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

Waxahachie, TX. IPEDS 228325, CIP 39.07. Page: https://educationguide.com/colleges/nelson-university/majors/pastoral-counseling-ministry

## Graduate outcomes
- Median earnings 1 year after graduating: $30,910
- Median earnings 4 years after graduating: $39,707 (U.S. median for this major: $44,562 across 28 colleges)
- Median federal loan debt: $26,750 (U.S. median $26,000)
- Rank in TX: 2 of 2 colleges by 4-year earnings
- Versus the U.S. median: -$4,855

## Cost to finish and years to pay back (EducationGuide calculation)
School-wide net price x 4.33 years (average time graduates took). Earnings gain = $39,707 minus $33,516 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in TX (Census ACS 2020-2024).

| 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 |

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

## Pastoral Counseling / Ministry at TX colleges
| College | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas Baptist University | $49,408 | not reported | $28,516 | 57% |
| Nelson University | $39,707 | $26,750 | $21,662 | 42% |

## Careers
- Clergy (SOC 21-2011): median wage $60,040 Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX, $59,480 TX, $60,810 U.S.; U.S. jobs 2.4% by 2035
- Directors, Religious Activities and Education (SOC 21-2021): median wage $83,260 Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX, $75,420 TX, $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).