Best Online Master's in Ministry for 2019
An online ministry degree prepares students to become religious leaders and teach God's doctrines to others. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics , clergy members make an average annual salary of $49,450 and are employed by churches, religious or nonprofit organizations, and hospitals. Ministers and other religious leaders will be in demand as long as organized religion flourishes. Careers in ministry require public speaking skills, leadership skills, and a genuine enthusiasm for religious teaching. If you are passionate about your faith and want to become a spiritual leader, you may want to consider a master of ministry online degree.
What are the Best Online Master's in Ministry Programs?
Top 6 Online Masters in Ministry for 2019
Admissions Rate
95%
Graduation Rate
60%
Online Enrollment
45%
Retention Rate
82%
Default Rate
7%
IWU offers a variety of online programs in ministry that are ideal for ministers who work full-time. The school offers a 36-credit children, youth, and family ministry master's degree that teaches students the most effective methods of transformational care for young people and family members. Online courses are delivered asynchronously, allowing students to complete coursework at their own pace. The program includes two mandatory visits to the Wesley Seminary on the school's main campus, which allows students to meet with their professors and peers. One of these visits occurs at the beginning of the program, while the other occurs halfway through the program. The curriculum includes six praxis courses and three classes that emphasize spiritual awakening. Students are required to work at their local church or chaplaincy program for at least ten hours a week.
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How to Choose an Online Master's in Ministry Program
Online ministry programs differ primarily in their theology teachings, which often depend on the religious affiliations of the college or university. However, other factors should be taken into consideration as well, including the length of the program, courses offered, tuition cost, and program accreditation.
In general, a master of ministry online requires 36 credit hours of coursework and can be be completed in a year. Common courses include New Testament theology, evangelism, outreach ministries, and marriage counseling. Some programs may require a capstone project or in-person components such as a preaching practicum. It is also important to make sure the program you choose is either regionally or nationally accredited and recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Careers for Graduates of Master's in Ministry Programs
Graduates with an online ministry degree can hold religious leadership positions in churches, nonprofit organizations, schools, hospitals, and the military. For those who wish to work within the traditional religious spaces of churches, there are plenty of positions to choose from, including youth pastor, music minister, and chaplain. But there are ministry jobs in other sectors as well, including becoming a minister at a private Catholic high school or a professor of ministry studies at a postsecondary educational institution.
The following chart features a description of five jobs in the ministry field and their respective median annual salaries.
A pastor is responsible for leading a congregation, typically in a church, in prayer and other worship services. They may also preside over weddings or funerals.
Median Salary: $47,239
Job Outlook and Salary for Graduates of Ministry Master's Degrees
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, ministry jobs are projected to grow by 8% from 2016 to 2026, a faster than average rate. While most ministry jobs only require a bachelor's degree, a master's of ministry online can open up new opportunities. For instance, colleges and universities require lecturers to have at least a master's degree in their field. Depending on the particular position and industry you enter, obtaining a master's degree can improve your salary.
| Employment, 2014 | Projected Employment, 2024 |
|---|---|
| 243,900 | 263,600 |
Salary Growth by Experience for Graduates of Ministry Master's Programs
As with most occupations, religious leaders earn a salary with experience. Some positions, like church ministers, see a rapid salary growth rate in the first five to ten years of employment, while other positions, like ministry directors, see a higher growth rate after twenty years in the field. It should also be noted that some positions, like a being a lecturer in ministry studies at a university, have a higher starting salary than others but a slower salary growth rate.
The following table compares the annual median salary of ministers, ministry directors, and postsecondary lecturers by years of experience in the field.
To determine the best online master's in ministry programs, we looked at the most important factors prospective students, mainly common predictors of future success and a school's commitment to online programs. This boils down to admissions rate, student loan default rate, retention rate, graduation rate, and the percent of students enrolled in online classes. All data points are taken from information provided by colleges and universities to the National Center for Education Statistics.
Each factor is weighted evenly in order to give an objective view and determine the best online master's in ministry programs. To calculate our rankings, we looked at a school's ranking when organized by a single factor, and then averaged each category's ranking to find an overall score: Admissions Rate (20%) + Default Rate (20%) + Retention Rate (20%) + Graduation Rate (20%) + Percent of Students Enrolled in Online Classes (20%) = Final score.