Missionary Studies at Moody Bible Institute

Chicago, IL · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology
17 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
17
Optimistic
17
Base Case
21
Pessimistic
Earnings $26,236/yr (-10% vs median)
AI Risk High (32% exposed)
Job Market Medium (26,900 openings/yr)
ROI 6.8x earnings multiple
Ranked #7 of 8 Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology programs

Program Analysis

Moody Bible Institute's Missions program is highly specialized, attracting students deeply committed to service-oriented careers within faith-based organizations. The career paths you see reflect this focus: roles in teaching, religious education, and general religious work, often within non-profit structures or international missions. These fields typically prioritize vocational calling over high financial compensation, which explains why the earnings trajectory is lower than many other degrees. Graduates often find placement through established pipelines within specific denominations, mission agencies, or parachurch organizations globally. Your success will heavily depend on networking within these communities and aligning with an organization's mission and funding model. The noted AI risk isn't about automating faith itself, but rather the administrative, content creation, and logistical support roles common in religious organizations, which could see disruption. Before committing, thoroughly research the specific organizations you hope to join, understand their funding models, and determine if their compensation aligns with your financial needs and long-term goals.

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Missionary Studies graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $412K $418K $403K
Earnings Multiple 6.7x 6.8x 6.6x
Probability of Field Employment 52% 48% 41%
DegreeOutlook Score 17 17 21

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$61,424
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$100,028
-63% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$14,250
6.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$32,458
24% growth from Year 1

About Moody Bible Institute

Moody Bible Institute has a 98% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, a compact campus enrolling 1,586 students in Chicago, IL.

See all programs and financial aid at Moody Bible Institute →

Top Career Paths

Philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary $78,050/yr
Directors, religious activities and education $54,840/yr
Religious workers, all other $45,120/yr
View all 3 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Missionary Studies at Other Schools

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Explore the Trade Alternative

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Moody Bible Institute's Missionary Studies program score?
This program scores 17/100 — on the lower end for Missionary Studies. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Missionary Studies to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Missionary Studies careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 32% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →