Best Schools for Clinical Pastoral Counseling/Patient Counseling in the United States
Below are the best clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling schools at the master’s degree level, ranked by the quality of the education they deliver.
Top Schools in Clinical Pastoral Counseling/Patient Counseling
University Of Maryland Baltimore tops our 2026 ranking of the best clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling schools. Set in the city of Baltimore, University Of Maryland Baltimore is a moderately-sized public institution. About 10 clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling degrees were awarded at University Of Maryland Baltimore in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling degree recipients from University Of Maryland Baltimore generally make around $88,334. University Of Maryland Baltimore graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans.
Read more about the clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling program at University Of Maryland Baltimore
Students looking for a strong clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling program will find one at Lancaster Bible College, which ranked #2. Located in the suburb of Lancaster, Lancaster Bible College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. There were roughly 10 clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling students who graduated with this degree at Lancaster Bible College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling program make about $35,130 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $28,507 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling from Lancaster Bible College
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Wake Forest. The six-year graduation rate is 17%. About 24 clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling degrees were awarded at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in the most recent year. Clinical Pastoral Counseling/patient Counseling graduates of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary earn a median of $54,863 early in their careers.
More information about a degree in clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
A rank of #4 makes Regent University one of the top schools for clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling. Regent University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Virginia Beach. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 27 clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling students who graduated with this degree at Regent University in the most recent data year. Clinical Pastoral Counseling/patient Counseling graduates of Regent University earn a median of $41,047 early in their careers. 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 came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling schools. Located in the suburb of Deerfield, Trinity International University Illinois is a small private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 46%. There were roughly 13 clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling students who graduated with this degree at Trinity International University Illinois in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling degree recipients from Trinity International University Illinois generally make around $41,182. Trinity International University Illinois graduates carry a median of $26,892 in student loans.
Get the full clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling details for Trinity International University Illinois
Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary came in at #6 for clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of South Hamilton. About 47 clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling degrees were awarded at Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary in the most recent year. Clinical Pastoral Counseling/patient Counseling graduates of Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary earn a median of $35,794 early in their careers.
More information about a degree in clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling from Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary
Other Clinical Pastoral Counseling/Patient Counseling Degree Levels
Explore the best clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling schools at other degree levels:
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 27 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.