Pastoral Counselingat Moody Bible Institute
Graduates earn $35,426/yr in their first year — about 11.0% above the national Pastoral Counseling average. Base-case 10-year earnings $471K; scenarios range from $449K to $470K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Moody Bible Institute
Moody Bible Institute’s Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries program cultivates a distinct career path, preparing you for roles deeply embedded within faith-based organizations. Your outcomes reflect the specific dynamics of this vocational field, where compensation often prioritizes service and mission over rapid corporate advancement. The program's strong reputation within the evangelical Christian network means graduates are well-positioned for roles in churches, parachurch organizations, and non-profits, whether as clergy, religious educators, or counselors providing spiritual guidance.
The Chicago location provides a robust urban ministry landscape, offering diverse opportunities from local congregational work to national organizations headquartered there. While these careers offer profound personal fulfillment and stable employment within a dedicated community, they operate on different earning trajectories than secular fields. To truly thrive, actively cultivate relationships within your specific denomination or area of ministry interest throughout your studies; your network will be invaluable for securing meaningful and sustainable positions.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Moody Bible Institute's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Pastoral Counseling
How Moody Bible Institute stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Moody Bible Institute
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Moody Bible Institute, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Pastoral Counseling offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Pastoral Counseling trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Pastoral Counseling at Moody Bible Institute
How does Moody Bible Institute's Pastoral Counseling program score?
This program scores 31/100 — on the lower end for Pastoral Counseling. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
Why does Moody Bible Institute rank so high for Pastoral Counseling?
The #4 ranking out of 22 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.