What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Theological and Ministerial Studies
Theological and Ministerial Studies is tracked across 105 U.S. postsecondary institutions in the College Scorecard field-of-study file, which links CIP code classifications from IPEDS to Treasury earnings records. This profile covers the doctoral credential level specifically, because the Department of Education reports program-level outcomes separately for associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral awards. The CIP (Classification of Instructional Programs) taxonomy lets analysts roll up specialties into broader families, which is why earnings medians across schools can be compared on a common basis.
Across all reporting institutions, the mean of school-level medians is $67,068, calculated from 22 schools with published earnings data. The earnings distribution stretches from $26,353 at the low end to $97,542 at the top, with a 25th-75th percentile band between $53,122 and $80,599 around a median of $65,166. The top-reporting institution in this program is Duke University at $97,542. These numbers reflect earnings measured roughly a year after completion, using Social Security Administration tax records linked to federal financial aid applicants.
Variation across schools matters more than a single national figure. Completers counts reported per school indicate how many graduates’ earnings feed the median, which means small programs produce more volatile numbers. Median debt at the program level, when paired with earnings, yields a debt-to-earnings ratio that is the College Scorecard’s standard affordability signal — ratios under 1.0 indicate earnings exceed cumulative debt. Use the school-by-school table to spot institutions where Theological and Ministerial Studies graduates out-earn peers at comparable cost, and to surface gainful-employment patterns that only become visible at the CIP-code level.
Liberty University accounts for 38.8% of all Theological and Ministerial Studies doctoral credential graduates
That concentration — well above the 5% national median for largest-entity share — means Theological and Ministerial Studies-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. That school produced 303 graduates in the most recent cohort, anchoring a meaningful slice of national supply for this field. When one entity dominates a region's footprint, its programmatic and budget decisions effectively set policy for a majority of the affected population.
Theological and Ministerial Studies doctoral credential median earnings varies 3.7× across entities
Theological and Ministerial Studies doctoral credential median earnings ranges from $26,353 (lowest) to $97,542 (highest), a spread of $71,189. That spread reflects typical sectoral variation between selective research institutions and broader access institutions. Earnings are measured roughly one year after completion using IRS records linked to federal aid recipients (see https://www.irs.gov/) — not all completers are captured, but the school-level medians correlate strongly with longer-term earnings trajectories.
Theological and Ministerial Studies doctoral credential median debt varies 3.4× across entities
Theological and Ministerial Studies doctoral credential median debt ranges from $25,583 (lowest) to $86,863 (highest), a spread of $61,280. That spread reflects typical institutional cost differences — public in-state, public out-of-state, and private school financing models produce predictable spreads. Median debt counts only those students who borrowed federal loans — students who paid out-of-pocket or received institutional grants are excluded from the borrower median, which can flatter low-debt schools.
Theological and Ministerial Studies debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.92 — near the typical range (US average ~1) — aligned with the typical 1:1 ratio that defines federal gainful-employment thresholds
debt-to-earnings ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: this ratio uses federal loan principal, not all education debt — private loans, parent PLUS loans not in the borrower’s name, and institutional debt are excluded Variation between sub-units within Theological and Ministerial Studies is typically wider than the Theological and Ministerial Studies-aggregate figure suggests.
How much do Theological and Ministerial Studies graduates earn? ▼
Theological and Ministerial Studies graduates earn $67,068 on average across 105 schools. Earnings range from $26,353 to $97,542 depending on the institution.
Which school pays the most for Theological and Ministerial Studies? ▼
Duke University has the highest reported median earnings for Theological and Ministerial Studies graduates at $97,542, based on College Scorecard data.
What credential do you get in Theological and Ministerial Studies? ▼
Theological and Ministerial Studies programs typically award a Doctoral credential. Earnings vary by school and credential level.
Top Schools for Theological and Ministerial Studies
Closest schools offering this program — compare earnings side by side
Earnings data comes from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard Field of Study file. Median earnings represent graduates who received federal financial aid, drawn from U.S. Treasury tax records linked to federal student aid applicants. Completers count and debt figures reflect program-level data reported through IPEDS. Data is updated annually.