2026 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/) 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.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 17 schools to find the best return on investment for pastoral studies/counseling students.
What’s on this page:
2026 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
For return on investment in pastoral studies/counseling, no school beat University Of St Thomas Texas this year. University Of St Thomas Texas is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Houston. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,634. Typical student debt for pastoral studies/counseling graduates is $23,628. Early-career pastoral studies/counseling graduates make about $58,265. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Southwestern Assemblies Of God University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value pastoral studies/counseling schools. Southwestern Assemblies Of God University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Waxahachie. Students from in state pay about $25,064 in tuition and fees. Pastoral Studies/counseling graduates carry a median of $26,750 in student loans. Pastoral Studies/counseling graduates of Southwestern Assemblies Of God University earn a median of $37,774 early in their careers. Set against $26,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Southwestern Assemblies Of God University admits about 89% of applicants.
Oral Roberts University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in pastoral studies/counseling, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Tulsa, Oral Roberts University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $35,470. Pastoral Studies/counseling graduates carry a median of $37,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, pastoral studies/counseling degree recipients from Oral Roberts University generally make around $41,180. That is a strong return on a $37,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 99%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Kings University earned it the #4 place for pastoral studies/counseling. Set in the suburb of Southlake, Kings University is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,480. Pastoral Studies/counseling graduates carry a median of $48,998 in student loans. Pastoral Studies/counseling graduates of Kings University earn a median of $40,888 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Kings University admits about 61% of applicants.
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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 · 17 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.
