grace Christian University Pastoral Counseling / Ministry: earnings, debt & careers

Pastoral Counseling / Ministry graduates of Grace Christian University earn a median $45,288 four years after graduating ($48,916 after one year), with median federal loan debt of $38,453. That is $726 above the U.S. median for Pastoral Counseling / Ministry graduates ($44,562 across 28 colleges), and ranks 1st of 3 Michigan colleges.

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Earnings, 4 years after graduating
$45,288

U.S. median for this major: $44,562.

College Scorecard field of study; 42 graduates with earnings reported. A small group, so treat this figure with caution

Earnings, 1 year after
$48,916

Median for graduates who received federal aid.

College Scorecard field of study

Median debt at graduation
$38,453

About 85% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $26,000.

College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)

What your family pays
$12,404 /yr

Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.

Sticker price $26,166. College Scorecard.

Grace Christian University Pastoral Counseling / Ministry: pay against the field, and payback

Same major, other colleges

Grace Christian University graduates$45,288
Michigan median (3 colleges)$38,298 (+$6,990)
U.S. median (28 colleges)$44,562 (+$726)

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 Grace Christian University's school-wide net price (no college reports it by major) and this major's graduate earnings.

Family incomeNet price / yrCost to finishYears to pay back
$0–30k$9,538$44,2563.7 years
$30–48k$10,935$50,7384.3 years
$48–75k$10,037$46,5723.9 years
$75–110k$12,379$57,4394.8 years
$110k+$20,834$96,6708.1 years

Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.6 years, the average time graduates took (23% 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 ($45,288) minus $33,411 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in MI (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $11,877 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 Michigan colleges

Every Michigan college we cover that reports Pastoral Counseling / Ministry graduate earnings, highest first. Net price is the school-wide average after grants.

RankCollegeEarnings, 4 yrsMedian debtAvg. net priceGraduation
1Grace Christian University$45,288$38,453$12,40451%
2Cornerstone University$38,298—$20,30162%
3Spring Arbor University$36,814—$19,35364%

6 more Michigan colleges offer Pastoral Counseling / Ministry but have too few graduates to report earnings.

Careers for Pastoral Counseling / Ministry graduates

Clergy

Grand Rapids area$50,410
Michigan$56,490
U.S.$60,810

Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +2.4% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.

Directors, Religious Activities and Education

Grand Rapids area$48,780
Michigan$45,590
U.S.$52,100

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 Grace Christian University, by income

School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.

College Scorecard

About Grace Christian University

Related majors at Grace Christian University

  • Theology / Ministry—
  • Missions / Missionary Studies and Missiology—
  • Bible Studies—
  • Religious Education$52,314

Grace Christian University Pastoral Counseling / Ministry questions

How much do Grace Christian University Pastoral Counseling / Ministry graduates earn?

Pastoral Counseling / Ministry graduates of Grace Christian University earn a median $45,288 four years after graduating and $48,916 one year after. The U.S. median for Pastoral Counseling / Ministry graduates across 28 colleges is $44,562.

How much debt do Grace Christian University Pastoral Counseling / Ministry graduates have?

The median federal loan debt for Pastoral Counseling / Ministry graduates of Grace Christian University is $38,453, about 85% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $26,000.

Is Grace Christian University a good school for Pastoral Counseling / Ministry in Michigan?

On pay, Pastoral Counseling / Ministry graduates of Grace Christian University earn $45,288 four years out, $6,990 above the median for the same major across 3 Michigan colleges ($38,298) and $726 above the U.S. median ($44,562). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.

Where does Grace Christian University rank for Pastoral Counseling / Ministry in Michigan?

Of 3 Michigan colleges reporting Pastoral Counseling / Ministry graduate earnings, Grace Christian University ranks 1st, the highest.

What jobs do Pastoral Counseling / Ministry graduates get?

A common career is clergy, with a median wage of $50,410 in the Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, 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
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Cite this: “Grace Christian University Pastoral Counseling / Ministry: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/grace-christian-university/majors/pastoral-counseling-ministry (College Scorecard and BLS data).