---

2027 Best Value Pastoral Studies/Counseling Schools in the Southwest Region

[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. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.

To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 2 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for pastoral studies/counseling students.

What’s on this page:

• Best Value Pastoral Studies/Counseling Schools in the Southwest Region

2027 Best Value Pastoral Studies/Counseling Schools in the Southwest Region

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in pastoral studies/counseling, balancing cost against outcomes.

Best Value Pastoral Studies/Counseling Schools

1

University Of St Thomas Texas
Houston, TX

$34,634 In-State Tuition & Fees

$23,628 Avg Student Debt

$59,224 Median Earnings (10yr)

University Of St Thomas Texas tops our 2027 list of the best value pastoral studies/counseling schools in the Southwest Region. Set in the city of Houston, University Of St Thomas Texas is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $34,634. Pastoral Studies/counseling graduates carry a median of $23,628 in student loans. Soon after graduation, pastoral studies/counseling degree recipients from University Of St Thomas Texas generally make around $58,265. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.

2

Oral Roberts University
Tulsa, OK

$35,470 In-State Tuition & Fees

$37,000 Avg Student Debt

$46,885 Median Earnings (10yr)

Students looking for strong value in pastoral studies/counseling will find it at Oral Roberts University, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Tulsa, Oral Roberts University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $35,470 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for pastoral studies/counseling graduates is $37,000. Pastoral Studies/counseling graduates of Oral Roberts University earn a median of $41,180 early in their careers. Set against $37,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.

View All Pastoral Studies/Counseling Rankings >

Notes and References

This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 2 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.