2027 Best Value Clinical Pastoral Counseling/Patient Counseling Master’s Degree Schools
[Clinical Pastoral Counseling/Patient Counseling](/majors/health-care-professions/mental-social-health-services/clinical-pastoral-counseling-patient-counseling/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 17 schools to find the best return on investment for clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling students.
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2027 Best Value Clinical Pastoral Counseling/Patient Counseling Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Clinical Pastoral Counseling/Patient Counseling Schools
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary earned the #1 spot for value among clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling schools in the United States. Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Wake Forest. Students from in state pay about $11,318 in tuition and fees. Soon after graduation, clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling degree recipients from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary generally make around $54,863. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
Trinity International University Illinois is a great value for students pursuing a degree in clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling, landing the #2 spot this year. Trinity International University Illinois is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Deerfield. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,320. Clinical Pastoral Counseling/patient Counseling graduates carry a median of $26,892 in student loans. Early-career clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling graduates make about $41,182. Set against $26,892 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Trinity International University Illinois admits about 100% of applicants.
Pennsylvania Western University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling schools. Set in the town of California, Pennsylvania Western University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,436, while out-of-state students pay about $16,054. Typical student debt for clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling graduates is $28,263. Soon after graduation, clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling degree recipients from Pennsylvania Western University generally make around $45,448. That is a strong return on a $28,263 median debt. Pennsylvania Western University admits about 94% of applicants.
Regent University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Virginia Beach, Regent University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,650. Clinical Pastoral Counseling/patient Counseling graduates carry a median of $29,451 in student loans. Soon after graduation, clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling degree recipients from Regent University generally make around $41,047. That is a strong return on a $29,451 median debt. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.
Houston Baptist University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling schools. Located in the city of Houston, Houston Baptist University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $39,430. Clinical Pastoral Counseling/patient Counseling graduates carry a median of $25,601 in student loans. Soon after graduation, clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling degree recipients from Houston Baptist University generally make around $34,087. That is a strong return on a $25,601 median debt. Houston Baptist University admits about 84% of applicants.
Virginia Commonwealth University came in at #6 for value in clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling this year. Located in the city of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $16,720, compared with $39,884 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,813 to complete the clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling program here. Clinical Pastoral Counseling/patient Counseling graduates of Virginia Commonwealth University earn a median of $77,108 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Virginia Commonwealth University admits about 93% of applicants.
Faulkner University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling schools. Set in the city of Montgomery, Faulkner University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $23,920. Typical student debt for clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling graduates is $29,942. Soon after graduation, clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling degree recipients from Faulkner University generally make around $41,573. That is a strong return on a $29,942 median debt. Faulkner University admits about 73% of applicants.
Christian Theological Seminary ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling schools. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Christian Theological Seminary is a small private not-for-profit university.
University Of Maryland Baltimore earned the #9 position for value in clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling this year. University Of Maryland Baltimore is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Baltimore. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,638, with out-of-state students paying around $44,811. Typical student debt for clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling graduates is $21,500. Early-career clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling graduates make about $88,334. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lancaster Bible College earned the #10 position for value in clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling this year. Located in the suburb of Lancaster, Lancaster Bible College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $29,990. Typical student debt for clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling graduates is $28,507. Clinical Pastoral Counseling/patient Counseling graduates of Lancaster Bible College earn a median of $35,130 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 56%.
Abilene Christian University earned the #11 position for value in clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling this year. Abilene Christian University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Abilene. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $44,200. Clinical Pastoral Counseling/patient Counseling graduates carry a median of $23,772 in student loans. Early-career clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling graduates make about $56,463. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.
South Florida Bible College And Theological Seminary came in at #12 for value in clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling this year. South Florida Bible College And Theological Seminary is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Deerfield Beach. Students from in state pay about $7,740 in tuition and fees. Median earnings reach $45,354 ten years out.
Biola University earned the #13 position for value in clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling this year. Biola University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of La Mirada. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $48,984. Clinical Pastoral Counseling/patient Counseling graduates carry a median of $25,308 in student loans. Clinical Pastoral Counseling/patient Counseling graduates of Biola University earn a median of $45,003 early in their careers. Set against $25,308 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary placed #14 among the best values for clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling. Located in the city of Evanston, Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary is a small private not-for-profit university. Early-career clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling graduates make about $46,967.
Fordham University landed the #15 spot for clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling value this year. Located in the city of Bronx, Fordham University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $64,470. Clinical Pastoral Counseling/patient Counseling graduates carry a median of $25,643 in student loans. Early-career clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling graduates make about $48,341. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Fordham University admits about 59% of applicants.
Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary came in at #16 for value in clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling this year. Located in the suburb of South Hamilton, Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary is a small private not-for-profit university. Soon after graduation, clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling degree recipients from Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary generally make around $35,794.
Loma Linda University placed #17 among the best values for clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling. Loma Linda University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Loma Linda. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $29,960. Clinical Pastoral Counseling/patient Counseling graduates carry a median of $25,094 in student loans. Clinical Pastoral Counseling/patient Counseling graduates of Loma Linda University earn a median of $58,654 early in their careers. Set against $25,094 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Other Clinical Pastoral Counseling/Patient Counseling Degree Levels
Explore the best-value clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling schools at other degree levels:
View All Clinical Pastoral Counseling/Patient Counseling Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 17 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 17 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
