Theological and Ministerial Studies at College of Biblical Studies-Houston

Something unusual happens to graduates of this Houston theology program: they start strong but see their earnings drop by nearly a third within four years. First-year graduates earn $47,781—well above both the national median ($32,211) and Texas median ($38,687) for ministerial studies programs. Yet by year four, that figure falls to $33,046. This could reflect graduates transitioning into full-time ministry roles or nonprofit work after initially taking higher-paying secular positions, though with fewer than 30 graduates tracked, these numbers warrant careful interpretation.

The debt picture offers some reassurance. At $22,673, graduates carry about $13,000 less than the typical Texas theology student and roughly $3,000 less than the national average. That's manageable against the initial $47,781 salary, though the ratio becomes less comfortable if earnings continue the downward trend. The school serves a predominantly low-income population—79% receive Pell grants—so this lower debt burden matters.

For families weighing this program, the central question is whether that year-four earnings dip reflects a temporary adjustment or a lasting pattern. If your child is committed to ministry work where compensation matters less than calling, the modest debt load makes this feasible. But if they're counting on sustaining those initial earnings, understand that the historical pattern points elsewhere. The small sample size means individual circumstances could vary significantly from these medians.