by our College Data Analytics Team
[Pastoral Studies/Counseling](/majors/theology-and-religious-vocations/pastoral-counseling-specialized-ministries/pastoral-studies-counseling/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong pastoral studies/counseling education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 5 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for pastoral studies/counseling students.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the pastoral studies/counseling degrees they offer, see the list below.
Leading the list is Valor Christian College, our #1 best value for pastoral studies/counseling in Ohio. Set in the city of Canal Winchester, Valor Christian College is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,612. Students borrow a median of $17,635 to complete the pastoral studies/counseling program here. Pastoral Studies/counseling graduates of Valor Christian College earn a median of $29,571 early in their careers.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.