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Major · Theology and Religious Vocations

The catchall code for ministerial training — denomination-specific programs that don’t fit elsewhere

Theological and Ministerial Studies, Other is a CIP catchall for ministerial preparation programs that don’t map cleanly to Theology, Divinity/Ministry, or Pastoral Studies. About 492 degrees are awarded annually across 45 colleges, almost all denominationally identified. Bachelor’s completers report median five-year earnings near $47,414.

Schools offering
45
Annual completions
492
Typical degree level
Associate's + Bachelor's
Median earnings (5yr)
$47k

About this major

Theological and Ministerial Studies, Other (CIP 39.0699) is the residual category in IPEDS for ministerial preparation programs that don’t map cleanly to one of the named codes — Theology, Divinity/Ministry, Bible Studies, Pastoral Counseling, or Religious Education. The CIP text describes it as any instructional program in theological and ministerial studies not listed elsewhere, which means specific content varies considerably by institution. Common coursework typically includes systematic and biblical theology, church history, pastoral care, preaching, biblical languages, and supervised ministry placements, all taught inside the sponsoring school’s denominational framework.

The major rewards students who can engage scripture, doctrine, and church practice as a unified subject of study and who are comfortable inside an institution’s specific theological tradition. Strong readers, careful interpreters of texts, and students who want practical ministry experience folded into their coursework tend to do well. Because the curriculum reflects the sponsoring tradition, denominational fit shapes the experience as much as academic strength.

About 492 degrees are awarded annually across 45 colleges, with bachelor’s outnumbering associate’s by roughly seven to one. New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary leads at 101 completions, followed by Moody Bible Institute (97) and Northwest University’s online arm (47); the rest of the top ten cluster between 8 and 42 completions each. The primary occupational destination is Clergy (BLS median wage $60,820), with Religious workers, all other ($45,120 median) covering non-ordained ministry, missions, and faith-based nonprofit roles. Postsecondary teaching of religion ($78,050 median) is listed in the data but requires a doctoral or professional degree.

Section 3 · Careers

Where this major leads

Occupations most often associated with this major, from the federal BLS+O*NET crosswalk. Job-growth projections and median wages are national.

Occupation Median wage Job growth Typical education
Clergy $61k +1.0% Bachelor's degree
Religious workers, all other $45k +0.6% Bachelor's degree
Philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary $78k +0.7% Doctoral or professional degree
Section 4 · Earnings

Earnings at a glance

Median graduate earnings from the federal College Scorecard, 5 and 10 years out.

Median 5-year earnings

$47k

Associate's vs Bachelor's — early-career earnings

Associate's

$45k

Bachelor's

$47k

Who this major is for

You may thrive here if you sense a vocational call to Christian ministry but the program you’re drawn to doesn’t carry the Theology or Divinity label, you’re comfortable inside a specific denominational tradition for four years and accept that the curriculum reflects that tradition’s theology and polity, you find preaching, pastoral care, and biblical interpretation engaging as primary academic subjects rather than secondary ones, you’re prepared to continue to seminary for an M.Div. if your tradition or career path requires it, and you accept that the direct destination of Clergy pays a $60,820 median wage that arrives years after the bachelor’s.

Think twice if your interest is primarily academic rather than vocational — Religion (CIP 38.0201) and Theology/Theological Studies (39.0601, 938 completions at 169 colleges) emphasize doctrine and history with less expectation of a ministry career. Reconsider this route if you’re uncertain about denominational fit, since 39.0699 programs sit inside specific traditions and transfer less cleanly between them than a generic theology degree would. Look elsewhere if earnings are the primary driver: bachelor’s completers report median five-year earnings near $47,414, and high-wage destinations like postsecondary religion teaching require a doctoral or professional degree. The licensed-counselor track, in particular, requires a separate graduate degree — 39.0699 alone will not put you on a counseling license path.

Section 6 · Where to study

Top colleges for Theological and Ministerial Studies, Other

Ranked by annual completions at the associate's or bachelor's level — a proxy for program scale.

College Location Assoc. Bach. Total
New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary New Orleans, LA 25 76 101
Moody Bible Institute Chicago, IL 0 97 97
Northwest University-Center for Online and Extended Education Kirkland, WA 11 36 47
Biola University La Mirada, CA 0 42 42
Bob Jones University Greenville, SC 6 16 22
University of Northwestern-St Paul Saint Paul, MN 0 19 19
Mid-America Christian University Oklahoma City, OK 0 14 14
Central Christian College of the Bible Moberly, MO 9 3 12
Cornerstone University Grand Rapids, MI 0 10 10
Southwest Baptist University Bolivar, MO 1 7 8
Section 7 · Explore sideways

Related majors to explore

Communication and Media Studies, Other

1,503 completions/yr

Theology/Theological Studies

938 completions/yr

Divinity/Ministry

705 completions/yr

Legal Professions and Studies, Other

505 completions/yr

Pastoral Studies/Counseling

394 completions/yr

Pre-Theology/Pre-Ministerial Studies

122 completions/yr

Philosophy and Religious Studies, Other

95 completions/yr

Urban Ministry

29 completions/yr
Section 9 · Frequently asked

Common questions

What do students in this catchall major actually study?
The CIP definition is deliberately open-ended — any ministerial studies program that doesn’t fit one of the named codes (Theology, Divinity/Ministry, Bible Studies, Pastoral Counseling, Religious Education, Pre-Theology). Specific coursework varies considerably by institution and tradition: a Moody Bible Institute degree looks different from one at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, even though both report under 39.0699. Common threads include systematic and biblical theology, church history, pastoral care, preaching, and supervised ministry placements. Read the syllabus and the sponsoring institution’s denominational identity, not the CIP code, to understand what you’d actually take.
What jobs do graduates typically enter?
The primary occupational destination is Clergy (BLS median wage $60,820; projected growth 1.0%). Religious workers, all other ($45,120 median, 0.6% growth) is the second route, covering non-ordained ministry, parachurch staff, missions and development roles, and faith-based nonprofit work. The Philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary track ($78,050 median) is also listed but requires a doctoral or professional degree. In smaller congregations, bivocational ministry — holding a paying job alongside a part-time ministry role — is still common.
Is a bachelor’s enough, or will I need seminary?
It depends on the tradition. Some evangelical, Pentecostal, and independent Christian denominations ordain candidates with a bachelor’s in ministry; mainline Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox traditions typically require a Master of Divinity (a three-year graduate degree at a seminary), and the Catholic priesthood path adds further philosophy and major-seminary formation. Hospital, military, and college chaplaincy generally require an M.Div. plus Clinical Pastoral Education and board certification through the APC. Median five-year bachelor’s earnings of about $47,414 reflect a mix of graduates already serving and those still in seminary.
How does this compare to Theology, Divinity/Ministry, or Pastoral Studies?
Theology/Theological Studies (CIP 39.0601, 938 annual completions) is the largest sibling and emphasizes doctrine and history. Divinity/Ministry (39.0602, 705 completions) is the most ordination-focused. Pastoral Studies/Counseling (39.0701, 394 completions) targets pastoral care and counseling, and Pre-Theology/Pre-Ministerial Studies (39.0604, 122 completions) is a feeder track for graduate seminary. The 39.0699 residual code (492 completions) sits between these — it captures programs whose mix of theology, polity, missions, and practical ministry doesn’t match any single named CIP. All four siblings cluster near $47,000 in five-year bachelor’s earnings.
Which schools award the most degrees in this code?
New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary leads at 101 annual completions (76 bachelor’s, 25 associate’s), followed by Moody Bible Institute in Chicago (97 bachelor’s) and Northwest University’s online and extended education arm (47 total). Biola University in California (42 bachelor’s), Bob Jones University in South Carolina (22), University of Northwestern–St Paul (19), and Mid-America Christian University (14) round out the top producers. All top programs are denominationally identified — evangelical Baptist, Pentecostal, fundamentalist, or independent Christian — and the theology and polity taught reflect those specific traditions.
What if I want a ministry-adjacent role without ordination?
Several pivot lanes work without an M.Div. Christian school education and administration is reachable through state teacher certification or ACSI credentialing. Nonprofit program management at faith-based development, missions, and relief organizations hires bachelor’s-level staff. Faith-based counseling typically requires a separate Master’s in Counseling or Social Work and state LPC or LCSW licensure — the 39.0699 degree alone won’t license you. Hospital and military chaplaincy paths require Clinical Pastoral Education plus board certification through the Association of Professional Chaplains.