by our College Data Analytics Team
When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Schools Highly Focused on Pastoral Studies/Counseling Major in the Great Lakes Region” ranking - to help you make that decision.
Pastoral Studies/Counseling is the 364th most popular major in the country with 1,430 degrees awarded in 2020-2021.
Across the Great Lakes region, there were 468 pastoral studies/counseling graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.
This year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Pastoral Studies/Counseling Major in the Great Lakes Region” ranking analyzed 32 colleges that offered a degree in pastoral studies/counseling. That schools that top this list have a program in pastoral studies/counseling in which the largest percentage of students at the school are enrolled.
Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Schools Highly Focused on Pastoral Studies/Counseling Major in the Great Lakes Region” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.
The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region pastoral studies/counseling students.
Out of the 32 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Pastoral Studies/Counseling Major in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Valor Christian College landed the #1 spot on the list. Valor Christian College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Canal Winchester, Ohio. It awarded 44 ’s pastoral studies/counseling degrees in 2020-2021.
Read more about Pastoral Studies/Counseling at Valor Christian College
Out of the 32 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Pastoral Studies/Counseling Major in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, McCormick Theological Seminary landed the #2 spot on the list. This small school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 22 ’s pastoral studies/counseling degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read more about Pastoral Studies/Counseling at McCormick Theological Seminary
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northern Baptist Theological Seminary. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Pastoral Studies/Counseling Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Northern Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution located in Lisle, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 19 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Pastoral Studies/Counseling at Northern Seminary
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Union Bible College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Pastoral Studies/Counseling Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Union Bible College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Westfield, Indiana. The school has a small population, and it awarded 2 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Pastoral Studies/Counseling at Union Bible College
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Catholic Theological Union at Chicago. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Pastoral Studies/Counseling Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Catholic Theological Union is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 11 ’s pastoral studies/counseling degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Full Catholic Theological Union Pastoral Studies/Counseling Report
Andrews University ranked #6 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Pastoral Studies/Counseling Major in the Great Lakes Region list. This small school is located in Berrien Springs, Michigan, and it awarded 75 ’s pastoral studies/counseling degrees in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
University of Saint Mary of the Lake did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Pastoral Studies/Counseling Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #7. Located in Mundelein, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 4 degrees to qualified ’s pastoral studies/counseling students in 2020-2021.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Read more about Pastoral Studies/Counseling at University of Saint Mary of the Lake
Chicago Theological Seminary came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Pastoral Studies/Counseling Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This small school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 4 ’s pastoral studies/counseling degrees in 2020-2021.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Read full report on Pastoral Studies/Counseling at Chicago Theological Seminary
Moody Bible Institute did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Pastoral Studies/Counseling Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #9. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s pastoral studies/counseling degrees to 56 students in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Pastoral Studies/Counseling at Moody Bible Institute
Maranatha Baptist University landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Pastoral Studies/Counseling Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Watertown, Wisconsin, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 16 degrees to qualified ’s pastoral studies/counseling students in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Trinity International University - Illinois ranked #11 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Pastoral Studies/Counseling Major in the Great Lakes Region list. TIU Illinois is located in Deerfield, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 21 ’s pastoral studies/counseling degrees to qualified students.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Full Trinity International University - Illinois Pastoral Studies/Counseling Report
With a ranking of #12, Indiana Wesleyan University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Pastoral Studies/Counseling Major in the Great Lakes Region list. IWU is a private not-for-profit institution located in Marion, Indiana. The school has a small population, and it awarded 42 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 5.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Garrett - Evangelical Theological Seminary came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Pastoral Studies/Counseling Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Garrett - Evangelical Theological Seminary is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Evanston, Illinois. It awarded 3 ’s pastoral studies/counseling degrees in 2020-2021.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full Garrett - Evangelical Theological Seminary Pastoral Studies/Counseling Report
With a ranking of #14, Taylor University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Pastoral Studies/Counseling Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Taylor University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Upland, Indiana. The school has a small population, and it awarded 13 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Pastoral Studies/Counseling at Taylor University
Methodist Theological School in Ohio did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Pastoral Studies/Counseling Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #15. MTSO is a small school located in Delaware, Ohio that handed out 1 ’s pastoral studies/counseling degrees in 2020-2021.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Pastoral Studies/Counseling at Methodist Theological School in Ohio
Grace College and Theological Seminary came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Pastoral Studies/Counseling Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Grace College is located in Winona Lake, Indiana and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 14 ’s pastoral studies/counseling degrees to qualified students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Pastoral Studies/Counseling at Grace College
Veritas Baptist College landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Pastoral Studies/Counseling Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Veritas Baptist College is a small school located in Fredericksburg, Virginia that handed out 1 ’s pastoral studies/counseling degrees in 2020-2021.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
With a ranking of #18, Olivet Nazarene University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Pastoral Studies/Counseling Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Located in Bourbonnais, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 15 diplomas to qualified ’s pastoral studies/counseling students in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Pastoral Studies/Counseling at Olivet Nazarene
Ashland University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Pastoral Studies/Counseling Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This small school is located in Ashland, Ohio, and it awarded 13 ’s pastoral studies/counseling degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Pastoral Studies/Counseling at Ashland University
With a ranking of #20, Indiana Wesleyan University - National & Global did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Pastoral Studies/Counseling Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Marion, Indiana is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s pastoral studies/counseling degrees to 35 students in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 5.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full Indiana Wesleyan University - National & Global Pastoral Studies/Counseling Report
Malone University ranked #21 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Pastoral Studies/Counseling Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Malone is a small school located in Canton, Ohio that handed out 4 ’s pastoral studies/counseling degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Pastoral Studies/Counseling at Malone University
Cornerstone University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Pastoral Studies/Counseling Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Cornerstone is a private not-for-profit institution located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The school has a small population, and it awarded 4 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full Cornerstone University Pastoral Studies/Counseling Report
With a ranking of #23, Loyola University Chicago did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Pastoral Studies/Counseling Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Loyola University Chicago is a fairly large school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 38 ’s pastoral studies/counseling degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.
Read full report on Pastoral Studies/Counseling at Loyola Chicago
With a ranking of #24, Marian University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Pastoral Studies/Counseling Major in the Great Lakes Region list. Marian University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Indianapolis, Indiana. The school has a small population, and it awarded 5 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Pastoral Studies/Counseling at Marian University
Huntington University landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Pastoral Studies/Counseling Major in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Huntington University is located in Huntington, Indiana and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1 ’s pastoral studies/counseling degrees to qualified students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on Pastoral Studies/Counseling at Huntington University
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
