2026 Best Value Pastoral Studies/Counseling Schools in Indiana

[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. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 9 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for pastoral studies/counseling students.
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2026 Best Value Pastoral Studies/Counseling Schools in Indiana
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in pastoral studies/counseling, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Pastoral Studies/Counseling Schools
Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global earned the #1 spot for value among pastoral studies/counseling schools in Indiana. Located in the rural area of Marion, Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $9,648 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for pastoral studies/counseling graduates is $26,338. Early-career pastoral studies/counseling graduates make about $37,004. That is a strong return on a $26,338 median debt.
Grace College And Theological Seminary is a great value for students pursuing a degree in pastoral studies/counseling, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the town of Winona Lake, Grace College And Theological Seminary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $29,645. Students borrow a median of $25,500 to complete the pastoral studies/counseling program here. Pastoral Studies/counseling graduates of Grace College And Theological Seminary earn a median of $34,513 early in their careers. Set against $25,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in pastoral studies/counseling will find it at Indiana Wesleyan University, which ranked #3. Indiana Wesleyan University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Marion. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $32,352. Students borrow a median of $24,221 to complete the pastoral studies/counseling program here. Soon after graduation, pastoral studies/counseling degree recipients from Indiana Wesleyan University generally make around $31,281. Set against $24,221 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Students looking for strong value in pastoral studies/counseling will find it at Taylor University, which ranked #4. Set in the rural area of Upland, Taylor University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $40,490. Typical student debt for pastoral studies/counseling graduates is $21,832. Pastoral Studies/counseling graduates of Taylor University earn a median of $37,035 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 9 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.