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by our College Data Analytics Team
When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Pastoral Studies/Counseling Major” ranking.
Pastoral Studies/Counseling is the 364th most popular major in the country with 1,380 degrees awarded in 2021-2022.
At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 672 pastoral studies/counseling graduates with average earnings and debt of $58,979 and $43,370 respectively.
This year’s “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Pastoral Studies/Counseling Major” ranking analyzed 89 colleges that offered a degree in pastoral studies/counseling. That schools that top this list have a program in pastoral studies/counseling in which the largest percentage of students at the school are enrolled.
See our ranking methodology to learn more.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Pastoral Studies/Counseling Major” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
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.
The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Pastoral Studies/Counseling Major”.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Pastoral Studies/Counseling Major list. Seminary of the Southwest is a small school located in Austin, Texas that handed out 5 masters’s pastoral studies/counseling degrees in 2021-2022.
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.
Full Seminary of the Southwest Pastoral Studies/Counseling Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Family of Faith Christian University. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Pastoral Studies/Counseling Major list. Family of Faith Christian University is a small school located in Shawnee, Oklahoma that handed out 5 masters’s pastoral studies/counseling degrees in 2021-2022.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary. The school came in at #4 for the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Pastoral Studies/Counseling Major. Louisville, Kentucky 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 10 students in 2021-2022.
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 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary Pastoral Studies/Counseling Report
Out of the 89 schools in the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Pastoral Studies/Counseling Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Universidad Pentecostal Mizpa landed the #5 spot on the list. Universidad Pentecostal Mizpa is a private not-for-profit institution located in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico. The school has a small population, and it awarded 4 masters’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 100%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Pastoral Studies/Counseling at Universidad Pentecostal Mizpa
Charlotte Christian College and Theological Seminary landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Pastoral Studies/Counseling Major ranking. CCCTS is a small school located in Charlotte, North Carolina that handed out 8 masters’s pastoral studies/counseling degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 5.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Read more about Pastoral Studies/Counseling at Charlotte Christian College and Theological Seminary
Luther Rice College & Seminary did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Pastoral Studies/Counseling Major ranking, coming in at #7. Luther Rice College & Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution located in Lithonia, Georgia. The school has a small population, and it awarded 22 masters’s degrees in 2021-2022.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 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 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Pastoral Studies/Counseling at Luther Rice
With a ranking of #8, New Brunswick Theological Seminary did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Pastoral Studies/Counseling Major list. New Brunswick Theological Seminary is a small private not-for-profit school situated in New Brunswick, New Jersey. It awarded 0 masters’s pastoral studies/counseling degrees in 2021-2022.
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.
Full New Brunswick Theological Seminary Pastoral Studies/Counseling Report
Dallas Theological Seminary landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Pastoral Studies/Counseling Major ranking. DTS Dallas is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Dallas, Texas. It awarded 58 masters’s pastoral studies/counseling degrees in 2021-2022.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Academy for Jewish Religion - California did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Pastoral Studies/Counseling Major ranking, coming in at #10. Academy for Jewish Religion - California is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 2 masters’s pastoral studies/counseling degrees to qualified students.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Full Academy for Jewish Religion - California Pastoral Studies/Counseling Report
Shasta Bible College and Graduate School ranked #10 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Pastoral Studies/Counseling Major list. Shasta Bible College and Graduate School is a private not-for-profit institution located in Redding, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1 masters’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 3 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Read more about Pastoral Studies/Counseling at Shasta Bible College and Graduate School
Claremont School of Theology did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Pastoral Studies/Counseling Major ranking, coming in at #12. Claremont School of Theology is a small school located in Claremont, California that handed out 0 masters’s pastoral studies/counseling degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Read full report on Pastoral Studies/Counseling at Claremont School of Theology
With a ranking of #13, Iliff School of Theology did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Pastoral Studies/Counseling Major list. Denver, Colorado 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 4 students in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Full Iliff School of Theology Pastoral Studies/Counseling Report
Andrews University ranked #14 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Pastoral Studies/Counseling Major list. Andrews is a private not-for-profit institution located in Berrien Springs, Michigan. The school has a small population, and it awarded 90 masters’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
With a ranking of #15, Pentecostal Theological Seminary did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Pastoral Studies/Counseling Major list. Located in Cleveland, Tennessee, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 12 degrees to qualified masters’s pastoral studies/counseling students in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Pastoral Studies/Counseling at Pentecostal Theological Seminary
New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary ranked #16 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Pastoral Studies/Counseling Major list. Located in New Orleans, Louisiana, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 2 diplomas to qualified masters’s pastoral studies/counseling students in 2021-2022.
Eden Theological Seminary did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Pastoral Studies/Counseling Major ranking, coming in at #17. Eden Theological Seminary is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Webster Groves, Missouri. It awarded 4 masters’s pastoral studies/counseling degrees in 2021-2022.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Read full report on Pastoral Studies/Counseling at Eden Theological Seminary
With a ranking of #18, Holy Apostles College and Seminary did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Pastoral Studies/Counseling Major list. Holy Apostles College and Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution located in Cromwell, Connecticut. The school has a small population, and it awarded 6 masters’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Full Holy Apostles College and Seminary Pastoral Studies/Counseling Report
Lancaster Bible College did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Pastoral Studies/Counseling Major ranking, coming in at #19. Lancaster Bible College is located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 21 masters’s pastoral studies/counseling degrees to qualified students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Pastoral Studies/Counseling at Lancaster Bible College
Calvary University ranked #20 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Pastoral Studies/Counseling Major list. This small school is located in Kansas City, Missouri, and it awarded 1 masters’s pastoral studies/counseling degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Welch College came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Pastoral Studies/Counseling Major ranking. Welch College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Gallatin, Tennessee. It awarded 1 masters’s pastoral studies/counseling degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Amridge University ranked #22 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Pastoral Studies/Counseling Major list. Amridge University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Montgomery, Alabama. The school has a small population, and it awarded 12 masters’s degrees in 2021-2022.
Catholic Theological Union at Chicago came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Pastoral Studies/Counseling Major ranking. This small school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 2 masters’s pastoral studies/counseling degrees in 2021-2022.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Full Catholic Theological Union Pastoral Studies/Counseling Report
With a ranking of #23, Garrett - Evangelical Theological Seminary did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Pastoral Studies/Counseling Major list. Garrett - Evangelical Theological Seminary is located in Evanston, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1 masters’s pastoral studies/counseling degrees to qualified students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.1% 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%. 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.
Full Garrett - Evangelical Theological Seminary Pastoral Studies/Counseling Report
University of Saint Mary of the Lake landed the #25 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Pastoral Studies/Counseling Major ranking. Located in Mundelein, Illinois, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 3 degrees to qualified masters’s pastoral studies/counseling students in 2021-2022.
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.
Read full report on Pastoral Studies/Counseling at University of St. Mary of the Lake
Read more about our data sources and methodologies