2027 Best Value Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[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 best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 13 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value pastoral counseling & specialized ministries schools.
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2027 Best Value Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Schools in the Great Lakes Region
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
For return on investment in pastoral counseling & specialized ministries, no school beat Andrews University this year. Set in the town of Berrien Springs, Andrews University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $35,056. Typical student debt for pastoral counseling & specialized ministries graduates is $26,314. Early-career pastoral counseling & specialized ministries graduates make about $57,865. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value pastoral counseling & specialized ministries schools. Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global is a large private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Marion. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,648. Typical student debt for pastoral counseling & specialized ministries graduates is $26,338. Early-career pastoral counseling & specialized ministries graduates make about $37,004. That is a strong return on a $26,338 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Bethel College Mishawaka earned it the #3 place for pastoral counseling & specialized ministries. Bethel College Mishawaka is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Mishawaka. 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. Bethel College Mishawaka admits about 98% of applicants.
Grace College And Theological Seminary came in at #4 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. In-state tuition and fees average $29,645. Students borrow a median of $25,500 to complete the pastoral counseling & specialized ministries program here. Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries graduates of Grace College And Theological Seminary earn a median of $34,513 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 82%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Olivet Nazarene University earned it the #5 place for pastoral counseling & specialized ministries. Olivet Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Bourbonnais. Students from in state pay about $38,900 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,797 to complete the pastoral counseling & specialized ministries program here. Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries graduates of Olivet Nazarene University earn a median of $48,505 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,797 median debt. The acceptance rate is 56%.
Grace Bible College ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value pastoral counseling & specialized ministries schools. Located in the city of Wyoming, Grace Bible College is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $17,190 in tuition and fees. Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries graduates carry a median of $30,118 in student loans. Soon after graduation, pastoral counseling & specialized ministries degree recipients from Grace Bible College generally make around $41,219. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 99%.
Malone University came in at #7 for value in pastoral counseling & specialized ministries this year. Located in the city of Canton, Malone University is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $37,160. Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries graduates carry a median of $27,956 in student loans. Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries graduates of Malone University earn a median of $48,359 early in their careers. Set against $27,956 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Moody Bible Institute placed #8 among the best values for pastoral counseling & specialized ministries. Located in the city of Chicago, Moody Bible Institute is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $15,786 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for pastoral counseling & specialized ministries graduates is $12,000. Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries graduates of Moody Bible Institute earn a median of $35,426 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 83%.
Calvin College earned the #9 position for value in pastoral counseling & specialized ministries this year. Set in the city of Grand Rapids, Calvin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $39,350. Typical student debt for pastoral counseling & specialized ministries graduates is $22,707. Early-career pastoral counseling & specialized ministries graduates make about $44,220. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 71%.
Indiana Wesleyan University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value pastoral counseling & specialized ministries schools. 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. Typical student debt for pastoral counseling & specialized ministries graduates is $24,221. Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries graduates of Indiana Wesleyan University earn a median of $31,281 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Indiana Wesleyan University admits about 89% of applicants.
Taylor University landed the #11 spot for pastoral counseling & specialized ministries value this year. Set in the rural area of Upland, Taylor University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $40,490. Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries graduates carry a median of $21,832 in student loans. Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries graduates of Taylor University earn a median of $37,035 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,832 median debt. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Valor Christian College earned the #12 position for value in pastoral counseling & specialized ministries this year. Set in the city of Canal Winchester, Valor Christian College is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $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.
Loyola University Chicago earned the #13 position for value in pastoral counseling & specialized ministries this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $53,710. Students borrow a median of $23,521 to complete the pastoral counseling & specialized ministries program here. Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries graduates of Loyola University Chicago earn a median of $46,241 early in their careers. Set against $23,521 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 13 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 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.
