Clinical Pastoral Counseling: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Clinical Pastoral Counseling is a specialized field dedicated to addressing the emotional, psychological, and spiritual well-being of individuals and families facing acute medical crises, chronic illness, or end-of-life challenges. This advanced training equips professionals with the skills to provide compassionate, ethically grounded support within healthcare settings while collaborating effectively with medical teams.
- Advanced Interpersonal Communication: Develops nuanced verbal and nonverbal strategies for building trust and conveying empathy in high-stress, sensitive contexts.
- Individual and Small Group Counseling: Focuses on therapeutic techniques tailored to personal crises, family dynamics, and group support processes in clinical environments.
- Interdisciplinary Teamwork: Emphasizes collaboration with physicians, nurses, social workers, and other healthcare providers to deliver holistic patient care.
- Crisis Management: Trains professionals to respond effectively during life-threatening events, trauma, and sudden medical emergencies with composure and precision.
- Extended Care Relationships: Explores the development and maintenance of long-term spiritual and emotional support bonds with patients and families over time.
- Self-Analysis and Supervision: Encourages deep personal reflection and professional accountability to prevent burnout and ensure ethical practice.
- Medical Ethics: Examines moral dilemmas in healthcare, informed consent, patient autonomy, and the role of spirituality in decision-making.
- Pastoral Care Art: Integrates ritual, presence, and spiritual practice into therapeutic engagement with patients and caregivers.
- Spiritual Dimensions of Human Growth and Health: Investigates how faith, meaning-making, and existential concerns influence mental and physical well-being.
- Counseling Psychology and Therapy: Applies evidence-based psychological frameworks to address emotional distress, trauma, and adjustment disorders.
- Applied Clinical Scenarios: Addresses real-world challenges including grief, death, emotional collapse, injury recovery, chronic illness adaptation, and family system disruption.
Clinical Pastoral Counseling Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Clinical Pastoral Counseling Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Clinical Pastoral Counseling degrees, including Marriage and Family Therapists, Clergy and Directors, Religious Activities and Education. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 178,750 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marriage and Family Therapists 21-1013 | $63,780 | $42,610 - $111,610 | 65,870 | $30.66 |
| Clergy 21-2011 | $60,820 | $37,140 - $99,720 | 58,080 | $29.24 |
| Directors, Religious Activities and Education 21-2021 | $54,840 | $33,990 - $106,530 | 21,460 | $26.37 |
| Counselors, All Other 21-1019 | $49,830 | $36,160 - $91,420 | 33,340 | $23.96 |
Clinical Pastoral Counseling Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $40,985 in Arkansas to $80,683 in Hawaii—a 97% difference. The highest-paying states include Hawaii, District of Columbia, and Virginia. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 178,750 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Clinical Pastoral Counseling by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 18 institutions offering Clinical Pastoral Counseling programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Clinical Pastoral Counseling is found at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (GCTS) (47 graduates), Regent University (27 graduates), Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (SEBTS) (24 graduates), Trinity International University (TIU), Illinois (13 graduates), and Pentecostal Theological Seminary (PTS) (13 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 187 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (GCTS) |
Master's
|
47 | South Hamilton, Massachusetts | Private | gordonconwell.edu |
| Regent University |
Master's
|
27 | Virginia Beach, Virginia | Private | regent.edu |
| Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (SEBTS) |
Master's
|
24 | Wake Forest, North Carolina | Private | sebts.edu |
| Trinity International University (TIU) |
Master's
|
13 | Deerfield, Illinois | Private | tiu.edu |
| Pentecostal Theological Seminary (PTS) |
Master's
|
13 | Cleveland, Tennessee | Private | ptseminary.edu |
| University of Maryland (UMB) |
Postbac Cert.
|
10 | Baltimore, Maryland | Public | umaryland.edu |
| Lancaster Bible College (LBC) |
Master's
|
10 | Lancaster, Pennsylvania | Private | lbc.edu |
| Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary |
Master's
|
9 | Evanston, Illinois | Private | garrett.edu |
| Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
8 | Richmond, Virginia | Public | vcu.edu |
| Concordia University-Wisconsin (CUW) |
Post-Master's
|
5 | Mequon, Wisconsin | Private | cuw.edu |
| Christian Theological Seminary (CTS) |
Master's
|
4 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Private | cts.edu |
| Fordham University |
Master's
|
4 | Bronx, New York | Private | fordham.edu |
| Houston Christian University (HCU) |
Master's
|
4 | Houston, Texas | Private | hc.edu |
| Criswell College |
Master's
|
3 | Dallas, Texas | Private | criswell.edu |
| South Florida Bible College and Theological Seminary (SFBC&TS) |
Master's
|
2 | Deerfield Beach, Florida | Private | sfbc.edu |
| Pennsylvania Western University (PennWest) |
Postbac Cert.
|
2 | California, Pennsylvania | Public | pennwest.edu |
| George Washington University (GW) |
Postbac Cert.
|
1 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | gwu.edu |
| Toccoa Falls College (TFC) |
Master's
|
1 | Toccoa Falls, Georgia | Private | tfc.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Clinical Pastoral Counseling programs
How much can I earn with a Clinical Pastoral Counseling degree?
Salaries for Clinical Pastoral Counseling graduates vary by role and location. Marriage and Family Therapists earn a median of $63,780 annually, while Clergy earn around $60,820. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in Hawaii average $80,683 compared to $40,985 in Arkansas. Approximately 178,750 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Clinical Pastoral Counseling programs?
Currently 18 accredited institutions offer Clinical Pastoral Counseling degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (GCTS) (47 graduates), Regent University (27 graduates), and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (SEBTS) (24 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Clinical Pastoral Counseling growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 138 in 2010 to a peak of 273 in 2020, before declining slightly to 187 in 2023-24. This represents a 36% increase overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with steady interest, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Clinical Pastoral Counseling degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Marriage and Family Therapists, Clergy, and Directors, Religious Activities and Education. Related occupations employ approximately 178,750 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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