# Bethel University: Pastoral Counseling / Ministry (bachelor's)

Mishawaka, IN. IPEDS 150145, CIP 39.07. Page: https://educationguide.com/colleges/bethel-university-in/majors/pastoral-counseling-ministry

## Graduate outcomes
- Median earnings 1 year after graduating: $31,046
- Median earnings 4 years after graduating: $37,149 (U.S. median for this major: $44,562 across 28 colleges)
- Median federal loan debt: $23,319 (U.S. median $26,000)
- Rank in IN: 3 of 3 colleges by 4-year earnings
- Versus the IN median for this major (3 colleges, $44,733): -$7,584
- Versus the U.S. median: -$7,413

## Cost to finish and years to pay back (EducationGuide calculation)
School-wide net price x 4.1 years (average time graduates took). Earnings gain = $37,149 minus $35,534 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in IN (Census ACS 2020-2024).

| 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 |

Method: https://educationguide.com/how-we-score#value

## Pastoral Counseling / Ministry at IN colleges
| College | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion | $45,693 | $22,104 | $22,866 | 67% |
| Grace College and Theological Seminary | $44,733 | $25,500 | $19,932 | 69% |
| Bethel University | $37,149 | $23,319 | $18,610 | 53% |

## Careers
- Clergy (SOC 21-2011): median wage $54,350 South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI, $59,020 IN, $60,810 U.S.; U.S. jobs 2.4% by 2035
- Directors, Religious Activities and Education (SOC 21-2021): median wage not reported South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI, $58,490 IN, $52,100 U.S.; U.S. jobs 3.3% by 2035

## Sources and years
- Earnings (4 yr): Treasury AY2017-2018, AY2018-2019 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars; debt: NSLDS pooled AY2018-19, AY2019-20 cohort

Free to reuse with attribution: cite "EducationGuide.com" with a link to the page URL. Most figures are U.S. government data (public domain); loan default rates and athletics come from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-By 1.0, attribution required) and founding years from Wikidata (CC0).