2027 Best Value Pastoral Studies/Counseling Schools in Illinois
[Pastoral Studies/Counseling](/majors/theology-and-religious-vocations/pastoral-counseling-specialized-ministries/pastoral-studies-counseling/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong pastoral studies/counseling education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 3 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for pastoral studies/counseling students.
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2027 Best Value Pastoral Studies/Counseling Schools in Illinois
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the pastoral studies/counseling degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Pastoral Studies/Counseling Schools
Olivet Nazarene University tops our 2027 list of the best value pastoral studies/counseling schools in Illinois. Olivet Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Bourbonnais. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $38,900. Typical student debt for pastoral studies/counseling graduates is $26,797. Early-career pastoral studies/counseling graduates make about $48,505. Set against $26,797 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Olivet Nazarene University admits about 56% of applicants.
Moody Bible Institute is a great value for students pursuing a degree in pastoral studies/counseling, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Moody Bible Institute is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,786. Typical student debt for pastoral studies/counseling graduates is $12,000. Soon after graduation, pastoral studies/counseling degree recipients from Moody Bible Institute generally make around $35,426. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt. Moody Bible Institute admits about 83% of applicants.
Loyola University Chicago is a great value for students pursuing a degree in pastoral studies/counseling, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $53,710. Typical student debt for pastoral studies/counseling graduates is $23,521. Pastoral Studies/counseling graduates of Loyola University Chicago earn a median of $46,241 early in their careers. Set against $23,521 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 3 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.
