Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries at Southeastern University

Southeastern University's pastoral counseling program places graduates above both national and state medians for earnings, though the small graduating class (under 30 students) means these numbers could shift significantly year to year. First-year earnings of $35,209 beat the national median by nearly $3,000 and edge out Florida's median as well. Among the limited number of Florida schools offering this degree, Southeastern actually outperforms most peers, including Johnson University Florida by about $5,000.

The debt picture is reasonable for a ministry-focused degree—$26,000 puts graduates just below the national and state medians. The 0.74 debt-to-earnings ratio means students borrow about three-quarters of their first year's salary, which is manageable compared to many specialized fields. Ministry work rarely commands high salaries, so comparing this to business or nursing degrees misses the point. The real question is whether graduates can afford their loan payments while entering their chosen vocation, and these numbers suggest they can.

The small sample size matters here. If you're considering this program, recognize that outcomes could vary more than at larger programs with hundreds of graduates. That said, for families committed to ministry careers, Southeastern appears to prepare students without saddling them with outsized debt—a practical foundation for service-oriented work where financial sacrifice is often part of the calling.