Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries at Grace College and Theological Seminary

Grace College's pastoral counseling program shows a troubling first year—graduates earn just $25,060 initially, ranking in the bottom fifth nationally and below the Indiana median of $28,053. That $25,500 in debt essentially equals a full year's starting salary, which creates real financial pressure for graduates entering ministry work. Among Indiana's 11 programs, this sits in the middle of the pack, trailing schools like Taylor University ($37,035) and Bethel University ($31,046).

The dramatic turnaround by year four changes the calculation considerably. Earnings jump 86% to $46,577, vaulting well above both state and national medians. This suggests graduates either move into higher-paying ministry leadership roles or pivot to related fields that value their counseling training. However, the small sample size—under 30 graduates—means these numbers could swing significantly with just a few outliers.

For parents, the central question is whether your child can manage that difficult first year financially. If they're committed to ministry work and have support to weather low initial earnings, the long-term trajectory looks more promising. But if immediate financial independence matters, other ministry programs in Indiana offer stronger starting salaries without requiring the same patience.