Divinity and Ministry: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Designed for those pursuing formal leadership roles within Christian religious communities, this program provides comprehensive training for ordination as a minister or priest across diverse denominational traditions. It integrates theological scholarship with practical ministry skills, equipping students to serve with both spiritual depth and organizational competence.
- Theology and Church Polity: Explores foundational beliefs and doctrinal frameworks of specific Christian traditions, alongside the governance structures and decision-making processes within particular denominations.
- Church Law and Discipline: Examines canonical regulations, ecclesiastical authority, and the legal frameworks that guide church operations and member conduct.
- Liturgy and Ritual Practice: Focuses on the design, performance, and theological significance of worship services, sacraments, and ceremonial traditions across different Christian communities.
- Principles of Pastoral Ministry: Develops core competencies in spiritual care, counseling, and relational support for individuals and congregations in times of need.
- Homiletics: Trains students in the art and craft of sermon preparation, delivery, and biblical interpretation for effective preaching and spiritual teaching.
- Evangelism and Outreach: Investigates strategies for sharing Christian faith, engaging with diverse communities, and fostering spiritual growth beyond the congregation.
- Church Organization and Management: Covers administrative functions, leadership development, financial stewardship, and strategic planning essential for effective parish or church operations.
- Christian Ethics: Engages with moral philosophy and ethical decision-making rooted in Christian values, addressing contemporary social and personal dilemmas.
- Church History: Traces the development of Christian thought, movements, institutions, and key historical events shaping the evolution of the faith.
Divinity and Ministry Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Divinity and Ministry Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Divinity and Ministry degrees, including Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary and Clergy. 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 78,920 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1126 | $78,050 | $47,550 - $134,910 | 20,840 | N/A |
| Clergy 21-2011 | $60,820 | $37,140 - $99,720 | 58,080 | $29.24 |
Divinity and Ministry Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $36,600 in West Virginia to $90,530 in California—a 147% difference. The highest-paying states include California, Utah, and Washington. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 78,920 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 Divinity and Ministry by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 97 institutions offering Divinity and Ministry 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 Divinity and Ministry is found at Liberty University (571 graduates), The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (SBTS) (447 graduates), Southeastern University (SEU) (432 graduates), Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (SEBTS) (259 graduates), and Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (MBTS) (230 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 5,672 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty University |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
571 | Lynchburg, Virginia | Private | liberty.edu |
| The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (SBTS) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
447 | Louisville, Kentucky | Private | sbts.edu |
| Southeastern University (SEU) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
432 | Lakeland, Florida | Private | seu.edu |
| Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (SEBTS) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
Doctorate (Other)
|
259 | Wake Forest, North Carolina | Private | sebts.edu |
| Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (MBTS) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
Doctorate (Professional)
|
230 | Kansas City, Missouri | Private | mbts.edu |
| Asbury Theological Seminary |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
165 | Wilmore, Kentucky | Private | asburyseminary.edu |
| Regent University |
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
122 | Virginia Beach, Virginia | Private | regent.edu |
| Andrews University |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
114 | Berrien Springs, Michigan | Private | andrews.edu |
| New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (NOBTS) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
112 | New Orleans, Louisiana | Private | nobts.edu |
| Emory University |
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
106 | Atlanta, Georgia | Private | emory.edu |
| Fuller Theological Seminary |
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
99 | Pasadena, California | Private | fuller.edu |
| Western Theological Seminary (WTS) |
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
89 | Holland, Michigan | Private | westernsem.edu |
| Kairos University |
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
79 | Sioux Falls, South Dakota | Private | kairos.edu |
| Carolina University (CU) |
Master's
|
79 | Winston-Salem, North Carolina | Private | carolinau.edu |
| Oral Roberts University (ORU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
78 | Tulsa, Oklahoma | Private | oru.edu |
| Western Seminary |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
67 | Portland, Oregon | Private | westernseminary.edu |
| Princeton Theological Seminary (PTS) |
Master's
|
61 | Princeton, New Jersey | Private | ptsem.edu |
| Virginia Union University (VUU) |
Master's
|
61 | Richmond, Virginia | Private | vuu.edu |
| Moody Bible Institute (MBI) |
Master's
|
59 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | moody.edu |
| Harvard University |
Master's
|
55 | Cambridge, Massachusetts | Private | harvard.edu |
| Concordia Seminary |
Master's
|
54 | Saint Louis, Missouri | Private | csl.edu |
| Johnson University (JU) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
Master's
|
53 | Knoxville, Tennessee | Private | johnsonu.edu |
| Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York (UTS) |
Master's
Doctorate (Other)
|
52 | New York, New York | Private | utsnyc.edu |
| Biola University |
Master's
Doctorate (Other)
|
51 | La Mirada, California | Private | biola.edu |
| Columbia Theological Seminary |
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
51 | Decatur, Georgia | Private | ctsnet.edu |
| Luther Seminary |
Master's
|
50 | Saint Paul, Minnesota | Private | luthersem.edu |
| Vanderbilt University (VU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
50 | Nashville, Tennessee | Private | vanderbilt.edu |
| Ascent College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
46 | Gainesville, Virginia | Private | ascent.edu |
| Baylor University |
Master's
|
44 | Waco, Texas | Private | baylor.edu |
| The Master's University and Seminary (TMU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
43 | Santa Clarita, California | Private | masters.edu |
| Denver Seminary |
Master's
|
42 | Littleton, Colorado | Private | denverseminary.edu |
| Southern Methodist University (SMU) |
Master's
|
42 | Dallas, Texas | Private | smu.edu |
| Union Presbyterian Seminary |
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
42 | Richmond, Virginia | Private | upsem.edu |
| Samford University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
41 | Birmingham, Alabama | Private | samford.edu |
| Grand Canyon University (GCU) |
Master's
|
41 | Phoenix, Arizona | Private | gcu.edu |
| Yale University |
Master's
|
40 | New Haven, Connecticut | Private | yale.edu |
| Concordia Theological Seminary (CTSFW) |
Master's
|
38 | Fort Wayne, Indiana | Private | ctsfw.edu |
| Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (GCTS) |
Master's
|
38 | South Hamilton, Massachusetts | Private | gordonconwell.edu |
| The Catholic University of America |
Master's
|
36 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | catholic.edu |
| SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary |
Master's
|
36 | El Dorado Hills, California | Private | sum.edu |
| Luther Rice College & Seminary |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
34 | Lithonia, Georgia | Private | lutherrice.edu |
| Wesley Theological Seminary |
Master's
|
33 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | wesleyseminary.edu |
| Westminster Theological Seminary (WTS) |
Master's
|
33 | Glenside, Pennsylvania | Private | wts.edu |
| Urshan College |
Bachelor's
|
33 | Wentzville, Missouri | Private | urshancollege.org |
| Claremont School of Theology (CST) |
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
32 | Claremont, California | Private | cst.edu |
| Mercer University |
Master's
Doctorate (Other)
|
32 | Macon, Georgia | Private | mercer.edu |
| Wartburg Theological Seminary |
Master's
|
32 | Dubuque, Iowa | Private | wartburgseminary.edu |
| Bethel University |
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
32 | Saint Paul, Minnesota | Private | bethel.edu |
| Nazarene Theological Seminary (NTS) |
Master's
Doctorate (Other)
|
32 | Kansas City, Missouri | Private | nts.edu |
| Brewton-Parker College (BPC) |
Master's
|
31 | Mount Vernon, Georgia | Private | bpc.edu |
| Nazarene Bible College (NBC) |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
30 | Colorado Springs, Colorado | Private | nbc.edu |
| Trinity International University (TIU) |
Master's
|
29 | Deerfield, Illinois | Private | tiu.edu |
| Drew University |
Master's
|
29 | Madison, New Jersey | Private | drew.edu |
| Cedarville University |
Master's
|
29 | Cedarville, Ohio | Private | cedarville.edu |
| Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary |
Master's
|
28 | Evanston, Illinois | Private | garrett.edu |
| Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary (LPTS) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
28 | Louisville, Kentucky | Private | lpts.edu |
| United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities |
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
28 | St. Paul, Minnesota | Private | unitedseminary.edu |
| Campbell University |
Master's
Doctorate (Other)
|
28 | Buies Creek, North Carolina | Private | campbell.edu |
| Wake Forest University (WFC) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
28 | Winston-Salem, North Carolina | Private | wfu.edu |
| Lancaster Bible College (LBC) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
27 | Lancaster, Pennsylvania | Private | lbc.edu |
| The King's University (TKU) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
Master's
|
27 | Southlake, Texas | Private | tku.edu |
| Covenant Theological Seminary (CTS) |
Master's
|
26 | Saint Louis, Missouri | Private | covenantseminary.edu |
| Duke University |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
26 | Durham, North Carolina | Private | duke.edu |
| Abilene Christian University (ACU) |
Master's
|
26 | Abilene, Texas | Private | acu.edu |
| Grace School of Theology |
Master's
|
26 | Conroe, Texas | Private | gsot.edu |
| Howard University (HU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
25 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | howard.edu |
| Ohio Christian University (OCU) |
Master's
|
25 | Circleville, Ohio | Private | ohiochristian.edu |
| Corban University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Other)
|
25 | Salem, Oregon | Private | corban.edu |
| University of Saint Mary of the Lake (USML) |
Master's
|
24 | Mundelein, Illinois | Private | usml.edu |
| Mount St. Mary's University |
Master's
|
24 | Emmitsburg, Maryland | Private | msmary.edu |
| Methodist Theological School in Ohio (MTSO) |
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
24 | Delaware, Ohio | Private | mtso.edu |
| Family of Faith Christian University (FFCU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Other)
|
24 | Shawnee, Oklahoma | Private | familyoffaith.edu |
| Manna University |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Bachelor's
Master's
|
24 | Fayetteville, North Carolina | Private | manna.edu |
| Azusa Pacific University (APU) |
Master's
|
23 | Azusa, California | Private | apu.edu |
| Saint Meinrad School of Theology |
Master's
|
23 | St. Meinrad, Indiana | Private | saintmeinrad.edu |
| Memphis Theological Seminary (MTS) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
23 | Memphis, Tennessee | Private | memphisseminary.edu |
| Catholic Theological Union (CTU) |
Master's
|
22 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | ctu.edu |
| Payne Theological Seminary |
Doctorate (Other)
|
22 | Wilberforce, Ohio | Private | payneseminary.edu |
| Northeastern Seminary |
Master's
Doctorate (Other)
|
22 | Rochester, New York | Private | nes.edu |
| City Vision University (TechMission) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Other Award
|
22 | Kansas City, Missouri | Private | cityvision.edu |
| Evangel University |
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
21 | Springfield, Missouri | Private | evangel.edu |
| Shaw University |
Master's
|
21 | Raleigh, North Carolina | Private | shawu.edu |
| United Theological Seminary |
Master's
|
21 | Dayton, Ohio | Private | united.edu |
| Grace Mission University |
Master's
|
21 | Fullerton, California | Private | gm.edu |
| Calvin Theological Seminary |
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
20 | Grand Rapids, Michigan | Private | calvinseminary.edu |
| Anderson University (AU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
20 | Anderson, South Carolina | Private | andersonuniversity.edu |
| The University of the South |
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
20 | Sewanee, Tennessee | Private | sewanee.edu |
| Seminario Evangelico de Puerto Rico (SEPR) |
Master's
|
20 | San Juan, Puerto Rico | Private | se-pr.edu |
| Church Divinity School of the Pacific (CDSP) |
Master's
|
19 | Berkeley, California | Private | cdsp.edu |
| University of Chicago (UChicago) |
Master's
|
19 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | uchicago.edu |
| Christian Theological Seminary (CTS) |
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
19 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Private | cts.edu |
| Amridge University |
Master's
|
18 | Montgomery, Alabama | Private | amridgeuniversity.edu |
| Chicago Theological Seminary (CTS) |
Master's
|
18 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | ctschicago.edu |
| Boston University (BU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
18 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | bu.edu |
| Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary |
Master's
|
18 | Wynnewood, Pennsylvania | Private | scs.edu |
| Starr King School for the Ministry (SKSM) |
Master's
|
17 | Oakland, California | Private | sksm.edu |
| Iliff School of Theology |
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
17 | Denver, Colorado | Private | iliff.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Divinity and Ministry programs
How much can I earn with a Divinity and Ministry degree?
Salaries for Divinity and Ministry graduates vary by role and location. Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary earn a median of $78,050 annually, while Clergy earn around $60,820. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in California average $90,530 compared to $36,600 in West Virginia. Approximately 78,920 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 Divinity and Ministry programs?
Currently 244 accredited institutions offer Divinity and Ministry degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Liberty University (571 graduates), The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (SBTS) (447 graduates), and Southeastern University (SEU) (432 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 Divinity and Ministry growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 6,225 in 2010 to a peak of 6,905 in 2020, before declining slightly to 6,724 in 2023-24. This represents a 8% 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 Divinity and Ministry degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary, Clergy, . Related occupations employ approximately 78,920 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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