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2022 Best Value Pastoral Counseling Schools for a Doctorate

10 Ranked Colleges
205 Degrees Awarded
$18,000 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Pastoral Counseling Schools for a Doctorate

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Pastoral Counseling Schools for a Doctorate” ranking - to help you make that decision.

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 doctor’s degree level specifically, there were 205 pastoral counseling and specialized ministries graduates with average earnings and debt of $72,680 and $116,043 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Pastoral Counseling Schools for a Doctorate” ranking, we looked at 10 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.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the pastoral counseling and specialized ministries program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Schools

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 “Best Value Pastoral Counseling Schools for a Doctorate” list to help you make the college decision.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value Pastoral Counseling Schools for a Doctorate

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Pastoral Counseling Schools for a Doctorate.

Top 12 Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries

#1

George Fox University

Newberg, Oregon

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend George Fox University. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Pastoral Counseling Schools for a Doctorate list. GFU is a private not-for-profit institution located in Newberg, Oregon. The school has a small population, and it awarded 40 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at GFU, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at GFU are $14,247, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full George Fox University Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Report

#2

The Master's University and Seminary

Santa Clarita, California
#2 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend The Master’s University and Seminary. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Pastoral Counseling Schools for a Doctorate list. The Master’s University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Santa Clarita, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 21 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.

The Master’s University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Doctor’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at The Master’s University and Seminary are $10,590, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full The Master’s University and Seminary Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Report

#3

Eastern University

Saint Davids, Pennsylvania
#6 in overall quality

Out of the 10 schools in the Best Value Pastoral Counseling Schools for a Doctorate that were part of this year’s ranking, Eastern University landed the #3 spot on the list. EU is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Saint Davids, Pennsylvania. It awarded 3 doctorate’s pastoral counseling degrees in 2019-2020.

EU also made our “Best Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Doctor’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #6. Average graduate tuition and fees at EU are $13,610, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries at EU

#5 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Pastoral Counseling Schools for a Doctorate list. This small school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 2 doctorate’s pastoral counseling degrees in 2019-2020.

LSTC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Doctor’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at LSTC are $19,345.

Full LSTC Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Report

#3 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Garrett - Evangelical Theological Seminary. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Pastoral Counseling Schools for a Doctorate list. Garrett - Evangelical Theological Seminary is a small school located in Evanston, Illinois that handed out 9 doctorate’s pastoral counseling degrees in 2019-2020.

Garrett - Evangelical Theological Seminary also took the #3 spot in our “Best Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Garrett - Evangelical Theological Seminary are $22,747, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Garrett - Evangelical Theological Seminary Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Report

#9 in overall quality

Northern Baptist Theological Seminary landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Pastoral Counseling Schools for a Doctorate ranking. Northern Baptist Theological Seminary is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Lisle, Illinois. It awarded 8 doctorate’s pastoral counseling degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our doctor’s degree pastoral counseling students list, Northern Seminary has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Northern Baptist Theological Seminary are $13,929, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries at Northern Baptist Theological Seminary

#4 in overall quality

Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Pastoral Counseling Schools for a Doctorate list. HUC - JIR is a small private not-for-profit school situated in New York, New York. It awarded 4 doctorate’s pastoral counseling degrees in 2019-2020.

HUC - JIR also took the #4 spot in our “Best Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion are $26,535, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Report

#8

Brite Divinity School

Fort Worth, Texas
#8 in overall quality

Brite Divinity School came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Pastoral Counseling Schools for a Doctorate ranking. This small school is located in Fort Worth, Texas, and it awarded 1 doctorate’s pastoral counseling degrees in 2019-2020.

Brite Divinity not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Doctor’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Brite Divinity School are $20,220, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries at Brite Divinity School

#7 in overall quality

Trinity International University - Illinois ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Pastoral Counseling Schools for a Doctorate list. Trinity International University - Illinois is located in Deerfield, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 12 doctorate’s pastoral counseling degrees to qualified students.

TIU Illinois also made our “Best Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Doctor’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #7. Average graduate tuition and fees at Trinity International University - Illinois are $17,780, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full TIU Illinois Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Report

#8 in overall quality

Abilene Christian University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Pastoral Counseling Schools for a Doctorate list. Abilene Christian University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Abilene, Texas. It awarded 2 doctorate’s pastoral counseling degrees in 2019-2020.

Abilene Christian also took the #8 spot in our “Best Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Abilene Christian are $23,238, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries at Abilene Christian

#10

Westminster Theological Seminary

Glenside, Pennsylvania
#10 in overall quality

Westminster Theological Seminary came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Pastoral Counseling Schools for a Doctorate ranking. Westminster Theological Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution located in Glenside, Pennsylvania. The school has a small population, and it awarded 5 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Westminster Theological Seminary did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Doctor’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Westminster Theological Seminary are $17,770, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries at Westminster Theological Seminary

#12

Columbia Theological Seminary

Decatur, Georgia
#12 in overall quality

Columbia Theological Seminary came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Pastoral Counseling Schools for a Doctorate ranking. Columbia Theological Seminary is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Decatur, Georgia. It awarded 1 doctorate’s pastoral counseling degrees in 2019-2020.

Columbia Theological Seminary also took the #12 spot in our “Best Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Columbia Theological Seminary are $15,770.

Read more about Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries at Columbia Theological Seminary

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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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