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by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Schools Highly Focused on Pastoral Counseling Major” ranking is part of that endeavor.
Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries is the 171st most popular major in the country with 3,465 degrees awarded in 2021-2022. In , pastoral counseling & specialized ministries graduates who were awarded their degree in , earned an average of $31,317 and had an average of $29,032 in loans still to pay off.
For this year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Pastoral Counseling Major” ranking, we looked at 260 colleges that offer a degree in pastoral counseling & specialized ministries. This a ranking of the schools where the largest percentage of students has enrolled in pastoral counseling & specialized ministries.
See our ranking methodology to learn more.
The pastoral counseling school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Schools Highly Focused on Pastoral Counseling Major”.
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. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.
The colleges and universities below are the best for pastoral counseling students.
Out of the 260 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Pastoral Counseling Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Universidad Pentecostal Mizpa landed the #2 spot on the list. Universidad Pentecostal Mizpa is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico. It awarded 22 ’s pastoral counseling degrees in 2021-2022.
With a freshman retention rate of 100%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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.
Read more about Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries at Universidad Pentecostal Mizpa
Out of the 260 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Pastoral Counseling Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Bakke Graduate University landed the #3 spot on the list. Bakke Graduate University is located in Dallas, Texas and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 22 ’s pastoral counseling degrees to qualified students.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Full BGU Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Ozark Christian College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Pastoral Counseling Major list. Ozark Christian College is a small school located in Joplin, Missouri that handed out 89 ’s pastoral counseling degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries at Ozark Christian College
Out of the 260 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Pastoral Counseling Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Charlotte Christian College and Theological Seminary landed the #5 spot on the list. Charlotte, North Carolina is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s pastoral counseling degrees to 17 students in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 5.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Full CCCTS Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Report
Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Pastoral Counseling Major ranking. Austin, Texas is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s pastoral counseling degrees to 5 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 more about Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries at Seminary of the Southwest
With a ranking of #7, Valor Christian College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Pastoral Counseling Major list. Valor Christian College is located in Canal Winchester, Ohio and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 38 ’s pastoral counseling degrees to qualified students.
Full Valor Christian College Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Report
Family of Faith Christian University landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Pastoral Counseling Major ranking. Shawnee, Oklahoma is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s pastoral counseling degrees to 12 students in 2021-2022.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Full Family of Faith Christian University Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Report
McCormick Theological Seminary landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Pastoral Counseling Major ranking. McCormick Theological Seminary is a small school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 18 ’s pastoral counseling degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.8%, 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.
Full McCormick Theological Seminary Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Report
Winebrenner Theological Seminary came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Pastoral Counseling Major ranking. This small school is located in Findlay, Ohio, and it awarded 6 ’s pastoral 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.
Read more about Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries at Winebrenner Theological Seminary
Westminster Theological Seminary landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Pastoral Counseling Major ranking. Glenside, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s pastoral counseling degrees to 91 students in 2021-2022.
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.
Read more about Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries at Westminster Theological Seminary
Pacific Bible College ranked #12 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Pastoral Counseling Major list. Medford, Oregon is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s pastoral counseling degrees to 0 students in 2021-2022.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 4 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read full report on Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries at Pacific Bible College
Oak Hills Christian College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Pastoral Counseling Major ranking, coming in at #13. Oak Hills Christian College is a small school located in Bemidji, Minnesota that handed out 5 ’s pastoral counseling degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Read full report on Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries at OHCC
With a ranking of #14, Grace Christian University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Pastoral Counseling Major list. Grace Christian University is located in Wyoming, Michigan and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 53 ’s pastoral counseling degrees to qualified students.
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%.
Read full report on Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries at Grace
Urshan Graduate School of Theology did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Pastoral Counseling Major ranking, coming in at #15. Urshan Graduate School of Theology is located in Wentzville, Missouri and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 5 ’s pastoral 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.
Arlington Baptist University ranked #16 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Pastoral Counseling Major list. Arlington Baptist University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Arlington, Texas. The school has a small population, and it awarded 7 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.
Full ABU Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Report
With a ranking of #17, World Mission University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Pastoral Counseling Major list. Los Angeles, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s pastoral counseling degrees to 27 students in 2021-2022.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Read more about Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries at World Mission University
Northern Baptist Theological Seminary did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Pastoral Counseling Major ranking, coming in at #18. Northern Baptist Theological Seminary is located in Lisle, Illinois and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 0 ’s pastoral counseling degrees to qualified students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.9% 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%. 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 more about Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries at Northern Seminary
Union Bible College landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Pastoral Counseling Major ranking. Union Bible College is located in Westfield, Indiana and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1 ’s pastoral counseling degrees to qualified students.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Read more about Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries at Union Bible College
Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Pastoral Counseling Major ranking. Located in Austin, Texas, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 21 degrees to qualified ’s pastoral counseling students 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. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Report
Pacific Rim Christian University ranked #21 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Pastoral Counseling Major list. Honolulu, Hawaii is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s pastoral counseling degrees to 6 students 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.
Read more about Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries at Pacific Rim Christian University
Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Pastoral Counseling Major ranking. Located in Louisville, Kentucky, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 10 diplomas to qualified ’s pastoral counseling students in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.9% 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%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read full report on Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries at Louisville Seminary
Universidad Teologica del Caribe landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Pastoral Counseling Major ranking. Universidad Teologica del Caribe is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico. It awarded 19 ’s pastoral counseling degrees in 2021-2022.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries at UTC
Garrett - Evangelical Theological Seminary did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Pastoral Counseling Major ranking, coming in at #24. Evanston, Illinois is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s pastoral counseling degrees to 8 students in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 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.
Baptist Bible College ranked #25 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Pastoral Counseling Major list. Baptist Bible College is a small school located in Springfield, Missouri that handed out 11 ’s pastoral counseling 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%.
Full Baptist Bible College Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Report
Not only did these schools make the top 40 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
Read more about our data sources and methodologies