Clinical Pastoral Counseling/Patient Counseling degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling programs.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 7 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling students pursuing a degree.
Choosing a Great Clinical Pastoral Counseling/Patient Counseling School
The school you choose for clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling can shape your career. To help, we created our Best Clinical Pastoral Counseling/Patient Counseling Schools rankings. Our overall ranking combines our degree-level rankings, weighted by degrees awarded at each level.
In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.
Clinical Pastoral Counseling/Patient Counseling Rankings by Degree Level
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we have developed a number of rankings, including this Best Clinical Pastoral Counseling/Patient Counseling Schools list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Leading the list is Virginia Commonwealth University, our #1 school for clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling. Located in the city of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public university. About 63% of students finish within six years. Virginia Commonwealth University awarded about 12 clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling degree from Virginia Commonwealth University earn around $77,108 in the first couple years of their career. Virginia Commonwealth University graduates carry a median of $23,813 in student loans.
Get the full clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling details for Virginia Commonwealth University
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling schools. Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Wake Forest. Roughly 17% of students complete a degree within six years here. Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary awarded about 22 clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling degree recipients from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary generally make around $54,863.
See the full clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling program report for Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
Students looking for a strong clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling program will find one at Regent University, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Virginia Beach, Regent University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 58% of students finish within six years. Regent University awarded about 26 clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling degree recipients from Regent University generally make around $41,047. Regent University graduates carry a median of $29,451 in student loans.
Get the full clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling details for Regent University
Trinity International University Illinois is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Deerfield, Trinity International University Illinois is a small private not-for-profit university. About 46% of students finish within six years. Trinity International University Illinois awarded about 31 clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling degree from Trinity International University Illinois earn around $41,182 in the first couple years of their career. Trinity International University Illinois graduates carry a median of $26,892 in student loans.
More information about a degree in clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling from Trinity International University Illinois
A rank of #5 makes Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary one of the top schools for clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling. Located in the city of Evanston, Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary is a small private not-for-profit university. There were roughly 10 clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling students who graduated with this degree at Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary in the most recent data year. Graduates of the clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling program make about $46,967 in their early career.
See the full clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling program report for Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary
Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary landed the #6 spot for clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of South Hamilton. About 50 clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling degrees were awarded at Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling degree recipients from Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary generally make around $35,794.
More information about a degree in clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling from Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary
South Florida Bible College And Theological Seminary landed the #7 spot for 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. About 17% of students finish within six years. South Florida Bible College And Theological Seminary awarded about 14 clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling degrees in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling from South Florida Bible College And Theological Seminary
Clinical Pastoral Counseling/Patient Counseling Related Rankings by Major
Clinical Pastoral Counseling/Patient Counseling is one of many programs to choose from within the area of study. Browse the parent area of study.
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 7 schools evaluated.
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).
