by our College Data Analytics TeamIn 2020-2021, youth ministry was the 616th most popular major nationwide with 434 degrees awarded. This 34 less than the prior year, a decrease of 7.8%.
Our 2023 Best Youth Ministry Schools ranking analyzes 39 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for youth ministry students. Explore this or one of our many other custom youth ministry rankings further below.
When studying Youth Ministry, you’ll learn that talking to others to convey information effectively will help you be successful in a wide range of jobs. Required skills include giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times and being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for most youth ministry degree programs and many students will need a minimum GPA and SAT/ACT score depending on the school. In addition to these basic youth ministry program qualifications, to serve in some youth ministry careers, special certification may be required outside of your degree.
Youth Ministry degree levels vary. You can spend many years getting as high as a in youth ministry to something that takes less time like a . Depending on the youth ministry degree you choose, obtaining your diploma can take anwhere from 1 to 4+ years.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to youth ministry, with approximately 52.8% of workers getting one. People currently working in careers related to youth ministry tend obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 53.9% |
| Master’s Degree | 38.4% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 4.2% |
| High School Diploma | 3.1% |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 0.5% |
About 96.2% of workers in careers related to youth ministry obtain at least bachelor's degrees. See the chart below for the most common degree level workers in youth ministry have received.
This of course varies depending on which youth ministry career you choose.
Want a job when you graduate with your youth ministry degree? Youth Ministry careers are expected to grow 7.7% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to youth ministry.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Clergy | 263,800 | 8.2% |
| Religious Activities and Education Directors | 157,500 | 7.1% |
As you might expect, salaries for youth ministry graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for youth ministry graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers youth ministry grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Clergy | $53,290 |
| Religious Activities and Education Directors | $46,980 |
With over 145 different youth ministry degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased youth ministry school rankings to help you with this.
One of 6 majors within the Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries area of study, Youth Ministry has other similar majors worth exploring.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Pastoral Studies/Counseling | 1,430 |
| Other Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries | 607 |
| Lay Ministry | 504 |
| Urban Ministry | 65 |
| Chaplain/Chaplaincy Studies | 18 |
