2027 Best Value Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Associate’s Degree Schools

[Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries](/majors/theology-and-religious-vocations/pastoral-counseling-specialized-ministries/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 5 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for pastoral counseling & specialized ministries students.
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2027 Best Value Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in pastoral counseling & specialized ministries, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Schools
Our analysis ranked Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global the best value for a degree in pastoral counseling & specialized ministries in the United States. Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global is a large private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Marion. In-state tuition and fees average $9,648. Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries graduates carry a median of $26,338 in student loans. Soon after graduation, pastoral counseling & specialized ministries degree recipients from Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global generally make around $35,736. That is a strong return on a $26,338 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Calvin College earned it the #2 place for pastoral counseling & specialized ministries. Set in the city of Grand Rapids, Calvin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $39,350 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $22,707 to complete the pastoral counseling & specialized ministries program here. Early-career pastoral counseling & specialized ministries graduates make about $44,220. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Grace Bible College earned it the #3 place for pastoral counseling & specialized ministries. Grace Bible College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Wyoming. Students from in state pay about $17,190 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for pastoral counseling & specialized ministries graduates is $21,782. Early-career pastoral counseling & specialized ministries graduates make about $33,522. Set against $21,782 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in pastoral counseling & specialized ministries will find it at North Central University, which ranked #4. North Central University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Minneapolis. Students from in state pay about $32,220 in tuition and fees. Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries graduates carry a median of $26,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, pastoral counseling & specialized ministries degree recipients from North Central University generally make around $27,370. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. North Central University admits about 99% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in pastoral counseling & specialized ministries will find it at Valor Christian College, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Canal Winchester, Valor Christian College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,612. Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries graduates carry a median of $17,635 in student loans. Soon after graduation, pastoral counseling & specialized ministries degree recipients from Valor Christian College generally make around $29,571.
Other Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Degree Levels
Explore the best-value pastoral counseling & specialized ministries schools at other degree levels:
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.