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2023 Best Pastoral Studies/Counseling Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Veterans

7 Ranked Colleges
186 Degrees Awarded
$30,400 Avg Cost*
Most Veteran Friendly for Pastoral Studies/Counseling for a Doctorate

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, veterans have many different options to choose from. College Factual has developed its “Most Veteran Friendly for Pastoral Studies/Counseling for a Doctorate” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

Pastoral Studies/Counseling is the 364th most popular major in the country with 1,430 degrees awarded in 2020-2021.

This year’s “Most Veteran Friendly for Pastoral Studies/Counseling for a Doctorate” ranking analyzed 7 colleges that offered a degree in pastoral studies/counseling. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent pastoral studies/counseling programs, but they also offer a lot of support to veterans and active service members.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the pastoral studies/counseling program at the school, veteran affordability, and veteran satisfaction. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Most Veteran Friendly for Pastoral Studies/Counseling for a Doctorate” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Most Veteran Friendly for Pastoral Studies/Counseling for a Doctorate

The colleges and universities below are the best for doctor’s degree vets studying pastoral studies/counseling.

Top 7 Best Pastoral Studies/Counseling Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Veterans

1
The Master's University crest
The Master's University and Seminary
Santa Clarita, California

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend The Master’s University and Seminary. The school came in at #1 for the Most Veteran Friendly for Pastoral Studies/Counseling for a Doctorate. Located in Santa Clarita, California, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 27 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s pastoral studies/counseling students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at The Master’s University, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Pastoral Studies/Counseling Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking.Of the 2,449 students enrolled at The Master’s University and Seminary, 17 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 14 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $5,888. To help with additional expenses, 0 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. The Master’s University and Seminary offers credit for military training for eligible students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only [DEFAULT_RATE_STRING]%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full The Master’s University Veteran Student Life Report

2
Ashland crest
Ashland University
Ashland, Ohio

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Ashland University. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Most Veteran Friendly for Pastoral Studies/Counseling for a Doctorate list. Located in Ashland, Ohio, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 7 degrees to qualified doctorate’s pastoral studies/counseling students in 2020-2021.

Ashland did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Pastoral Studies/Counseling Doctor’s Degree Schools” list.According to our most recent data, Ashland supports 4,447 students, and 105 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 88 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $14,554. On top of their other funding sources, 4 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is [DEFAULT_RATE_STRING]%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read More…

3

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Trinity International University - Illinois. The school came in at #3 for the Most Veteran Friendly for Pastoral Studies/Counseling for a Doctorate. Trinity International University - Illinois is located in Deerfield, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 18 doctorate’s pastoral studies/counseling degrees to qualified students.

TIU Illinois did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Pastoral Studies/Counseling Doctor’s Degree Schools” list.Of the 1,454 students enrolled at Trinity International University - Illinois, 14 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 9 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $6,061. In addition to receiving other benefits, 0 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.

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.

[Read full report on veteran student life at Trinity International University - Illinois]](/colleges/trinity-international-university-illinois/student-life/veterans/)

4

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion. The school came in at #4 for the Most Veteran Friendly for Pastoral Studies/Counseling for a Doctorate. HUC - JIR is located in New York, New York and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 4 doctorate’s pastoral studies/counseling degrees to qualified students.

HUC - JIR also made our “Best Pastoral Studies/Counseling Doctor’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #4.Our most recent data shows that 1 of the 335 students enrolled at Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion were GI Bill® students, of which 1 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $15,486. In addition to receiving other benefits, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.

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. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only [DEFAULT_RATE_STRING]%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

[Read full report on veteran student life at HUC - JIR]](/colleges/hebrew-union-college-jewish-institute-of-religion/student-life/veterans/)

5
GFU crest
George Fox University
Newberg, Oregon

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend George Fox University. The school came in at #5 for the Most Veteran Friendly for Pastoral Studies/Counseling for a Doctorate. GFU is located in Newberg, Oregon and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 38 doctorate’s pastoral studies/counseling degrees to qualified students.

GFU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Pastoral Studies/Counseling Doctor’s Degree Schools” list.Our most recent data shows that 145 of the 4,106 students enrolled at George Fox University were GI Bill® students, of which 77 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $12,462. In addition to receiving other benefits, 28 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of [DEFAULT_RATE_STRING]% 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 veteran student life at George Fox University]](/colleges/george-fox-university/student-life/veterans/)

6

Northern Baptist Theological Seminary came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Most Veteran Friendly for Pastoral Studies/Counseling for a Doctorate ranking. Northern Seminary is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Lisle, Illinois. It awarded 19 doctorate’s pastoral studies/counseling degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Northern Seminary, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Pastoral Studies/Counseling Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking.Of the 285 students enrolled at Northern Seminary, 5 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 4 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $6,647. To help with additional expenses, 0 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program.

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. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only [DEFAULT_RATE_STRING]%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Northern Seminary Veteran Student Life Report

7
2 GI Bill® Students**
#3 in overall quality

McCormick Theological Seminary did quite well in the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly for Pastoral Studies/Counseling for a Doctorate ranking, coming in at #7. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 22 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s pastoral studies/counseling students in 2020-2021.

McCormick Theological Seminary not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Pastoral Studies/Counseling Doctor’s Degree Schools” list.According to our most recent data, McCormick Theological Seminary supports 221 students, and 2 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 0 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $0. To help with additional expenses, 0 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program.

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. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only [DEFAULT_RATE_STRING]%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full McCormick Theological Seminary Veteran Student Life Report

Notes and References

References

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

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