2027 Best Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Master’s Degree Schools
Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 30 schools to find the best for pastoral counseling & specialized ministries students.
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Best Schools for Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries in the United States
These are the top schools for a master’s degree in pastoral counseling & specialized ministries, based on student outcomes and program quality.
Top Schools in Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries
Leading the list is University Of St Thomas Minnesota, our #1 school for pastoral counseling & specialized ministries. University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. Roughly 77% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of St Thomas Minnesota awarded about 15 pastoral counseling & specialized ministries degrees in the most recent data 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. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Los Angeles. Loyola Marymount University graduates 79% of students within six years. Loyola Marymount University awarded about 10 pastoral counseling & specialized ministries degrees in the most recent data year. Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries graduates of Loyola Marymount University earn a median of $52,935 early in their careers. Loyola Marymount University graduates carry a median of $22,248 in student loans.
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California Baptist University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best pastoral counseling & specialized ministries schools. Located in the city of Riverside, California Baptist University is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 15 pastoral counseling & specialized ministries degrees were awarded at California Baptist University in the most recent year. Students who receive their pastoral counseling & specialized ministries degree from California Baptist University earn around $51,999 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $28,169 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong pastoral counseling & specialized ministries program will find one at The Masters College And Seminary, which ranked #4. Set in the suburb of Santa Clarita, The Masters College And Seminary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 55 pastoral counseling & specialized ministries students who graduated with this degree at The Masters College And Seminary in the most recent data year. Graduates of the pastoral counseling & specialized ministries program make about $46,541 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,089.
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A rank of #5 makes Andrews University one of the top schools for pastoral counseling & specialized ministries. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Berrien Springs. About 72% of students finish within six years. Andrews University awarded about 57 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. Students borrow a median of $26,314 to complete this degree.
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Olivet Nazarene University placed #6 among the best pastoral counseling & specialized ministries schools. Located in the suburb of Bourbonnais, Olivet Nazarene University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 21 pastoral counseling & specialized ministries students who graduated with this degree at Olivet Nazarene University in the most recent data year. Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries graduates of Olivet Nazarene University earn a median of $48,505 early in their careers. Olivet Nazarene University graduates carry a median of $26,797 in student loans.
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Abilene Christian University earned the #7 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. Abilene Christian University awarded about 13 pastoral counseling & specialized ministries degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, pastoral counseling & specialized ministries degree recipients from Abilene Christian University generally make around $56,463. Students borrow a median of $23,772 to complete this degree.
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The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary came in at #8 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. About 35% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 38 pastoral counseling & specialized ministries students who graduated with this degree at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in the most recent data 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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University Of St Thomas Texas earned the #9 position 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. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 31 pastoral counseling & specialized ministries degrees were awarded at University Of St Thomas Texas in the most recent year. Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries graduates of University Of St Thomas Texas earn a median of $58,265 early in their careers. University Of St Thomas Texas graduates carry a median of $23,628 in student loans.
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Vanguard University Of Southern California placed #10 among the best pastoral counseling & specialized ministries schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Costa Mesa. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. About 18 pastoral counseling & specialized ministries degrees were awarded at Vanguard University Of Southern California in the most recent year. Graduates of the pastoral counseling & specialized ministries program make about $80,727 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,111 to complete this degree.
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Loyola University Chicago landed the #11 spot for pastoral counseling & specialized ministries this year. Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 25 pastoral counseling & specialized ministries degrees were awarded at Loyola University Chicago in the most recent year. Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries graduates of Loyola University Chicago earn a median of $46,241 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,521 to complete this degree.
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Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary placed #12 among the best 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. Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary graduates 64% of students within six years. Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary awarded about 29 pastoral counseling & specialized ministries degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the pastoral counseling & specialized ministries program make about $55,308 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,559.
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Grace College And Theological Seminary came in at #13 for pastoral counseling & specialized ministries this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Winona Lake. Grace College And Theological Seminary graduates 69% of students within six years. About 36 pastoral counseling & specialized ministries degrees were awarded at Grace College And Theological Seminary in the most recent year. Students who receive their pastoral counseling & specialized ministries degree from Grace College And Theological Seminary earn around $43,966 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,500 to complete this degree.
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Lancaster Bible College came in at #14 for pastoral counseling & specialized ministries this year. Lancaster Bible College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Lancaster. About 68% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 40 pastoral counseling & specialized ministries students who graduated with this degree at Lancaster Bible College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their pastoral counseling & specialized ministries degree from Lancaster Bible College earn around $35,286 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,584 to complete this degree.
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New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary earned the #15 position for pastoral counseling & specialized ministries this year. Located in the city of New Orleans, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary graduates 70% of students within six years. 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 ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best pastoral counseling & specialized ministries schools. Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Wake Forest. Roughly 17% of students complete a degree within six years here. Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary awarded about 16 pastoral counseling & specialized ministries degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the pastoral counseling & specialized ministries program make about $54,863 in their early career.
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Dallas Theological Seminary ranked #17 on our 2027 list of the best pastoral counseling & specialized ministries schools. Set in the city of Dallas, Dallas Theological Seminary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 57 pastoral counseling & specialized ministries degrees were awarded at Dallas Theological Seminary in the most recent year. Graduates of the pastoral counseling & specialized ministries program make about $45,207 in their early career.
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Liberty University ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best pastoral counseling & specialized ministries schools. Located in the city of Lynchburg, Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 163 pastoral counseling & specialized ministries degrees were awarded at Liberty University in the most recent year. Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries graduates of Liberty University earn a median of $34,083 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,750 to complete this degree.
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Indiana Wesleyan University came in at #19 for pastoral counseling & specialized ministries this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the town of Marion. The six-year graduation rate is 66%. About 30 pastoral counseling & specialized ministries degrees were awarded at Indiana Wesleyan University in the most recent year. Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries graduates of Indiana Wesleyan University earn a median of $38,272 early in their careers. Indiana Wesleyan University graduates carry a median of $24,221 in student loans.
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Ozark Christian College earned the #20 position for pastoral counseling & specialized ministries this year. Ozark Christian College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Joplin. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. Ozark Christian College awarded about 54 pastoral counseling & specialized ministries degrees in the most recent data year. Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries graduates of Ozark Christian College earn a median of $26,422 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,500 to complete this degree.
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Amridge University ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best pastoral counseling & specialized ministries schools. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Montgomery. Amridge University graduates 100% of students within six years. There were roughly 12 pastoral counseling & specialized ministries students who graduated with this degree at Amridge University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the pastoral counseling & specialized ministries program make about $46,125 in their early career.
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Holy Apostles College And Seminary earned the #22 position for pastoral counseling & specialized ministries this year. Holy Apostles College And Seminary is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Cromwell. About 15% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 13 pastoral counseling & specialized ministries students who graduated with this degree at Holy Apostles College And Seminary in the most recent data year.
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Dallas Baptist University came in at #23 for pastoral counseling & specialized ministries this year. Dallas Baptist University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Dallas. About 58% of students finish within six years. About 27 pastoral counseling & specialized ministries degrees were awarded at Dallas Baptist University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, pastoral counseling & specialized ministries degree recipients from Dallas Baptist University generally make around $40,502. Students borrow a median of $22,819 to complete this degree.
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Southeastern University landed the #24 spot for pastoral counseling & specialized ministries this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Lakeland. Roughly 44% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 18 pastoral counseling & specialized ministries students who graduated with this degree at Southeastern University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their pastoral counseling & specialized ministries degree from Southeastern University earn around $35,209 in the first couple years of their career. Southeastern University graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
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Luther Rice University And Seminary placed #25 among the best pastoral counseling & specialized ministries schools. Located in the suburb of Lithonia, Luther Rice University And Seminary is a small private not-for-profit university. Luther Rice University And Seminary awarded about 17 pastoral counseling & specialized ministries degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their pastoral counseling & specialized ministries degree from Luther Rice University And Seminary earn around $38,760 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $36,730.
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Rest of the Top 30 Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong pastoral counseling & specialized ministries education:
Other Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Degree Levels
Explore the best pastoral counseling & specialized ministries schools at other degree levels:
View All Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 30 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.
