Theological and Ministerial Studies graduates from Western Seminary earn $61,070 median salary — above the national average for this program. Median debt: $16,100.
Theological and Ministerial Studies at Western Seminary
Portland, Oregon • Master's
What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Theological and Ministerial Studies at Western Seminary
This page combines two federal data products: IPEDS institutional characteristics for Western Seminary and the College Scorecard field-of-study (FOS) file for Theological and Ministerial Studies at the master's credential level. The FOS file is keyed by CIP (Classification of Instructional Programs) code, which means earnings and debt figures here reflect only graduates of this specific program — not the school as a whole. IPEDS reports 122 completers in the most recent cohort for this program at Western Seminary, the denominator behind the median earnings figure.
Median graduate earnings of $61,070 represent Treasury-verified wages approximately one year after program completion, drawn from Social Security Administration records linked to federal financial aid applicants. Compared to the national mean of $58,579 across all institutions offering Theological and Ministerial Studies, graduates here earn above the national average for this program. Across all programs at Western Seminary, the mean median-earnings figure is $57,365, providing internal context for whether this specific field out-earns other options at the same institution.
Debt signals complete the ROI picture. The median cumulative federal loan debt for Theological and Ministerial Studies graduates at Western Seminary is $16,100, which translates to roughly $134 per month on a standard 10-year repayment plan. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.26 is under the 1.0 threshold the College Scorecard uses to flag favorable gainful-employment outcomes — earnings in year one already exceed cumulative borrowing. Program-level debt and earnings come from the Department of Education’s College Scorecard FOS release, updated annually.
Earnings Comparison
Program Details
Debt & ROI
Theological and Ministerial Studies at Other Schools
| School | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|
| Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion | $117,823 | $101,250 |
| The King's University | $100,714 | $41,000 |
| Concordia Seminary | $97,155 | $13,910 |
| Lenoir-Rhyne University | $95,302 | — |
| Church Divinity School of the Pacific | $94,644 | — |
| American Jewish University | $94,408 | — |
| Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest | $84,654 | — |
| Lancaster Theological Seminary | $81,551 | $61,500 |
| Luther Seminary | $81,169 | $41,000 |
| The Master's University and Seminary | $81,084 | $24,402 |
Other Programs at Western Seminary
| Program | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|
| Theological and Ministerial Studies (current) | $61,070 | $16,100 |
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | $53,660 | $40,000 |
Other Schools with Theological and Ministerial Studies
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About the Data
Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard Field of Study file. Earnings are median earnings for graduates after completion, drawn from U.S. Treasury tax records linked to federal financial aid applicants. Institutional characteristics come from IPEDS. Debt figures represent the median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation.
Debt-to-earnings ratio compares cumulative debt to annual earnings. A ratio below 1.0 indicates that annual earnings exceed total debt, generally considered favorable. Estimated monthly payments assume a standard 10-year repayment plan.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.