U.S. median for this major: $44,562.
College Scorecard field of study; 155 graduates with earnings reported
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 67% 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 $34,504. College Scorecard.
SAGU Pastoral Counseling / Ministry: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Fewer than 3 Texas colleges report earnings for this major, so there is no state median.
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 SAGU'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 | $17,583 | $76,134 | 12.3 years |
| $30–48k | $18,396 | $79,655 | 12.9 years |
| $48–75k | $21,731 | $94,095 | 15.2 years |
| $75–110k | $23,883 | $103,413 | 16.7 years |
| $110k+ | $25,474 | $110,302 | 17.8 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.3 years, the average time graduates took (30% 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 ($39,707) minus $33,516 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in TX (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $6,191 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 Texas colleges
Every Texas 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 | Dallas Baptist University | $49,408 | — | $28,516 | 57% |
| 2 | Nelson University | $39,707 | $26,750 | $21,662 | 42% |
9 more Texas 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 SAGU, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About SAGU
- Acceptance rate: 89% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 42% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $46,238
- Full cost breakdown · all 35 majors · overview
Related majors at SAGU
- Theology / Ministry—
- Religious Music and Worship—
- Missions / Missionary Studies and Missiology—
- Bible Studies$43,808
- Religious Education—
- Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions—
SAGU Pastoral Counseling / Ministry questions
How much do SAGU Pastoral Counseling / Ministry graduates earn?
Pastoral Counseling / Ministry graduates of Nelson University earn a median $39,707 four years after graduating and $30,910 one year after. The U.S. median for Pastoral Counseling / Ministry graduates across 28 colleges is $44,562.
How much debt do SAGU Pastoral Counseling / Ministry graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Pastoral Counseling / Ministry graduates of Nelson University is $26,750, about 67% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $26,000.
Where does SAGU rank for Pastoral Counseling / Ministry in Texas?
Of 2 Texas colleges reporting Pastoral Counseling / Ministry graduate earnings, Nelson University ranks 2nd. The highest is Dallas Baptist University at $49,408.
What jobs do Pastoral Counseling / Ministry graduates get?
A common career is clergy, with a median wage of $60,040 in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 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: “Nelson University Pastoral Counseling / Ministry: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/nelson-university/majors/pastoral-counseling-ministry (College Scorecard and BLS data).