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2023 Best Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Master’s Degree Colleges for Veterans in the Southeast Region

10 Ranked Colleges
249 Degrees Awarded
$27,400 Avg Cost*
Most Veteran Friendly in the Southeast Region for Pastoral Counseling for a Master's

When it comes to choosing a college, veterans have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Most Veteran Friendly in the Southeast Region for Pastoral Counseling for a Master’s” ranking - to help you make that decision.

In 2020-2021, 3,116 people earned their degree in pastoral counseling and specialized ministries, making the major the 171st most popular in the United States. 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.

Across the Southeast region, there were 806 pastoral counseling and specialized ministries graduates with average earnings and debt of $29,307 and $26,969 respectively.

For this year’s “Most Veteran Friendly in the Southeast Region for Pastoral Counseling for a Master’s” ranking, we looked at 10 colleges that offer a degree in pastoral counseling and specialized ministries. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality pastoral counseling and specialized ministries programs as well as strong veteran support.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as veteran satisfaction, veteran affordability, and overall quality of the pastoral counseling and specialized ministries program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

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Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Most Veteran Friendly in the Southeast Region for Pastoral Counseling for a Master’s” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Most Veteran Friendly in the Southeast Region for Pastoral Counseling for a Master’s

The following schools top our list of the Best “Most Veteran Friendly in the Southeast Region for Pastoral Counseling for a Master’s”.

Top 10 Best Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Master’s Degree Colleges for Veterans in the Southeast Region

1
Harding crest
Harding University
Searcy, Arkansas

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Harding University. The school came in at #1 for the Most Veteran Friendly in the Southeast Region for Pastoral Counseling for a Master’s. Searcy, Arkansas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s pastoral counseling degrees to 1 students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Harding, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Master’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking.Our most recent data shows that 3 of the 4,617 students enrolled at Harding University were GI Bill® students, of which 2 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $5,932. To help with additional expenses, 0 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is [DEFAULT_RATE_STRING]%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.

Full Harding University Veteran Student Life Report

2
CIU crest
Columbia International University
Columbia, South Carolina

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Columbia International University. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in the Southeast Region for Pastoral Counseling for a Master’s list. Located in Columbia, South Carolina, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 4 diplomas to qualified masters’s pastoral counseling students in 2020-2021.

CIU also made our “Best Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Master’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #3.Our most recent data shows that 86 of the 2,098 students enrolled at CIU were GI Bill® students, of which 50 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $8,392. In addition to receiving other benefits, 3 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of [DEFAULT_RATE_STRING]% 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%.

[Read full report on veteran student life at Columbia International University]](/colleges/columbia-international-university/student-life/veterans/)

3
Lenoir - Rhyne University crest
Lenoir - Rhyne University
Hickory, North Carolina

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Lenoir - Rhyne University. The school came in at #3 for the Most Veteran Friendly in the Southeast Region for Pastoral Counseling for a Master’s. Hickory, North Carolina is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s pastoral counseling degrees to 3 students in 2020-2021.

Lenoir - Rhyne University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Master’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list.Our most recent data shows that 64 of the 2,686 students enrolled at Lenoir - Rhyne University were GI Bill® students, of which 17 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $10,408. On top of their other funding sources, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Lenoir - Rhyne University offers credit for military training for eligible students.

[Read full report on veteran student life at Lenoir - Rhyne University]](/colleges/lenoir-rhyne-university/student-life/veterans/)

4
SEU crest
Southeastern University
Lakeland, Florida

Out of the 10 schools in the Most Veteran Friendly in the Southeast Region for Pastoral Counseling for a Master’s that were part of this year’s ranking, Southeastern University landed the #4 spot on the list. Lakeland, Florida is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s pastoral counseling degrees to 12 students in 2020-2021.

SEU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Master’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list.According to our most recent data, Southeastern University supports 9,546 students, and 7 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 5 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $2,265. In addition to receiving other benefits, 0 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Southeastern University does offer credit for military training for eligible students.

[Read full report on veteran student life at SEU]](/colleges/southeastern-university/student-life/veterans/)

5
Lee University crest
Lee University
Cleveland, Tennessee

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Lee University. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in the Southeast Region for Pastoral Counseling for a Master’s list. Lee University is located in Cleveland, Tennessee and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 7 masters’s pastoral counseling degrees to qualified students.

Lee University also made our “Best Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Master’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #5.Of the 5,204 students enrolled at Lee University, 121 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 71 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $13,028. To help with additional expenses, 0 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is [DEFAULT_RATE_STRING]%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Lee University Veteran Student Life Report

6

Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary did quite well in the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in the Southeast Region for Pastoral Counseling for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #6. This small school is located in Louisville, Kentucky, and it awarded 9 masters’s pastoral counseling degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our southeast region master’s degree vets studying pastoral counseling list, Louisville Seminary has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Master’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking.Among the 151 students enrolled at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, 2 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 1 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $3,642. To help with additional expenses, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program.

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 [DEFAULT_RATE_STRING]%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Louisville Seminary Veteran Student Life Report

7

Luther Rice College & Seminary did quite well in the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in the Southeast Region for Pastoral Counseling for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #7. Luther Rice College & Seminary is located in Lithonia, Georgia and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 28 masters’s pastoral counseling degrees to qualified students.

Luther Rice also took the #10 spot in our “Best Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Master’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking.Among the 693 students enrolled at Luther Rice, 53 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 32 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $3,146. On top of their other funding sources, 0 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Luther Rice offers credit for military training for eligible students.

Read More…

8
Emory crest
Emory University
Atlanta, Georgia

Emory University did quite well in the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in the Southeast Region for Pastoral Counseling for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #8. Located in Atlanta, Georgia, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 3 diplomas to qualified masters’s pastoral counseling students in 2020-2021.

Emory not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Master’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list.Our most recent data shows that 1 of the 13,997 students enrolled at Emory were GI Bill® students, of which 0 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $0. To help with additional expenses, 0 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of [DEFAULT_RATE_STRING]% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

[Read full report on veteran student life at Emory University]](/colleges/emory-university/student-life/veterans/)

9
TMU crest
Truett McConnell University
Cleveland, Georgia

Truett McConnell University ranked #9 on this year’s Most Veteran Friendly in the Southeast Region for Pastoral Counseling for a Master’s list. Truett McConnell University is a small school located in Cleveland, Georgia that handed out 1 masters’s pastoral counseling degrees in 2020-2021.

TMU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Master’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list.Our most recent data shows that 17 of the 2,923 students enrolled at Truett McConnell University were GI Bill® students, of which 9 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $11,937. In addition to receiving other benefits, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program.

Read More…

10

Asbury Theological Seminary came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Most Veteran Friendly in the Southeast Region for Pastoral Counseling for a Master’s ranking. Asbury Theological Seminary is a small school located in Wilmore, Kentucky that handed out 2 masters’s pastoral counseling degrees in 2020-2021.

Asbury Seminary did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Master’s Degree Schools in the Southeast Region” list.Among the 1,755 students enrolled at Asbury Theological Seminary, 10 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 8 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $5,996. In addition to receiving other benefits, 0 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program.

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. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is [DEFAULT_RATE_STRING]%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

[Read full report on veteran student life at Asbury Theological Seminary]](/colleges/asbury-theological-seminary/student-life/veterans/)

Notes and References

References

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

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