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2023 Most Focused Master’s Degree Colleges for Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries

143 Ranked Colleges
1,191 Degrees Awarded
$38,497 Avg Salary
Schools for a Master's Highly Focused on Pastoral Counseling Major

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Pastoral Counseling Major” ranking.

Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries is the 171st most popular major in the country with 3,116 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, pastoral counseling and specialized ministries graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $31,592 and had an average of $26,577 in loans still to pay off.

At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 1,191 pastoral counseling and specialized ministries graduates with average earnings and debt of $58,425 and $0 respectively.

This year’s “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Pastoral Counseling Major” ranking analyzed 143 colleges that offered a degree in pastoral counseling and specialized ministries. The colleges and universities that top this list are recognized because their pastoral counseling and specialized ministries program is one of the largest majors offered at the school.

Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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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 “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Pastoral Counseling Major” list to help you make the college decision.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Pastoral Counseling Major

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

Top 25 Most Focused Master’s Degree Colleges for Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries

1
Bethel Seminary - San Diego crest
Bethel Seminary - San Diego
San Diego, California

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Bethel Seminary - San Diego. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Pastoral Counseling Major list. Bethel Seminary - San Diego is located in San Diego, California and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 18 masters’s pastoral counseling degrees to qualified students.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Bethel Seminary - San Diego Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Report

2

Out of the 143 schools in the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Pastoral Counseling Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest landed the #2 spot on the list. Austin, Texas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s pastoral counseling degrees to 21 students in 2020-2021.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Report

3

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Family of Faith Christian University. The school came in at #3 for the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Pastoral Counseling Major. Located in Shawnee, Oklahoma, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 5 degrees to qualified masters’s pastoral counseling students in 2020-2021.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 4 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read full report on Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries at Family of Faith Christian University

4

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Winebrenner Theological Seminary. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Pastoral Counseling Major list. Winebrenner Theological Seminary is a small school located in Findlay, Ohio that handed out 6 masters’s pastoral counseling degrees in 2020-2021.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

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

5
Westminster Theological Seminary crest
Westminster Theological Seminary
Glenside, Pennsylvania

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Westminster Theological Seminary. The school came in at #5 for the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Pastoral Counseling Major. Westminster Theological Seminary is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Glenside, Pennsylvania. It awarded 58 masters’s pastoral counseling degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

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

6

Urshan Graduate School of Theology came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Pastoral Counseling Major ranking. This small school is located in Florissant, Missouri, and it awarded 8 masters’s pastoral counseling degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read full report on Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries at Urshan Graduate School of Theology

7

With a ranking of #7, Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Pastoral Counseling Major list. Austin, Texas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s pastoral counseling degrees to 8 students in 2020-2021.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read full report on Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary

8

With a ranking of #8, Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Pastoral Counseling Major list. Louisville Seminary is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Louisville, Kentucky. It awarded 9 masters’s pastoral counseling degrees in 2020-2021.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary

9

Bakke Graduate University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Pastoral Counseling Major ranking, coming in at #9. BGU is a small school located in Dallas, Texas that handed out 4 masters’s pastoral counseling degrees in 2020-2021.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Bakke Graduate University Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Report

10
Universidad Pentecostal Mizpa crest
Universidad Pentecostal Mizpa
Rio Piedras, <nil>

Universidad Pentecostal Mizpa landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Pastoral Counseling Major ranking. Universidad Pentecostal Mizpa is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Rio Piedras, . It awarded 7 masters’s pastoral counseling degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries at Universidad Pentecostal Mizpa

11
World Mission University crest
World Mission University
Los Angeles, California

World Mission University ranked #11 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Pastoral Counseling Major list. World Mission University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 22 masters’s pastoral counseling degrees in 2020-2021.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read full report on Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries at World Mission University

12

Charlotte Christian College and Theological Seminary did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Pastoral Counseling Major ranking, coming in at #12. This small school is located in Charlotte, North Carolina, and it awarded 7 masters’s pastoral counseling degrees in 2020-2021.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read more about Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries at CCCTS

12

Shasta Bible College and Graduate School ranked #12 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Pastoral Counseling Major list. This small school is located in Redding, California, and it awarded 2 masters’s pastoral counseling degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 100%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 2 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Full Shasta Bible College and Graduate School Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Report

14

Luther Rice College & Seminary came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Pastoral Counseling Major ranking. This small school is located in Lithonia, Georgia, and it awarded 28 masters’s pastoral counseling degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Luther Rice Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Report

15
New Brunswick Theological Seminary crest
New Brunswick Theological Seminary
New Brunswick, New Jersey

New Brunswick Theological Seminary landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Pastoral Counseling Major ranking. Located in New Brunswick, New Jersey, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 4 degrees to qualified masters’s pastoral counseling students in 2020-2021.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read full report on Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries at New Brunswick Theological Seminary

16
UWest crest
University of the West
Rosemead, California

University of the West ranked #16 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Pastoral Counseling Major list. University of the West is located in Rosemead, California and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 10 masters’s pastoral counseling degrees to qualified students.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Full UWest Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Report

17

Dallas Theological Seminary landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Pastoral Counseling Major ranking. Located in Dallas, Texas, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 61 degrees to qualified masters’s pastoral counseling students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

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

18
Gordon - Conwell Seminary crest
Gordon - Conwell Theological Seminary
South Hamilton, Massachusetts

Gordon - Conwell Theological Seminary did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Pastoral Counseling Major ranking, coming in at #18. Located in South Hamilton, Massachusetts, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 44 diplomas to qualified masters’s pastoral counseling students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read full report on Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries at Gordon - Conwell Theological Seminary

19

New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Pastoral Counseling Major ranking. Located in New Orleans, Louisiana, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 70 degrees to qualified masters’s pastoral counseling students in 2020-2021.

Read more about Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

20
Mount St. Mary's Seminary crest
Athenaeum of Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio

Athenaeum of Ohio came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Pastoral Counseling Major ranking. Mount St. Mary’s Seminary is located in Cincinnati, Ohio and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 3 masters’s pastoral counseling degrees to qualified students.

Full Mount St. Mary’s Seminary Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Report

21
North American Baptist Seminary crest
Sioux Falls Seminary
Sioux Falls, South Dakota

With a ranking of #21, Sioux Falls Seminary did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Pastoral Counseling Major list. North American Baptist Seminary is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. It awarded 6 masters’s pastoral counseling degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 1 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read full report on Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries at North American Baptist Seminary

22

Academy for Jewish Religion - California landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Pastoral Counseling Major ranking. Academy for Jewish Religion - California is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1 masters’s pastoral counseling degrees to qualified students.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries at Academy for Jewish Religion - California

22
UFTL crest
University of Fort Lauderdale
Lauderhill, Florida

University of Fort Lauderdale did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Pastoral Counseling Major ranking, coming in at #22. University of Fort Lauderdale is located in Lauderhill, Florida and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1 masters’s pastoral counseling degrees to qualified students.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Full UFTL Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Report

24
Claremont School of Theology crest
Claremont School of Theology
Claremont, California

Claremont School of Theology ranked #24 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Pastoral Counseling Major list. Claremont School of Theology is a small school located in Claremont, California that handed out 9 masters’s pastoral counseling degrees in 2020-2021.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries at Claremont School of Theology

25
Iliff School of Theology crest
Iliff School of Theology
Denver, Colorado

With a ranking of #25, Iliff School of Theology did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Pastoral Counseling Major list. Iliff School of Theology is a private not-for-profit institution located in Denver, Colorado. The school has a small population, and it awarded 4 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read full report on Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries at Iliff School of Theology

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