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Pastoral Counseling at Moody Bible Institute

Chicago, IL · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries
31 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
32
Optimistic
31
Base Case
37
Pessimistic
Earnings $35,426/yr (11% vs median)
AI Risk Moderate (21% exposed)
Job Market Large (70,400 openings/yr)
ROI 7.7x earnings multiple
Ranked #4 of 22 Pastoral Counseling programs Top 25%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Pastoral Counseling graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $470K $471K $449K
Earnings Multiple 7.7x 7.7x 7.3x
Probability of Field Employment 52% 51% 45%
DegreeOutlook Score 32 31 37

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$61,424
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$100,028
-63% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$12,180
4.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$43,388
22% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Moody Bible Institute's Pastoral Counseling graduates start at $35,426/yr — above the $31,976 national average, though not by a wide margin.

At 7.7x the cost of in-state tuition, the ten-year earnings outlook represents a strong return. Not exceptional, but meaningfully positive.

AI risk is moderate — 21% task exposure — and the 5% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $12,180 in median debt clears quickly against $35,426 in annual earnings.

Ranked #4 out of 22 programs, Moody Bible Institute's Pastoral Counseling program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $35,426 to $43,388 shows 22% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Moody Bible Institute

A 98% acceptance rate means Moody Bible Institute is accessible to most applicants, a compact campus enrolling 1,586 students in Chicago, IL.

See all programs and financial aid at Moody Bible Institute →

Top Career Paths

Philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary $78,050/yr
Clergy $60,820/yr
Community and social service specialists, all other $54,940/yr
View all 6 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 22 schools offering Pastoral Counseling →

Pastoral Counseling at Other Schools

Grace Christian University ($48,916) Evangel University ($41,357) Lubbock Christian University ($38,473) Life Pacific University ($37,436) Taylor University ($37,035) Lancaster Bible College ($35,286) Southeastern University ($35,209) Lee University ($35,189)

Other Majors at Moody Bible Institute

Communication and Media Studies ($36,963) Bible/Biblical Studies ($35,114) Theological and Ministerial Studies ($33,488) Religious Education ($30,671) Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology ($26,236)

Explore the Trade Alternative

Compare Pastoral Counseling trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Moody Bible Institute's Pastoral Counseling program score?
This program scores 31/100 — on the lower end for Pastoral Counseling. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
Why does Moody Bible Institute rank so high for Pastoral Counseling?
The #4 ranking out of 22 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →