College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2023 Best Pastoral Studies/Counseling Colleges for Veterans in the Great Lakes Region

11 Ranked Colleges
468 Degrees Awarded
$26,800 Avg Cost*
Most Veteran Friendly in the Great Lakes Region for Pastoral Studies/Counseling

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for veterans. College Factual has developed its “Most Veteran Friendly in the Great Lakes Region for Pastoral Studies/Counseling” 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.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 468 pastoral studies/counseling graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

For this year’s “Most Veteran Friendly in the Great Lakes Region for Pastoral Studies/Counseling” ranking, we looked at 11 colleges that offer 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.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Rankings by Degree Other Award Levels
Rankings by Location Check Out Other Locales
More Pastoral Studies/Counseling Rankings Other Ranking Categories

When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Most Veteran Friendly in the Great Lakes Region for Pastoral Studies/Counseling” list to help you make the college decision.

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. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Most Veteran Friendly in the Great Lakes Region for Pastoral Studies/Counseling

The following schools top our list of the Best “Most Veteran Friendly in the Great Lakes Region for Pastoral Studies/Counseling”.

Top 11 Best Pastoral Studies/Counseling Colleges for Veterans in the Great Lakes Region

1

Out of the 11 schools in the Most Veteran Friendly in the Great Lakes Region for Pastoral Studies/Counseling that were part of this year’s ranking, Indiana Wesleyan University landed the #1 spot on the list. Indiana Wesleyan University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Marion, Indiana. It awarded 42 ’s pastoral studies/counseling degrees in 2020-2021.

IWU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS] on our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” list.According to our most recent data, Indiana Wesleyan University supports 3,108 students, and 3 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 2 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $3,305. To help with additional expenses, 0 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.

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 IWU Veteran Student Life Report

2
Loyola Chicago crest
Loyola University Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

Out of the 11 schools in the Most Veteran Friendly in the Great Lakes Region for Pastoral Studies/Counseling that were part of this year’s ranking, Loyola University Chicago landed the #2 spot on the list. Loyola Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 38 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Loyola Chicago also took the #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS] spot in our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” ranking.Among the 16,893 students enrolled at Loyola University Chicago, 261 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 165 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $17,263. During this same period, 78 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read More…

3

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Grace College and Theological Seminary. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in the Great Lakes Region for Pastoral Studies/Counseling list. Grace College is a small school located in Winona Lake, Indiana that handed out 14 ’s pastoral studies/counseling degrees in 2020-2021.

Grace College also took the #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS] spot in our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” ranking.Of the 1,901 students enrolled at Grace College and Theological Seminary, 27 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 20 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $8,455. To help with additional expenses, 0 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 Grace College and Theological Seminary]](/colleges/grace-college-and-theological-seminary/student-life/veterans/)

4
Olivet Nazarene crest
Olivet Nazarene University
Bourbonnais, Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Olivet Nazarene University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in the Great Lakes Region for Pastoral Studies/Counseling list. Olivet Nazarene University is located in Bourbonnais, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 15 ’s pastoral studies/counseling degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Olivet Nazarene, the school also landed the #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS] spot in our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” ranking.Among the 3,764 students enrolled at Olivet Nazarene University, 57 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 35 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $12,334. During this same period, 11 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Olivet Nazarene University 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%.

Read More…

5
Andrews crest
Andrews University
Berrien Springs, Michigan

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Andrews University. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in the Great Lakes Region for Pastoral Studies/Counseling list. Andrews is located in Berrien Springs, Michigan and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 75 ’s pastoral studies/counseling degrees to qualified students.

Andrews not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS] on our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” list.Our most recent data shows that 40 of the 3,162 students enrolled at Andrews were GI Bill® students, of which 24 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $16,888. On top of their other funding sources, 0 students received funds through 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full Andrews Veteran Student Life Report

6
Ashland crest
Ashland University
Ashland, Ohio

Ashland University did quite well in the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in the Great Lakes Region for Pastoral Studies/Counseling ranking, coming in at #6. This small school is located in Ashland, Ohio, and it awarded 13 ’s pastoral studies/counseling degrees in 2020-2021.

Ashland also took the #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS] spot in our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” ranking.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 Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $14,554. On top of their other funding sources, 4 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.

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 Ashland Veteran Student Life Report

7

Trinity International University - Illinois ranked #7 on this year’s Most Veteran Friendly in the Great Lakes Region for Pastoral Studies/Counseling list. Trinity International University - Illinois is a small school located in Deerfield, Illinois that handed out 21 ’s pastoral studies/counseling degrees in 2020-2021.

TIU Illinois also made our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” list, coming in at #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS].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 tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $6,061. On top of their other funding sources, 0 students qualified for 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 More…

8
Moody Theological Seminary and Graduate School crest
Moody Bible Institute
Chicago, Illinois

Moody Bible Institute came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Most Veteran Friendly in the Great Lakes Region for Pastoral Studies/Counseling ranking. Moody Theological Seminary and Graduate School is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 56 ’s pastoral studies/counseling degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region vets studying pastoral studies/counseling list, Moody Theological Seminary and Graduate School has also earned the #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS] rank in our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” ranking.Of the 2,870 students enrolled at Moody Bible Institute, 3 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 1 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $125. In addition to receiving other benefits, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program.

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 full report on veteran student life at Moody Bible Institute]](/colleges/moody-bible-institute/student-life/veterans/)

9

Northern Baptist Theological Seminary did quite well in the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in the Great Lakes Region for Pastoral Studies/Counseling ranking, coming in at #9. Northern Baptist Theological Seminary is a small school located in Lisle, Illinois that handed out 19 ’s pastoral studies/counseling degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region vets studying pastoral studies/counseling list, Northern Seminary has also earned the #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS] rank in our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” ranking.Among the 285 students enrolled at Northern Seminary, 5 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 4 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $6,647. In addition to receiving other benefits, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program.

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%. 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.

Full Northern Baptist Theological Seminary Veteran Student Life Report

10
Valor Christian College crest
Valor Christian College
Canal Winchester, Ohio

Valor Christian College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Most Veteran Friendly in the Great Lakes Region for Pastoral Studies/Counseling ranking. Valor Christian College is located in Canal Winchester, Ohio and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 44 ’s pastoral studies/counseling degrees to qualified students.

Valor Christian College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS] on our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” list.Our most recent data shows that 13 of the 289 students enrolled at Valor Christian College were GI Bill® students, of which 5 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $4,943. To help with additional expenses, 0 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.

Full Valor Christian College Veteran Student Life Report

11

McCormick Theological Seminary landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in the Great Lakes Region for Pastoral Studies/Counseling ranking. McCormick Theological Seminary is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 22 ’s pastoral studies/counseling degrees to qualified students.

McCormick Theological Seminary not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS] on our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” list.Our most recent data shows that 2 of the 221 students enrolled at McCormick Theological Seminary were GI Bill® students, of which 0 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $0. On top of their other funding sources, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program.

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%. 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 full report on veteran student life at McCormick Theological Seminary]](/colleges/mccormick-theological-seminary/student-life/veterans/)

Notes and References

References

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs

Compare Your School Options