2027 Best Value Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Bachelor’s Degree Schools
[Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries](/majors/theology-and-religious-vocations/pastoral-counseling-specialized-ministries/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong pastoral counseling & specialized ministries education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 24 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for pastoral counseling & specialized ministries students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the pastoral counseling & specialized ministries degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Schools
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary earned the #1 spot for value among pastoral counseling & specialized ministries schools in the United States. Set in the suburb of Wake Forest, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,318. Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries graduates of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary earn a median of $54,863 early in their careers. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Lee University came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value pastoral counseling & specialized ministries schools. Located in the city of Cleveland, Lee University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $23,790. Students borrow a median of $28,750 to complete the pastoral counseling & specialized ministries program here. Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries graduates of Lee University earn a median of $35,189 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 70%.
Students looking for strong value in pastoral counseling & specialized ministries will find it at Bethel College Mishawaka, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Mishawaka, Bethel College Mishawaka is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $34,600. Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries graduates carry a median of $23,319 in student loans. Early-career pastoral counseling & specialized ministries graduates make about $31,046. That is a strong return on a $23,319 median debt. The acceptance rate is 98%.
Campbellsville University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in pastoral counseling & specialized ministries, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the town of Campbellsville, Campbellsville University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $27,998 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for pastoral counseling & specialized ministries graduates is $24,148. Early-career pastoral counseling & specialized ministries graduates make about $43,474. Set against $24,148 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Grace College And Theological Seminary came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value pastoral counseling & specialized ministries schools. Grace College And Theological Seminary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Winona Lake. Students from in state pay about $29,645 in tuition and fees. Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries graduates carry a median of $25,500 in student loans. Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries graduates of Grace College And Theological Seminary earn a median of $25,060 early in their careers. Set against $25,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Ozark Christian College placed #6 among the best values for pastoral counseling & specialized ministries. Set in the city of Joplin, Ozark Christian College is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $16,000. Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries graduates carry a median of $23,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, pastoral counseling & specialized ministries degree recipients from Ozark Christian College generally make around $26,422. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Ozark Christian College admits about 94% of applicants.
Life Pacific College landed the #7 spot for pastoral counseling & specialized ministries value this year. Life Pacific College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of San Dimas. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $22,118. Typical student debt for pastoral counseling & specialized ministries graduates is $24,083. Early-career pastoral counseling & specialized ministries graduates make about $37,436. Set against $24,083 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Regent University earned the #8 position for value in pastoral counseling & specialized ministries this year. Located in the city of Virginia Beach, Regent University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $21,650 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $35,500 to complete the pastoral counseling & specialized ministries program here. Soon after graduation, pastoral counseling & specialized ministries degree recipients from Regent University generally make around $33,407. Set against $35,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.
Moody Bible Institute ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value pastoral counseling & specialized ministries schools. Moody Bible Institute is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,786. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete the pastoral counseling & specialized ministries program here. Soon after graduation, pastoral counseling & specialized ministries degree recipients from Moody Bible Institute generally make around $35,426. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt. Moody Bible Institute admits about 83% of applicants.
Southwestern Assemblies Of God University earned the #10 position for value in pastoral counseling & specialized ministries this year. Located in the suburb of Waxahachie, Southwestern Assemblies Of God University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $25,064. Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries graduates carry a median of $26,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, pastoral counseling & specialized ministries degree recipients from Southwestern Assemblies Of God University generally make around $30,910. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Southwestern Assemblies Of God University admits about 89% of applicants.
Grace Bible College placed #11 among the best values for pastoral counseling & specialized ministries. Grace Bible College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Wyoming. In-state tuition and fees average $17,190. Students borrow a median of $38,453 to complete the pastoral counseling & specialized ministries program here. Early-career pastoral counseling & specialized ministries graduates make about $48,916. Set against $38,453 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
Indiana Wesleyan University earned the #12 position for value in pastoral counseling & specialized ministries this year. Located in the town of Marion, Indiana Wesleyan University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $32,352. Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries graduates carry a median of $22,104 in student loans. Early-career pastoral counseling & specialized ministries graduates make about $19,836. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary earned the #13 position for value in pastoral counseling & specialized ministries this year. Set in the city of Kansas City, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $11,530 in tuition and fees. Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries graduates carry a median of $15,559 in student loans. Early-career pastoral counseling & specialized ministries graduates make about $55,308. Set against $15,559 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Taylor University ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value pastoral counseling & specialized ministries schools. Taylor University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Upland. In-state tuition and fees average $40,490. Typical student debt for pastoral counseling & specialized ministries graduates is $21,832. Soon after graduation, pastoral counseling & specialized ministries degree recipients from Taylor University generally make around $37,035. Set against $21,832 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Gordon College came in at #15 for value in pastoral counseling & specialized ministries this year. Set in the rural area of Wenham, Gordon College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $30,700. Students borrow a median of $26,372 to complete the pastoral counseling & specialized ministries program here. Early-career pastoral counseling & specialized ministries graduates make about $37,097. That is a strong return on a $26,372 median debt. Gordon College admits about 69% of applicants.
Universidad Teologica Del Caribe earned the #16 position for value in pastoral counseling & specialized ministries this year. Universidad Teologica Del Caribe is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Trujillo Alto. In-state tuition and fees average $6,660. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $23,536.
Lancaster Bible College earned the #17 position for value in pastoral counseling & specialized ministries this year. Lancaster Bible College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Lancaster. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $29,990. Students borrow a median of $22,584 to complete the pastoral counseling & specialized ministries program here. Early-career pastoral counseling & specialized ministries graduates make about $35,286. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 56%.
North Central University earned the #18 position for value in pastoral counseling & specialized ministries this year. Located in the city of Minneapolis, North Central University is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $32,220. 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. Set against $26,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
South Florida Bible College And Theological Seminary ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best value pastoral counseling & specialized ministries schools. South Florida Bible College And Theological Seminary is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Deerfield Beach. Students from in state pay about $7,740 in tuition and fees. Median earnings reach $45,354 ten years out.
Oral Roberts University ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best value pastoral counseling & specialized ministries schools. Set in the city of Tulsa, Oral Roberts University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $35,470. Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries graduates carry a median of $37,000 in student loans. Early-career pastoral counseling & specialized ministries graduates make about $41,180. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Oral Roberts University admits about 99% of applicants.
Crown College earned the #21 position for value in pastoral counseling & specialized ministries this year. Crown College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Saint Bonifacius. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $31,410. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the pastoral counseling & specialized ministries program here. Early-career pastoral counseling & specialized ministries graduates make about $26,538. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 23% of applicants are accepted.
Bethel University Minnesota landed the #22 spot for pastoral counseling & specialized ministries value this year. Set in the suburb of Saint Paul, Bethel University Minnesota is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $44,226. Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries graduates carry a median of $25,639 in student loans. Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries graduates of Bethel University Minnesota earn a median of $45,641 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Liberty University earned the #23 position for value in pastoral counseling & specialized ministries this year. Set in the city of Lynchburg, Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,173. Students borrow a median of $23,750 to complete the pastoral counseling & specialized ministries program here. Soon after graduation, pastoral counseling & specialized ministries degree recipients from Liberty University generally make around $34,083. That is a strong return on a $23,750 median debt. The acceptance rate is 99%.
Colorado Christian University earned the #24 position for value in pastoral counseling & specialized ministries this year. Colorado Christian University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Lakewood. In-state tuition and fees average $28,846. Students borrow a median of $36,092 to complete the pastoral counseling & specialized ministries program here. Soon after graduation, pastoral counseling & specialized ministries degree recipients from Colorado Christian University generally make around $47,333. That is a strong return on a $36,092 median debt.
Other Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Degree Levels
Explore the best-value pastoral counseling & specialized ministries schools at other degree levels:
View All Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 24 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 24 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.
