2026 Best Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Master’s Degree Schools
Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
College Factual analyzed 278 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best pastoral counseling & specialized ministries schools.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries in the United States
See the highest-ranked pastoral counseling & specialized ministries schools offering a master’s degree below.
Top Schools in Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries
University Of St Thomas Minnesota tops our 2026 ranking of the best pastoral counseling & specialized ministries schools. Located in the city of Saint Paul, University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 77% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 15 pastoral counseling & specialized ministries degrees were awarded at University Of St Thomas Minnesota in the most recent year. Students who receive their pastoral counseling & specialized ministries degree from University Of St Thomas Minnesota earn around $65,183 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,923.
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Students looking for a strong pastoral counseling & specialized ministries program will find one at Loyola Marymount University, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Los Angeles, Loyola Marymount University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 79% of students finish within six years. About 11 pastoral counseling & specialized ministries degrees were awarded at Loyola Marymount University in the most recent year. Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries graduates of Loyola Marymount University earn a median of $52,935 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,248.
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Andrews University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in pastoral counseling & specialized ministries, ranking #3. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Berrien Springs. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. Andrews University awarded about 52 pastoral counseling & specialized ministries degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their pastoral counseling & specialized ministries degree from Andrews University earn around $57,865 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,314.
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Bethel University Minnesota is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in pastoral counseling & specialized ministries, landing the #4 spot this year. Bethel University Minnesota is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Paul. Roughly 71% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 25 pastoral counseling & specialized ministries students who graduated with this degree at Bethel University Minnesota in the most recent data year. Students who receive their pastoral counseling & specialized ministries degree from Bethel University Minnesota earn around $45,641 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,639 to complete this degree.
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The Masters College And Seminary is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in pastoral counseling & specialized ministries, landing the #5 spot this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Santa Clarita. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. There were roughly 65 pastoral counseling & specialized ministries students who graduated with this degree at The Masters College And Seminary in the most recent data year. Students who receive their pastoral counseling & specialized ministries degree from The Masters College And Seminary earn around $46,541 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,089 to complete this degree.
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Abilene Christian University earned the #6 position for pastoral counseling & specialized ministries this year. Set in the city of Abilene, Abilene Christian University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 59% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 26 pastoral counseling & specialized ministries degrees were awarded at Abilene Christian University in the most recent year. Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries graduates of Abilene Christian University earn a median of $56,463 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,772.
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The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary landed the #7 spot for pastoral counseling & specialized ministries this year. Located in the city of Louisville, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 35% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 41 pastoral counseling & specialized ministries degrees were awarded at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in the most recent year. Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries graduates of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary earn a median of $74,388 early in their careers.
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Vanguard University Of Southern California ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best pastoral counseling & specialized ministries schools. Set in the city of Costa Mesa, Vanguard University Of Southern California is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 14 pastoral counseling & specialized ministries students who graduated with this degree at Vanguard University Of Southern California in the most recent data year. Students who receive their pastoral counseling & specialized ministries degree from Vanguard University Of Southern California earn around $80,727 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,111 to complete this degree.
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University Of St Thomas Texas came in at #9 for pastoral counseling & specialized ministries this year. Located in the city of Houston, University Of St Thomas Texas is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. University Of St Thomas Texas awarded about 25 pastoral counseling & specialized ministries degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, pastoral counseling & specialized ministries degree recipients from University Of St Thomas Texas generally make around $58,265. Typical student debt for the program is $23,628.
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Loyola University Chicago placed #10 among the best pastoral counseling & specialized ministries schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. Loyola University Chicago graduates 75% of students within six years. About 56 pastoral counseling & specialized ministries degrees were awarded at Loyola University Chicago in the most recent year. Graduates of the pastoral counseling & specialized ministries program make about $46,241 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,521.
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Biola University placed #11 among the best pastoral counseling & specialized ministries schools. Located in the suburb of La Mirada, Biola University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Biola University graduates 68% of students within six years. About 10 pastoral counseling & specialized ministries degrees were awarded at Biola University in the most recent year. Graduates of the pastoral counseling & specialized ministries program make about $45,003 in their early career. Biola University graduates carry a median of $25,308 in student loans.
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Milligan College earned the #12 position for pastoral counseling & specialized ministries this year. Set in the suburb of Milligan, Milligan College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 12 pastoral counseling & specialized ministries students who graduated with this degree at Milligan College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their pastoral counseling & specialized ministries degree from Milligan College earn around $64,327 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,150.
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Maranatha Baptist Bible College placed #13 among the best pastoral counseling & specialized ministries schools. Maranatha Baptist Bible College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Watertown. The six-year graduation rate is 64%. There were roughly 34 pastoral counseling & specialized ministries students who graduated with this degree at Maranatha Baptist Bible College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, pastoral counseling & specialized ministries degree recipients from Maranatha Baptist Bible College generally make around $56,298.
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Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary earned the #14 position for pastoral counseling & specialized ministries this year. Set in the city of Kansas City, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary graduates 64% of students within six years. There were roughly 28 pastoral counseling & specialized ministries students who graduated with this degree at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, pastoral counseling & specialized ministries degree recipients from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary generally make around $55,308. Typical student debt for the program is $15,559.
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Grace College And Theological Seminary came in at #15 for pastoral counseling & specialized ministries this year. Located in the town of Winona Lake, Grace College And Theological Seminary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 28 pastoral counseling & specialized ministries students who graduated with this degree at Grace College And Theological Seminary in the most recent data year. Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries graduates of Grace College And Theological Seminary earn a median of $43,966 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,500.
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New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary came in at #16 for pastoral counseling & specialized ministries this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New Orleans. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 33 pastoral counseling & specialized ministries students who graduated with this degree at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in the most recent data year.
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Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary earned the #17 position for pastoral counseling & specialized ministries this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Wake Forest. Roughly 17% of students complete a degree within six years here. Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary awarded about 12 pastoral counseling & specialized ministries degrees in the most recent data year. Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries graduates of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary earn a median of $54,863 early in their careers.
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Neumann University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best pastoral counseling & specialized ministries schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Aston. Neumann University graduates 53% of students within six years. There were roughly 14 pastoral counseling & specialized ministries students who graduated with this degree at Neumann University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the pastoral counseling & specialized ministries program make about $56,542 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $28,450 to complete this degree.
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Dallas Theological Seminary landed the #19 spot for pastoral counseling & specialized ministries this year. Set in the city of Dallas, Dallas Theological Seminary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 56 pastoral counseling & specialized ministries degrees were awarded at Dallas Theological Seminary in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, pastoral counseling & specialized ministries degree recipients from Dallas Theological Seminary generally make around $45,207.
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Southeastern University came in at #20 for pastoral counseling & specialized ministries this year. Located in the city of Lakeland, Southeastern University is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 44% of students complete a degree within six years here. Southeastern University awarded about 27 pastoral counseling & specialized ministries degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, pastoral counseling & specialized ministries degree recipients from Southeastern University generally make around $35,209. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000.
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Amridge University earned the #21 position for pastoral counseling & specialized ministries this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Montgomery. Roughly 100% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 11 pastoral counseling & specialized ministries degrees were awarded at Amridge University in the most recent year. Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries graduates of Amridge University earn a median of $46,125 early in their careers.
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Dallas Baptist University ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best pastoral counseling & specialized ministries schools. Located in the city of Dallas, Dallas Baptist University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 58% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 28 pastoral counseling & specialized ministries students who graduated with this degree at Dallas Baptist University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the pastoral counseling & specialized ministries program make about $40,502 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,819 to complete this degree.
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Luther Rice University And Seminary came in at #23 for pastoral counseling & specialized ministries this year. Luther Rice University And Seminary is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Lithonia. There were roughly 23 pastoral counseling & specialized ministries students who graduated with this degree at Luther Rice University And Seminary in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, pastoral counseling & specialized ministries degree recipients from Luther Rice University And Seminary generally make around $38,760. Typical student debt for the program is $36,730.
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Regent University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best pastoral counseling & specialized ministries schools. Regent University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Virginia Beach. Regent University graduates 58% of students within six years. About 10 pastoral counseling & specialized ministries degrees were awarded at Regent University in the most recent year. Graduates of the pastoral counseling & specialized ministries program make about $33,407 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $35,500 to complete this degree.
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Naropa University earned the #25 position for pastoral counseling & specialized ministries this year. Naropa University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boulder. Naropa University graduates 37% of students within six years. Naropa University awarded about 13 pastoral counseling & specialized ministries degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the pastoral counseling & specialized ministries program make about $27,750 in their early career. Naropa University graduates carry a median of $33,250 in student loans.
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Rest of the Top 30 Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s pastoral counseling & specialized ministries ranking:
Other Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries rankings across degree levels:
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 278 schools evaluated.
- 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.
