2022 Best Value Pastoral Studies/Counseling Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Pastoral Studies/Counseling Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking is part of that endeavor.
In 2019-2020, 1,433 people earned their degree in pastoral studies/counseling, making the major the 356th most popular in the United States.
At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 650 pastoral studies/counseling graduates with average earnings and debt of $56,398 and $43,194 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Pastoral Studies/Counseling Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking looked at 28 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in pastoral studies/counseling. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality pastoral studies/counseling programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.
Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the pastoral studies/counseling program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
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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 “Best Value Pastoral Studies/Counseling Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k” list to help you make the college decision.
In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest 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.
Best Value Pastoral Studies/Counseling Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k
The colleges and universities below are the best for master’s degree pastoral studies/counseling students whose families make $30-$48k.
Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Pastoral Studies/Counseling (Income $30-$48k)
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Emory University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Pastoral Studies/Counseling Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k. Emory is a fairly large school located in Atlanta, Georgia that handed out 1 masters’s pastoral studies/counseling degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Emory, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Pastoral Studies/Counseling Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Emory University are $44,676, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Out of the 28 schools in the Best Value Pastoral Studies/Counseling Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Trevecca Nazarene University landed the #2 spot on the list. Trevecca Nazarene University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Nashville, Tennessee. It awarded 21 masters’s pastoral studies/counseling degrees in 2019-2020.
TNU also made our “Best Pastoral Studies/Counseling Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #5. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at TNU are $9,282.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Vanguard University of Southern California. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Pastoral Studies/Counseling Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k. This small school is located in Costa Mesa, California, and it awarded 17 masters’s pastoral studies/counseling degrees in 2019-2020.
Vanguard not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Pastoral Studies/Counseling Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Vanguard are $16,180, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Lancaster Bible College. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Pastoral Studies/Counseling Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. Lancaster Bible College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The school has a small population, and it awarded 21 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Lancaster Bible College also took the #8 spot in our “Best Pastoral Studies/Counseling Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Lancaster Bible College are $11,460, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read more about Pastoral Studies/Counseling at Lancaster Bible College
Out of the 28 schools in the Best Value Pastoral Studies/Counseling Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Freed-Hardeman University landed the #5 spot on the list. Freed-Hardeman University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Henderson, Tennessee. The school has a small population, and it awarded 2 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
FHU also made our “Best Pastoral Studies/Counseling Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #20. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at FHU are $10,980.
Harding University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Pastoral Studies/Counseling Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Harding University is located in Searcy, Arkansas and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 4 masters’s pastoral studies/counseling degrees to qualified students.
Harding not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 on our “Best Pastoral Studies/Counseling Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Harding University are $11,928.
With a ranking of #7, Andrews University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Pastoral Studies/Counseling Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. This small school is located in Berrien Springs, Michigan, and it awarded 54 masters’s pastoral studies/counseling degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our master’s degree pastoral studies/counseling students whose families make $30-$48k list, Andrews has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Pastoral Studies/Counseling Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Andrews University are $28,910, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Pastoral Studies/Counseling Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #8. Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary is a small school located in Kansas City, Missouri that handed out 5 masters’s pastoral studies/counseling degrees in 2019-2020.
MBTS also made our “Best Pastoral Studies/Counseling Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #24. Average graduate tuition and fees at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary are $6,950, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on Pastoral Studies/Counseling at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
Bethel University Minnesota landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Pastoral Studies/Counseling Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 15 diplomas to qualified masters’s pastoral studies/counseling students in 2019-2020.
Bethel University Minnesota also took the #2 spot in our “Best Pastoral Studies/Counseling Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Bethel University Minnesota are $11,700.
Read full report on Pastoral Studies/Counseling at Bethel University Minnesota
Olivet Nazarene University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Pastoral Studies/Counseling Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Olivet Nazarene University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Bourbonnais, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 5 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Olivet Nazarene did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Pastoral Studies/Counseling Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Olivet Nazarene University are $13,393, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on Pastoral Studies/Counseling at Olivet Nazarene
Grace College and Theological Seminary landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Pastoral Studies/Counseling Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Grace College and Theological Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution located in Winona Lake, Indiana. The school has a small population, and it awarded 13 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Grace College also took the #11 spot in our “Best Pastoral Studies/Counseling Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Grace College are $7,872, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read more about Pastoral Studies/Counseling at Grace College
Moody Bible Institute came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Pastoral Studies/Counseling Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 7 diplomas to qualified masters’s pastoral studies/counseling students in 2019-2020.
Moody Theological Seminary and Graduate School also made our “Best Pastoral Studies/Counseling Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #6. Average graduate tuition and fees at Moody Theological Seminary and Graduate School are $8,930, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Full Moody Bible Institute Pastoral Studies/Counseling Report
Oral Roberts University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Pastoral Studies/Counseling Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 3 degrees to qualified masters’s pastoral studies/counseling students in 2019-2020.
ORU also took the #22 spot in our “Best Pastoral Studies/Counseling Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Oral Roberts University are $12,282, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Full Oral Roberts University Pastoral Studies/Counseling Report
With a ranking of #14, Indiana Wesleyan University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Pastoral Studies/Counseling Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. IWU is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Marion, Indiana. It awarded 7 masters’s pastoral studies/counseling degrees in 2019-2020.
IWU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #16 on our “Best Pastoral Studies/Counseling Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at IWU are $13,512, but some majors have different tuition rates.
With a ranking of #15, University of St. Thomas did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Pastoral Studies/Counseling Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. UST is a small school located in Houston, Texas that handed out 2 masters’s pastoral studies/counseling degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at University of St. Thomas are $21,634, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read more about Pastoral Studies/Counseling at University of St. Thomas
Maranatha Baptist University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Pastoral Studies/Counseling Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #16. Watertown, Wisconsin is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s pastoral studies/counseling degrees to 7 students in 2019-2020.
MBU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best Pastoral Studies/Counseling Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Maranatha Baptist University are $7,010.
Northwest Nazarene University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Pastoral Studies/Counseling Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Northwest Nazarene University is located in Nampa, Idaho and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 3 masters’s pastoral studies/counseling degrees to qualified students.
NNU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #25 on our “Best Pastoral Studies/Counseling Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at NNU are $11,121, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read more about Pastoral Studies/Counseling at Northwest Nazarene University
With a ranking of #18, George Fox University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Pastoral Studies/Counseling Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. This small school is located in Newberg, Oregon, and it awarded 3 masters’s pastoral studies/counseling degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at GFU, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Pastoral Studies/Counseling Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at GFU are $14,247, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Full George Fox University Pastoral Studies/Counseling Report
Cornerstone University landed the #19 spot on the 2022 Best Value Pastoral Studies/Counseling Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Cornerstone University is located in Grand Rapids, Michigan and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 18 masters’s pastoral studies/counseling degrees to qualified students.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Cornerstone University are $14,710, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Hardin - Simmons University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Pastoral Studies/Counseling Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Abilene, Texas, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 1 degrees to qualified masters’s pastoral studies/counseling students in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Hardin - Simmons University are $14,320, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read full report on Pastoral Studies/Counseling at Hardin - Simmons
Trinity International University - Illinois came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Pastoral Studies/Counseling Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. TIU Illinois is a private not-for-profit institution located in Deerfield, Illinois. The school has a small population, and it awarded 3 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at TIU Illinois are $17,780.
Full Trinity International University - Illinois Pastoral Studies/Counseling Report
California Baptist University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Pastoral Studies/Counseling Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Riverside, California, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 7 degrees to qualified masters’s pastoral studies/counseling students in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at California Baptist University are $14,140.
Lipscomb University landed the #23 spot on the 2022 Best Value Pastoral Studies/Counseling Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This small school is located in Nashville, Tennessee, and it awarded 1 masters’s pastoral studies/counseling degrees in 2019-2020.
Lipscomb also took the #21 spot in our “Best Pastoral Studies/Counseling Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Lipscomb are $18,000, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read more about Pastoral Studies/Counseling at Lipscomb University
Seattle University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Pastoral Studies/Counseling Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #24. Seattle University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Seattle, Washington. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 15 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Seattle U, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Pastoral Studies/Counseling Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Seattle University are $14,040, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Dallas Baptist University came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Pastoral Studies/Counseling Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Dallas, Texas, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 1 diplomas to qualified masters’s pastoral studies/counseling students in 2019-2020.
DBU also took the #9 spot in our “Best Pastoral Studies/Counseling Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Dallas Baptist University are $20,204.
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Notes and References
References
- 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).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
Footnotes
- *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
- Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.
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