Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology at Southeastern University

Southeastern University's Missions program outearns 78% of similar programs nationwide—a significant achievement for a field where median graduates earn just $28,103 their first year. With earnings of $33,096 and manageable debt of $24,125, graduates here face a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.73, meaning they could theoretically repay their loans in under nine months of gross income. That's considerably better than many ministry-focused programs that leave students with higher debt and lower earning power.

The Florida context tells a more nuanced story. While Southeastern's outcomes beat the state median of $30,600, they rank at the 60th percentile among Florida's seven missions programs—solid but not exceptional. The debt level sits right at the state median of $24,000, and notably in the 5th percentile nationally (meaning 95% of programs saddle students with more debt). The robust sample size of 100+ graduates reinforces that these figures represent actual, consistent outcomes rather than anomalies.

For parents considering this path, the key insight is that Southeastern delivers above-average earnings for a field that typically offers modest financial returns. The debt burden won't be crushing, but families should understand that $33,000 annually is the starting point for a career in missions work. If your child is committed to this calling, these numbers suggest Southeastern prepares them reasonably well without drowning them in debt. That's about as good as it gets for this particular degree path.