Pastoral Counseling at Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global

Marion, IN · Private nonprofit · Associate Degree · Pastoral Counseling and Specialized Ministries

enrolling 5,808 students in Marion, IN.

Program Analysis

Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global's Pastoral Counseling graduates start at $35,736/yr — above the $33,641 national average, though not by a wide margin.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 22.8x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Pastoral Counseling programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Pastoral Counseling's career paths, with 21% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 0% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $24,250 represents roughly 8 months of the $35,736 starting salary — a manageable burden by trade school standards.

This program is one of 4 schools offering Pastoral Counseling in our dataset — a specialized trade with limited comparison points.

Five-year earnings of $37,185 are relatively flat compared to the $35,736 starting salary — typical of trades with stable but capped salary bands.

One registered apprenticeship pathway (Chaplain Service Support (Military Only) with a median wage of $45,120/yr) connects to Pastoral Counseling careers, offering a paid training alternative to the classroom model.

46 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
45
Low End
46
Score
48
High End
Earnings $35,736/yr (6% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (79% shielded)
Job Market Large (70,400 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$374K
1.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple
22.8x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
6 of 6
Occupations with strong AI resilience

Projected 10-Year Earnings

Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.

Program Tuition
$16,432
Median Debt at Graduation
$24,250
8.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$37,185
4% growth from Year 1

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Pastoral Counseling graduates by median salary.

Career Path Median Salary Growth AI-ProofAI
Philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary $78,050 +0.7% 49%
Clergy $60,820 +1.0% 67%
Community and social service specialists, all other $54,940 +4.6% 100%
Philosophy and religion teachers, postsecondary
$78,050
+0.7% growth 49% AI-proof
Clergy
$60,820
+1.0% growth 67% AI-proof
Community and social service specialists, all other
$54,940
+4.6% growth 100% AI-proof

View all 6 career paths with full salary data →

About Pastoral Counseling Careers

Your work will be deeply hands-on and people-focused. As a director of religious activities, you might spend your week planning a youth group retreat, coordinating volunteers for a community food drive, and developing educational curricula. In a clergy role, your days could involve drafting a sermon, providing one-on-one counseling for a family crisis, and officiating life’s major ceremonies.

Read the full Pastoral Counseling career guide →

Compare & Explore

Pastoral Counseling Overview

Pastoral Counseling at Other Schools

Other Majors at Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global

Trade Certificate vs. Bachelor's Degree

Weigh shorter time-to-career against higher earning ceilings. The numbers tell the story.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a 46/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Pastoral Counseling at Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global?
This program scores 46/100 — on the lower end for Pastoral Counseling. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
Is Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global one of the best schools for Pastoral Counseling?
Ranked #1 of 4 programs nationally, Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Is there demand for Pastoral Counseling workers?
The career paths mapped to Pastoral Counseling have roughly 70,400 combined annual openings nationally, making this a large job market. Trade careers in this field benefit from consistent replacement demand as workers retire.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →