2027 Best Value Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Schools in the The Plains States 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.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 6 schools to find the best return on investment for pastoral counseling & specialized ministries students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Schools in the The Plains States 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 Ozark Christian College this year. Ozark Christian College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Joplin. Students from in state pay about $16,000 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for pastoral counseling & specialized ministries graduates is $23,500. Early-career pastoral counseling & specialized ministries graduates make about $26,422. That is a strong return on a $23,500 median debt. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value pastoral counseling & specialized ministries schools. Located in the city of Kansas City, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,530. Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries graduates carry a median of $15,559 in student loans. Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries graduates of Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary earn a median of $55,308 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,559 median debt. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
North Central University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value pastoral counseling & specialized ministries schools. North Central University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Minneapolis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $32,220. Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries graduates carry a median of $26,750 in student loans. Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries graduates of North Central University earn a median of $27,370 early in their careers. Set against $26,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. North Central University admits about 99% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in pastoral counseling & specialized ministries will find it at Crown College, which ranked #4. Located in the rural area of Saint Bonifacius, Crown College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $31,410 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for pastoral counseling & specialized ministries graduates is $27,000. Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries graduates of Crown College earn a median of $26,538 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 23%.
A rank of #5 makes Bethel University Minnesota one of the best values for pastoral counseling & specialized ministries. Bethel University Minnesota is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Paul. In-state tuition and fees average $44,226. Students borrow a median of $25,639 to complete the pastoral counseling & specialized ministries program here. 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. The acceptance rate is 88%.
University Of St Thomas Minnesota came in at #6 for value in pastoral counseling & specialized ministries this year. University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. In-state tuition and fees average $54,398. Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries graduates carry a median of $23,923 in student loans. Early-career pastoral counseling & specialized ministries graduates make about $65,183. Set against $23,923 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of St Thomas Minnesota admits about 85% of applicants.
Narrow Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Schools by State
More Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Rankings
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 · 6 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.
