Most Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology programs take one to two years to complete. Graduates start earning $28,103 right after finishing, climbing to $40,103 four years out.
This page covers Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology as a course of study: what it costs, where it is taught, and what graduates go on to earn. It sits inside the wider field of Theology and how it pays overall, which is the better comparison if you are still choosing between subjects.
Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology is a focused area of study within Theology. Pick this and you can expect to earn around $40,103 four years out, a modest return for a focused credential. You will not have trouble finding it: 126 colleges offer this program, from community colleges to research universities. About 1,490 students complete it each year. The focus is on writing, analysis, and communication that transfer across industries.
Median Earnings · 1yr
$28,103
Median Earnings · 4yr
$40,103
Colleges Offering
126
Graduates / Year
1,490
Avg Net Price / yr
$22,365
How Much Do Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology Graduates Earn?
Four years after finishing Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology, a typical graduate earns $40,103, significantly below average for bachelor's degree holders. Half of earners land somewhere between $25,327 and $55,233, so where you end up depends on the job and the employer. Do not judge the field on a starting paycheck alone: pay tends to jump in the first few years, climbing from $28,103 at one year out to $40,103 by year four. Source: College Scorecard.
Starting salaries only. Earnings in this field grow substantially in the first 3 to 5 years.
$40,103
4-Year National Median
Significantly below average. Graduate credentials or high-demand roles can raise this considerably.
$40,561
4-Year Institutional Median
Median of per-school medians. Each reporting college counts equally, regardless of size.
Earnings Range
Not every Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology graduate ends up in the same place. Earnings spread out a moderate amount, so know what pushes people to one end or the other. Career path divergence explains most of the range. Law, consulting, and tech-adjacent roles pull the top end up; writing, education, and nonprofit roles tend to sit near the bottom.
$25,32725th pct.
$40,103Median
$55,23375th pct.
Is the Cost Worth It?
At median 4-year earnings of $40,103 and an estimated $89,460 four-year net cost, earnings breakeven against a baseline wage takes approximately 8.9 years. Compare specific programs before committing to a high-cost option.
Based on outcomes from 110 schools.
Colleges with fewer than 30 graduates are excluded from national averages.
Who Studies This? Credential Breakdown
Of the 1,490 students who complete Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology programs each year, the majority (30%) earn a certificate degree.
The breakdown below shows the full credential distribution.
30%29%21%
Certificate30%
Bachelor's29%
Master's21%
What Can You Do With a Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology Degree?
This degree does not lock you into one job. Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology graduates show up in 2 different occupations, and Philosophy and Religion Teachers pay the most at $80,260/yr median. Expand any card below to see daily responsibilities, in-demand skills, and 10-year growth projections.
Teach courses in philosophy, religion, and theology. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Evaluate and grade students' class work, assignments, and papers.
Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students and the community on topics such as ethics, logic, and contemporary religious thought.
Coordinate or design programs and conduct outreach to promote the religious education or activities of a denominational group. May provide counseling, guidance, and leadership relative to marital, health, financial, and religious problems.
Develop or direct study courses or religious education programs within congregations.
Identify and recruit potential volunteer workers.
Select appropriate curricula or class structures for educational programs.
Top Colleges for Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology
Not sure where to study Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology? These 20 colleges graduate the most students in it each year. Scroll right to compare acceptance rate, net price, and median earnings side by side.
Ranked by Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology graduate volume. Scroll right to compare key stats.
Read our methodology →
Related Theology Programs
Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology is not the only path through Theology: 7 other specializations sit alongside it. The comparison below ranks them by 4-year median earnings so you can see where this one lands.
Decide with data, not guesswork. These tools turn the numbers on this page
into a personal plan. Estimate the real cost of a Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology program, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find
schools that match your profile.
Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology Degree: Pros & Cons
Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology carries financial trade-offs prospective students should weigh carefully. The 3 strengths and 4 concerns below are drawn from College Scorecard earnings, BLS job growth data, and IPEDS completion counts.
PROS
Strong salary growthMedian earnings climb from $28,103 at graduation to $40,103 four years later, a clear sign of career momentum in this field.
Strong hiring volumeRelated occupations generate more than 14,800 job openings per year combined, creating consistent demand for graduates.
Flexible credential pathsPrograms are available from certificate and associate levels through bachelor's and graduate degrees, giving students real options based on timeline and goals.
CONS
Below-average earningsFour-year median of $40,103 falls below the national median for bachelor's degree holders.
Advanced degree often expectedTop roles in this field typically expect a master's degree or higher. A bachelor's may be a starting point rather than a terminal credential for the most competitive positions.
Long earnings breakevenAt median salary and average net price, recovering education costs versus a baseline wage takes roughly 8.9 years.
High earnings varianceGap between 25th ($25,327) and 75th ($55,233) percentile is wide. Where you land depends heavily on employer, role, and location.
Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology Degree: Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology graduates earn?
$40,103 four years after finishing the program. Half of graduates land between $25,327 and $55,233, so employer, role, and location move that number more than the degree itself. Source: College Scorecard.
What is the starting salary for a Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology degree?
$28,103 in the first year out. That grows to $40,103 by year four, so do not judge this field on the entry-level number alone. Most of the gain shows up once you clear the first few years and move past entry-level roles. Source: College Scorecard.
What jobs can you get with a Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology degree?
Philosophy and Religion Teachers are one path, and it pays a median of $80,260 a year. It is not the only one: the Career Paths section below lists every occupation graduates actually go into, with wages and 10-year growth for each.
How long does a Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology program take?
One to two years of full-time study for most Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology certificates, and some community colleges get you through in a single semester. That makes it one of the fastest ways into the field.
How many colleges offer Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology?
126 colleges and universities, so you are not short on options. That range runs from community colleges granting certificates and associate degrees to research universities with full doctoral tracks. Source: IPEDS.
Is a Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology degree worth it?
$40,103 median earnings four years out against $22,365 a year in average net price. That is a slow payback, so cost matters more than usual here: a cheaper school changes the answer. Use the Top Colleges section below to compare specific schools before deciding. Source: College Scorecard.
What is the difference between Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology and Theology?
Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology is the narrower of the two: Theology covers the full discipline, while this program limits the curriculum to Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology-specific courses, skills, and career tracks. Pick the specialization once you already know this is the direction you want; it gets you a more targeted credential, not a broader one.
What skills do employers look for in Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology graduates?
Coursework alone will not get you hired. Employers hiring Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology graduates consistently look for writing, critical analysis, and cross-cultural communication. Employers value the ability to synthesize complex information clearly, skills that transfer into communications, law, consulting, and content roles. Build those into your coursework and internships now, and the job search later gets easier.
What is the job outlook for Missions/Missionary Studies and Missiology graduates?
Outlook is slow overall: related occupations average +2.7% projected job growth over the next 10 years. Directors are among the strongest-growth roles at +3.3%. That average hides real differences by role and location, so check the Career Paths section below for the projection on each specific occupation before you count on any single number.
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