2026 Best Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Schools in Tennessee

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.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 12 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for pastoral counseling & specialized ministries students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

• Best Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Schools in Tennessee

Best Schools for Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries in Tennessee

If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the pastoral counseling & specialized ministries degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries

1

Milligan College
Milligan, TN

12 Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Degrees Awarded

$64,327 Median Starting Salary

Our analysis ranked Milligan College the best school in the country for a degree in pastoral counseling & specialized ministries. Set in the suburb of Milligan, Milligan College is a small private not-for-profit institution. About 63% of students finish within six years. About 12 pastoral counseling & specialized ministries degrees were awarded at Milligan College in the most recent year. Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries graduates of Milligan College earn a median of $64,327 early in their careers. Milligan College graduates carry a median of $26,150 in student loans. More information about a degree in pastoral counseling & specialized ministries from Milligan College

2

Lee University
Cleveland, TN

Doctoral Degree Highest Degree Type

72 Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Degrees Awarded

$35,189 Median Starting Salary

Lee University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in pastoral counseling & specialized ministries, landing the #2 spot this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Cleveland. Lee University graduates 63% of students within six years. There were roughly 72 pastoral counseling & specialized ministries students who graduated with this degree at Lee University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, pastoral counseling & specialized ministries degree recipients from Lee University generally make around $35,189. Students borrow a median of $28,750 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in pastoral counseling & specialized ministries from Lee University

Notes and References

The ranking above is published 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 · 12 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.