Around 0.1% of California's graduates graduate from ministry degree programs every year. In other words, every year an estimated 593 ministers graduate from California's 29 ministry schools.

Top Schools

Biola University, which was ranked 21st nationwide in 2010, is the top-ranked school in California that has a ministry program. It is located in La Mirada. In 2010, Biola University graduated 47 students from its ministry program. Biola University charged in-state students $28,852 in tuition fees per year.

Pepperdine University, which was ranked 24th nationwide in 2010, is the second-ranked school in California that has a ministry program. It is located in Malibu. 4 students graduated with degree in ministry from Pepperdine University in 2010. The tuition rate at Pepperdine University was $39,080 per year.

The third-ranked school in California that has a ministry program is William Jessup University. William Jessup University, which was ranked 47th in the country in 2010, is located in Rocklin. Students at William Jessup University paid $19,980 per year in tuition fees.

Cost

If you are hoping to attend one of California's ministry schools, you can expect to pay an average tuition of $10,066 per year, though tuition can range from $39,080 per year to $4,420 per year. In 2010, the ministry schools that charged the highest tuition rates in California were:

1. Pepperdine University - located in Malibu, students are charged $39,080 per year
2. Biola University - located in La Mirada, students are charged $28,852 per year
3. Azusa Pacific University - located in Azusa, students are charged $28,800 per year

The ministry schools in California that charged the lowest tuition rates were:

1. World Mission University - located in Los Angeles, students are charged $4,420 per year
2. Bethesda Christian University - located in Anaheim, students are charged $7,620 per year
3. King's University - located in Van Nuys, students are charged $9,600 per year

A ministry degree from a California school... what next?

Most people who graduate from ministry school in California go on to work as a minister. If you decide to work as a minister in California, you will be joining the ranks of approximately 4,330 California ministers as of 2010. In California, the largest numbers of ministers work in the following counties:

1. Los Angeles County - 940 ministers
2. Riverside County - 600 ministers
3. Marin County - 520 ministers

Projected Growth

According the US Bureau of Labor Statistics the number of ministers is expected to grow by 8% by 2018. There are projected to be 11,000 ministers working in the California then.

Salary

On average, a minister earns a salary of $60,260 per year in California state. But, salaries for ministers can vary. In 2010, ministers made as little as less than $19,480 per year or as much as more than $116,610 per year in California. The following counties in California have the highest average salaries for ministers:

1. Los Angeles County - $71,320 per year
2. Santa Barbara County - $71,220 per year
3. Orange County - $63,720 per year

A minister in the following counties in California make the lowest salaries on average:

1. Lassen County - $42,350 per year
2. Kern County - $45,640 per year
3. Stanislaus County - $48,240 per year

More Information

Take a look at the graphs and charts below for additional California statistics regarding a career in ministry and to compare salaries with a variety of related fields such as christian counseling or theology.