Pastoral Counseling Degree
22 schools compared · Average earnings $31,976/yr
Schools Offering
22
Avg Grad Earnings
$31,976/yr
Avg DegreeWorth Score
34/100
AI Automation Risk
Moderate
34% task exposure
Best Schools for Pastoral Counseling
Top 22 schools ranked by DegreeWorth Score. Click any row for full AI scenario analysis and earnings projections.
| # | School | DW Score | Earnings | AI Risk | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grace Christian University Wyoming, MI |
59 61–58 |
$48,916/yr | Moderate | 7.2x |
| 2 | Evangel University Springfield, MO |
49 48–47 |
$41,357/yr | Moderate | 2.7x |
| 3 | Lubbock Christian University Lubbock, TX |
47 46–46 |
$38,473/yr | Moderate | 2.5x |
| 4 | Life Pacific University San Dimas, CA |
47 47–47 |
$37,436/yr | Moderate | 4.0x |
| 5 | Moody Bible Institute Chicago, IL |
47 48–48 |
$35,426/yr | Moderate | 6.1x |
| 6 | Lee University Cleveland, TN |
45 44–45 |
$35,189/yr | Moderate | 3.8x |
| 7 | Liberty University Lynchburg, VA |
45 43–46 |
$34,083/yr | Moderate | 4.9x |
| 8 | Regent University Virginia Beach, VA |
43 42–42 |
$33,407/yr | Moderate | 3.0x |
| 9 | Taylor University Upland, IN |
42 42–42 |
$37,035/yr | Moderate | 1.4x |
| 10 | Lancaster Bible College Lancaster, PA |
42 42–41 |
$35,286/yr | Moderate | 1.9x |
| 11 | Southeastern University Lakeland, FL |
42 42–42 |
$35,209/yr | Moderate | 1.8x |
| 12 | Southwestern Assemblies of God University Waxahachie, TX |
42 41–43 |
$30,910/yr | Moderate | 4.2x |
| 13 | Johnson University Florida Kissimmee, FL |
41 40–40 |
$30,006/yr | Moderate | 2.8x |
| 14 | Johnson University Knoxville, TN |
40 39–40 |
$30,006/yr | Moderate | 2.7x |
| 15 | Bethel University Mishawaka, IN |
38 37–37 |
$31,046/yr | Moderate | 1.3x |
| 16 | Calvary University Kansas City, MO |
38 37–38 |
$23,330/yr | Moderate | 3.3x |
| 17 | North Central University Minneapolis, MN |
37 35–38 |
$27,370/yr | Moderate | 2.8x |
| 18 | Crown College Saint Bonifacius, MN |
36 34–37 |
$26,538/yr | Moderate | 2.5x |
| 19 | Grace College and Theological Seminary Winona Lake, IN |
36 33–39 |
$25,060/yr | Moderate | 3.2x |
| 20 | John Brown University Siloam Springs, AR |
35 35–35 |
$27,996/yr | Moderate | 1.3x |
| 21 | Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion Marion, IN |
32 30–34 |
$19,836/yr | Moderate | 1.8x |
| 22 | Spring Arbor University Spring Arbor, MI |
31 29–32 |
$19,557/yr | Moderate | 0.5x |
Highest Earning Pastoral Counseling Programs
Schools where Pastoral Counseling graduates earn the most in their first year after graduation.
| School | 1-Year Earnings | DW Score | AI Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grace Christian University | $48,916/yr | 59 | Moderate |
| Evangel University | $41,357/yr | 49 | Moderate |
| Lubbock Christian University | $38,473/yr | 47 | Moderate |
| Life Pacific University | $37,436/yr | 47 | Moderate |
| Taylor University | $37,035/yr | 42 | Moderate |
| Moody Bible Institute | $35,426/yr | 47 | Moderate |
| Lancaster Bible College | $35,286/yr | 42 | Moderate |
| Southeastern University | $35,209/yr | 42 | Moderate |
| Lee University | $35,189/yr | 45 | Moderate |
| Liberty University | $34,083/yr | 45 | Moderate |
Best ROI for Pastoral Counseling
Schools with the highest earnings-to-tuition ratio for Pastoral Counseling.
| School | ROI Multiple | Earnings | DW Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grace Christian University | 7.2x | $48,916/yr | 59 |
| Moody Bible Institute | 6.1x | $35,426/yr | 47 |
| Liberty University | 4.9x | $34,083/yr | 45 |
| Southwestern Assemblies of God University | 4.2x | $30,910/yr | 42 |
| Life Pacific University | 4.0x | $37,436/yr | 47 |
| Lee University | 3.8x | $35,189/yr | 45 |
| Calvary University | 3.3x | $23,330/yr | 38 |
| Grace College and Theological Seminary | 3.2x | $25,060/yr | 36 |
| Regent University | 3.0x | $33,407/yr | 43 |
| Johnson University Florida | 2.8x | $30,006/yr | 41 |
Related Majors
Explore similar fields of study.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Pastoral Counseling graduates earn?
Across 22 schools, Pastoral Counseling graduates earn an average of $31,976 per year in their first year after graduation. Earnings range from $19,557 to $48,916 depending on the school.
What is the AI automation risk for Pastoral Counseling?
Pastoral Counseling is rated "Moderate" for AI automation risk, with an average of 34% of job tasks exposed to large language models and AI tools. This means some career tasks in this field could be augmented or replaced by AI over the next decade.
Which school has the best Pastoral Counseling program?
Based on our DegreeWorth Score (combining earnings, AI resilience, job market size, and ROI), Grace Christian University ranks #1 for Pastoral Counseling with a score of 59/100 and graduate earnings of $48,916/yr.
Is a Pastoral Counseling degree worth it?
On average, Pastoral Counseling graduates earn 3.0x their in-state tuition over 10 years. ROI varies significantly by school — choose carefully.
About This Data
This page aggregates Pastoral Counseling programs across 22 schools using earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, employment projections from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024–2034), and AI automation risk research from OpenAI and academic institutions.
The DegreeWorth Score (0–100) combines four equally weighted factors: graduate earnings, AI resilience, job market size, and return on investment. Each school's program page includes three AI scenarios (optimistic, base case, pessimistic) showing how automation could affect 10-year earnings.
Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (earnings, debt), Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024–2034
(employment projections), OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs research (AI task exposure), Felten et al. AIOE.
Last updated 2025.