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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries (With Aid)

39 Ranked Colleges
1,068 Degrees Awarded
$14,600 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Pastoral Counseling Schools for a Master's For Those Getting Aid

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Pastoral Counseling Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2019-2020, 3,028 people earned their degree in pastoral counseling and specialized ministries, making the major the 168th most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, pastoral counseling and specialized ministries graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $32,316 and had an average of $31,905 in loans still to pay off.

At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 1,068 pastoral counseling and specialized ministries graduates with average earnings and debt of $56,398 and $43,194 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Pastoral Counseling Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid” ranking, we looked at 39 colleges that offer a degree in pastoral counseling and specialized ministries. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great pastoral counseling and specialized ministries programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the pastoral counseling and specialized ministries program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Pastoral Counseling Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most 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.

Best Value Pastoral Counseling Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Pastoral Counseling Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries (With Aid)

#1

Trevecca Nazarene University

Nashville, Tennessee
#6 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Trevecca Nazarene University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Pastoral Counseling Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid. Nashville, Tennessee is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s pastoral counseling degrees to 21 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at TNU, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at TNU are $9,282.

Read full report on Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries at TNU

#2

Freed-Hardeman University

Henderson, Tennessee

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Freed-Hardeman University. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Pastoral Counseling Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Henderson, Tennessee, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 2 degrees to qualified masters’s pastoral counseling students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at FHU are $10,980, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries at FHU

#3

Moody Bible Institute

Chicago, Illinois
#7 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Moody Bible Institute. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Pastoral Counseling Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. Moody Theological Seminary and Graduate School is a small school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 7 masters’s pastoral counseling degrees in 2019-2020.

Moody Theological Seminary and Graduate School also took the #7 spot in our “Best Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Moody Bible Institute are $8,930, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries at Moody Bible Institute

#4

Harding University

Searcy, Arkansas
#17 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Harding University. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Pastoral Counseling Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. Harding University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Searcy, Arkansas. It awarded 4 masters’s pastoral counseling degrees in 2019-2020.

Harding also took the #17 spot in our “Best Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Harding University are $11,928, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Harding Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Report

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Vanguard University of Southern California. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Pastoral Counseling Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. Costa Mesa, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s pastoral counseling degrees to 17 students in 2019-2020.

Vanguard did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Vanguard are $16,180.

Read more about Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries at Vanguard University of Southern California

#6

Andrews University

Berrien Springs, Michigan
#3 in overall quality

Andrews University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Pastoral Counseling Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #6. This small school is located in Berrien Springs, Michigan, and it awarded 58 masters’s pastoral counseling degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree pastoral counseling students with aid list, Andrews has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Andrews University are $28,910.

Full Andrews University Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Report

Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Pastoral Counseling Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. MBTS is located in Kansas City, Missouri and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 5 masters’s pastoral counseling degrees to qualified students.

Average graduate tuition and fees at MBTS are $6,950, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries at MBTS

#8

Lancaster Bible College

Lancaster, Pennsylvania
#10 in overall quality

With a ranking of #8, Lancaster Bible College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Pastoral Counseling Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. This small school is located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 21 masters’s pastoral counseling degrees in 2019-2020.

Lancaster Bible College also made our “Best Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #10. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Lancaster Bible College are $11,460.

Read full report on Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries at Lancaster Bible College

#9

Lenoir - Rhyne University

Hickory, North Carolina

Lenoir - Rhyne University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Pastoral Counseling Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Lenoir - Rhyne University is a small school located in Hickory, North Carolina that handed out 2 masters’s pastoral counseling degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Lenoir - Rhyne University are $11,700, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries at Lenoir - Rhyne University

#10

Olivet Nazarene University

Bourbonnais, Illinois
#14 in overall quality

Olivet Nazarene University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Pastoral Counseling Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #10. Olivet Nazarene University is a small school located in Bourbonnais, Illinois that handed out 7 masters’s pastoral counseling degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Olivet Nazarene, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Olivet Nazarene University are $13,393.

Full Olivet Nazarene Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Report

#11

Lee University

Cleveland, Tennessee
#25 in overall quality

Lee University landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Pastoral Counseling Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Cleveland, Tennessee is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s pastoral counseling degrees to 4 students in 2019-2020.

Lee University also made our “Best Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #25. Average graduate tuition and fees at Lee University are $14,330, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries at Lee University

#13 in overall quality

Grace College and Theological Seminary came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Pastoral Counseling Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Grace College and Theological Seminary is located in Winona Lake, Indiana and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 16 masters’s pastoral counseling degrees to qualified students.

Grace College did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Grace College and Theological Seminary are $7,872, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries at Grace College

#13

Bethel University Minnesota

Saint Paul, Minnesota

With a ranking of #13, Bethel University Minnesota did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Pastoral Counseling Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. Bethel University Minnesota is a small school located in Saint Paul, Minnesota that handed out 15 masters’s pastoral counseling degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree pastoral counseling students with aid list, Bethel University Minnesota has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Bethel University Minnesota are $11,700, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries at Bethel University Minnesota

#14

Columbia International University

Columbia, South Carolina
#21 in overall quality

Columbia International University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Pastoral Counseling Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #14. CIU is a private not-for-profit institution located in Columbia, South Carolina. The school has a small population, and it awarded 3 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

CIU also made our “Best Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #21. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at CIU are $10,640.

Full CIU Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Report

#15

Emory University

Atlanta, Georgia
#4 in overall quality

Emory University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Pastoral Counseling Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #15. Located in Atlanta, Georgia, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 2 diplomas to qualified masters’s pastoral counseling students in 2019-2020.

Emory also took the #4 spot in our “Best Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Emory University are $44,676.

Read more about Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries at Emory

#16

Nyack College

Nyack, New York

Nyack College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Pastoral Counseling Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #16. This small school is located in Nyack, New York, and it awarded 5 masters’s pastoral counseling degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Nyack are $13,800, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Nyack College Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Report

#17

University of St. Thomas

Houston, Texas

University of St. Thomas ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Pastoral Counseling Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. This small school is located in Houston, Texas, and it awarded 2 masters’s pastoral counseling degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UST are $21,634.

Read full report on Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries at UST

#18

Maranatha Baptist University

Watertown, Wisconsin
#24 in overall quality

Maranatha Baptist University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Pastoral Counseling Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #18. MBU is located in Watertown, Wisconsin and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 7 masters’s pastoral counseling degrees to qualified students.

MBU also made our “Best Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #24. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Maranatha Baptist University are $7,010.

Full MBU Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Report

Northwest Nazarene University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Pastoral Counseling Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Nampa, Idaho is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s pastoral counseling degrees to 3 students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Northwest Nazarene University are $11,121.

Read more about Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries at Northwest Nazarene University

#20

Indiana Wesleyan University

Marion, Indiana

Indiana Wesleyan University landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value Pastoral Counseling Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Indiana Wesleyan University is located in Marion, Indiana and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 7 masters’s pastoral counseling degrees to qualified students.

IWU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #19 on our “Best Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana Wesleyan University are $13,512.

Read more about Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries at IWU

#21

Cornerstone University

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Cornerstone University ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Pastoral Counseling Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. This small school is located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and it awarded 22 masters’s pastoral counseling degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Cornerstone University are $14,710.

Full Cornerstone Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Report

#22

Oral Roberts University

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Oral Roberts University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Pastoral Counseling Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 3 degrees to qualified masters’s pastoral counseling students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Oral Roberts University are $12,282, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries at ORU

#23

University of Northwestern - St Paul

Saint Paul, Minnesota

University of Northwestern - St Paul ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Pastoral Counseling Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. Saint Paul, Minnesota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s pastoral counseling degrees to 1 students in 2019-2020.

Northwestern also took the #0 spot in our “Best Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Northwestern are $8,982.

Full Northwestern Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Report

Trinity International University - Illinois came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Pastoral Counseling Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Deerfield, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s pastoral counseling degrees to 3 students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at TIU Illinois are $17,780, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries at Trinity International University - Illinois

#25

Dallas Baptist University

Dallas, Texas

Dallas Baptist University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Pastoral Counseling Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #25. Dallas, Texas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s pastoral counseling degrees to 39 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree pastoral counseling students with aid list, DBU has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at DBU are $20,204, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries at Dallas Baptist University

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Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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