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2022 Best Value Pastoral Counseling Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region

11 Ranked Colleges
226 Degrees Awarded
$16,500 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Pastoral Counseling Schools for a Master's in the Great Lakes Region

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Pastoral Counseling Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

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.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 817 pastoral counseling and specialized ministries graduates with average earnings and debt of $32,960 and $28,689 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 226 pastoral counseling and specialized ministries graduates with average earnings and debt of $57,039 and $42,488 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Pastoral Counseling Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region” ranking, we looked at 11 colleges that offer a degree in pastoral counseling and specialized ministries. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality pastoral counseling and specialized ministries programs that also have a lower cost than 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. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

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 in the Great Lakes Region” 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 in the Great Lakes Region

The colleges and universities below are the best for great lakes region master’s degree pastoral counseling students.

Top 11 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries in the Great Lakes Region

#1

Moody Bible Institute

Chicago, Illinois
#3 in overall quality

Out of the 11 schools in the Best Value Pastoral Counseling Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Moody Bible Institute landed the #1 spot on the list. Moody Bible Institute is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 7 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Moody Theological Seminary and Graduate School not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Moody Bible Institute are $8,930.

Read more about Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries at Moody Theological Seminary and Graduate School

#4 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Grace College and Theological Seminary. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Pastoral Counseling Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region. 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 #4 on our “Best Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Grace College are $7,872, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Grace College Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Report

#3

Olivet Nazarene University

Bourbonnais, Illinois
#5 in overall quality

Out of the 11 schools in the Best Value Pastoral Counseling Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Olivet Nazarene University landed the #3 spot on the list. Olivet Nazarene University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Bourbonnais, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 7 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Olivet Nazarene also made our “Best Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #5. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Olivet Nazarene are $13,393.

Full Olivet Nazarene University Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Report

#4

Maranatha Baptist University

Watertown, Wisconsin
#7 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Maranatha Baptist University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Pastoral Counseling Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region. This small school is located in Watertown, Wisconsin, and it awarded 7 masters’s pastoral counseling degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree pastoral counseling students list, MBU has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at MBU are $7,010, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries at MBU

#5

Loyola University Chicago

Chicago, Illinois

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Loyola University Chicago. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Pastoral Counseling Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Loyola Chicago is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 37 masters’s pastoral counseling degrees in 2019-2020.

Loyola Chicago not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Loyola Chicago are $19,154, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries at Loyola Chicago

Indiana Wesleyan University landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Pastoral Counseling Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Marion, Indiana, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 7 degrees to qualified masters’s pastoral counseling students in 2019-2020.

IWU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” 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

#7

Andrews University

Berrien Springs, Michigan
#2 in overall quality

With a ranking of #7, Andrews University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Pastoral Counseling Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Andrews is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Berrien Springs, Michigan. It awarded 58 masters’s pastoral counseling degrees in 2019-2020.

Andrews also made our “Best Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #2. Average graduate tuition and fees at Andrews are $28,910, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries at Andrews University

#8

Cornerstone University

Grand Rapids, Michigan
#8 in overall quality

Cornerstone University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Pastoral Counseling Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #8. Located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 22 diplomas to qualified masters’s pastoral counseling students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree pastoral counseling students list, Cornerstone has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Cornerstone are $14,710, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries at Cornerstone University

#10 in overall quality

Trinity International University - Illinois landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Pastoral Counseling Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking. TIU Illinois is a private not-for-profit institution located in Deerfield, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 3 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

TIU Illinois also made our “Best Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #10. Average graduate tuition and fees at Trinity International University - Illinois are $17,780, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Trinity International University - Illinois Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Report

#9 in overall quality

Garrett - Evangelical Theological Seminary did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Pastoral Counseling Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #10. This small school is located in Evanston, Illinois, and it awarded 2 masters’s pastoral counseling degrees in 2019-2020.

Garrett - Evangelical Theological Seminary did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Garrett - Evangelical Theological Seminary are $22,747.

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

With a ranking of #11, Methodist Theological School in Ohio did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Pastoral Counseling Schools for a Master’s in the Great Lakes Region list. Methodist Theological School in Ohio is located in Delaware, Ohio and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 2 masters’s pastoral counseling degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our great lakes region master’s degree pastoral counseling students list, MTSO has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Master’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at MTSO are $25,240, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries at MTSO

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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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